gmorse1 Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Hope you can help me please about 6 weeks ago we had 4 x 14 week old Hens (not battery) - no problems with them they have a large house and coop but we let them into the garden when we are at home which they love. 10 days ago we went along to coventry and collected 4 ex battery hens. My husband made a fence accross the coop for seperation as recommended so they could see one another. They did not come out much the first day as expected. The next day we let our non battery hens into the garden and let the ex batts have the coop all to themselves. Right from the off there was one (the scrawy-ist) who was extremely nervious around the other ex-batts and took himself off into the large hen house - when he did come out he was pecked by the other ex batts....... we have had to get another small house just for this one hen who seems to be the one everyone will pick on. I am gradually letting the other ex batts around her but she just runs round like idiot when they come anywhere near her, she is still being pecked. Tryed to let her have the large garden with the non ex batt hens and they also went for her quite viciously. So that idea was shortlived! We have not let them mix yet (with the non batt hens) We can see the scrawy ones feathers coming back now which is great (giving her lots of tlc) but dont know how to handle the intergration and would be very grateful I ideas, or recommendations please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Hi gmorse and welcome to the forum. I've popped this into the Chickens section as you're more likely to get replies over here. I have no experience of introducing ex-batts I'm afraid, but try reading this section of the FAQs which deals with introductions generally. There are lots of people on here with ex-batts who have introduced them to existing hens, so I'm sure someone will have some suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 cant really offer much adviice as I dont have ex-bats, except perhaps segregate your bullied girl with a small friendlier chicken, to see how the two can bond... And if she can manage this after a while introduce another chicken...time consuming, but worth it.. (get some gentian violet spray (antiseptic) to cover any wounds if she has any, to discourage furher pecking) best of luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Hi there, That sounds alot like when I got my Ex-Batts. Poor Edgie was completely bald and half the size of the others and just ran around clucking getting on everyone's nerves and they beat her up every chance they got. I covered her in Tea Tree Oil (tastes VILE) and gave her the odd day off from them by bringing her into the house where she lived quite happily in the kitchen and roosted in a catbox at night Eventually she toughened up and the others got bored with chasing her, but it took a while. I still miss her! Hope that helps Rhaps x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 As the others have said, it can take time and some never fully integrate, but stick with it and keep an eye on her. If she is being bullied badly, then try taking out the main aggressor for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 I find a water pistol works well, squirting the bullies, and also try a divide and conquer approach, so you try well behaved girls with one naughty girl, and change the formations around. I had one ex batt that was bullied by another ex batt, I put a bumper bit on the bully and sprayed the bullied girl with anti peck spray to deter the other ex batt but this was all pre-introduction with the other girls. You need to take the intros S_L_O_W_L_Y with ex batts as they take a while to build up their strength and be able to cope with the rough and tumble of life in a flock, but given time they will become the best of friends. I have an ex batt and a pure breed girl that have become inseparable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Forgot- I did bumper bits on everyone too, that put the lid on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmorse1 Posted November 4, 2009 Author Share Posted November 4, 2009 What is a bumber bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 Details **here** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiganchooks Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 We got our 3 ex-bats a month and a half ago now and had a similar issue with one being quite weak, smaller and missing lots of feathers (so probably bullied previously). The other two took to each other well but also took to chasing the little one off the food and so she just sat in the house a lot and was miserable. However they all get on fine now What seemed to sort it was 2 things: 1. building the little one up (we took her in overnight a few times when she was struggling with soft eggs) and regularly fed her extra treats. That'll just take time. 2. stopping the others from chasing her. Sandyhas3hens had good advice on that, she suggested barriers and obstacles across the run. I split their food into lots of different pots, and used bamboo canes criss crossing the run. So to move around they had to limbo or hurdle. That was annoying for them so the other 2 really couldn't be bothered as much to clamber over and chase the little one away from whatever food pot she was daring to eat from. I gradually removed the canes one by one as they became more and more tolerant of each other. Now they are all great friends and share food wonderfuly! That all took 3 weeks though. They are essentially strangers themselves, so I guess will need lots of time to get to know each other, never mind the existing bunch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
