cathypancake Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 A few days ago our beautiful pair of bantam Pekins were attacked by a stray dog in our back garden. Julian, the cock went to Emily hen's aid and was killed in the fight. We only had the two chickens and they were absolutely devoted to each other. Julian used to find Emily food then stand back proudly to watch her eat it, he'd shoo wild birds away from her, went right up to our cat on the first day and gave her such a hard stare she's never bothered them - I even caught him one day presenting here repeatedly with flowers (which she repeatedly rejected when she realised they were not edible)...as you can see these chickens are pets, not simply egg producers. We were all devastated when Julian died & now Emily is by herself. How long should we wait before we introduce some new chickens? We have an opportunity of getting 3, 12 week old bantam partridge Wyandottes (1 cock & 2 hens), would this be too many to cope with at once? I learned from the forum that they need to be at least 16 weeks before they're let into an established coop - is one hen an established coop?! Any one have any advice? Tired & emotional - Cathy X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 So sorry to hear about Julian , he sounded like a wonderful cockerel and no wonder your little hen misses him. You are doing the right thing by getting her some new friends. There are plenty of introduction threads on the forum that you can browse over. I would maybe suggest initially if you can, setting up a run next to your existing lone hen or seperating the run you have now so that the old hen and the new friends can see/smell each other but cannot be bullied/attacked. I think it will be easier introducing newbies to a lone hen rather than a flock but you probably will still get some pecking/squabbles anyway until the pecking order is established. Introductions can be tricky, if you can take it steady and slowly for best results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathypancake Posted November 7, 2009 Author Share Posted November 7, 2009 Dear Chelsea, thank you so much for your swift reply - I feel better already. I'll follow your advice & we'll see what happens - fingers crossed. Cathypancake x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 That is such a sad tale - dear little Julian, I'm so sorry that he has died. Emily definitely needs some companions, and the bantams you have been offered sound ideal. I have 2 partridge wyandotte bantams, and they are very sweet-natured. As Chelsea says, keep them next to each other in separate accommodation for a couple of weeks, and take it very slowly from there - follow the excellent advice on introductions which is available on the forum, and you should be fine. Best wishes to you all, especially Emily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 Sending hugs, what terrible news about Julian Hope Emily will accept her new friends I have done 3 sets of introductions over time, and slow and steady is definitely the way to do it. However, they will become one big happy flock (with the odd family squabble ) given time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 Have a look at **This article** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathypancake Posted November 7, 2009 Author Share Posted November 7, 2009 Thank you all for your good wishes, condolences & advice. I have a lovely picture of Julian & Emily, but I'm a bit of a novice on the computer & can't work out how to send it - I'll have to wait till my boyfriend comes back! Cathypancake x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathypancake Posted November 7, 2009 Author Share Posted November 7, 2009 Here is our lovely, heroic Julian with Emily... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Im so very sorry about your lovely sounding cockeral I hope Emily will befriend the new chooks. I hope everything goes well for her and for you. (hugs) Bestest luck xx xx P.s, what a gorgeous photgraph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 So sorry to hear about Julian, he sounded like a real character He was a stunning looking boy too- lovely photograph of the two of them... Hope you manage to get some new friends for Emily soon. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathypancake Posted November 8, 2009 Author Share Posted November 8, 2009 We're just going to see if the Wyandottes would be nice for Emily this afternoon. Julian is gone but will never be forgotten as he and Emily were our first ever chickens. Yikes there's a sparrowhawk sitting on the top of the chicken house. Got to go! p.s. Thank you Groovychuck & Cluckybucks for your messages - most appreciated. Glad you liked the photo - here's another rather different one of what I can see right now!!! Cathypancake x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura007 Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 we got some new chooks a few weeks ago and they were put in with nuggett who was then on her own after gerty had died. to be honest we were not sure quite what to do, but in the end we slung all 3 n ewbies in and let them get on with it. i know its a little odd but it actually worked, nuggett couldnt chase after all 3 at once and the new one were a little bit quicker than she was (she is 5) after a couple of days it all settled down and after about 10 days nuggett didnt seem to care at all. she still eats first but thats about it, she even lets them eat from the bunch of grapes at the same time as her. it might be worth ago. but do be careful and kepp a close eye on them when they all go i together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-a-doodle-doo Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 aww poor Julian. Hope you can get some friends for Emily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Hi Here's my experience. http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=51138 http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=51732 All chickens are different so a. be prepared b. take your time Good Luck, H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillH Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Cathy, Very sorry to hear about Julian. That's such a nice photo of him and Emily. He was a very handsome fellow indeed. We lost Willow (a Red Ranger), one of our two hens, to a fox back on 11 August, and decided to introduce another, younger hen to the remaining hen Buffy (an ISA Warren) as soon as possible. After Willow died we confined Buffy to the run for a week (shutting the Eglu door as usual some time after she went in it for the night), and thereafter only let her out under close supervision. Basically we wandered around the garden close to her. On 28 August we bought Dawn, a 17-week old Columbian Blacktail. Well, the supplier claimed she was 17 weeks old, but I have my doubts as she looked younger than that to me. Anyway, Buffy went ballistic for the first couple of days, chasing and pecking Dawn constantly, who hid all the time in the Eglu (although they did roost together without problem at night). The only time Dawn got any peace was if we let them out of the run, so that's what I did. Of course, after Mr Fox's attack I stayed with them all the time (luckily I had the week off work). I spent a lot of the next three days wandering very close to them as they ranged in the garden, and uncovered insects and dandelion leaves for them both. After three days they were fine together and Dawn began to stay out in the run with Buffy rather than hiding in the Eglu, although she was still wary of Buffy, who would still assert her authority with the occasional peck if they both fancied the same insect or grain. Dawn remained very jumpy for several weeks, but has matured into a nice hen and the two stick closely together now. Dawn only produced her first egg on 1 November, and I don't know whether this was because of the rather traumatic start or whether she was a late developer. Anyway, the two of them are inseparable now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathypancake Posted November 9, 2009 Author Share Posted November 9, 2009 We got the three Wyandotte bantams yesterday & made them a temporary enclosure & house for them within sight of Emily's house. She came to visit them this morning and got a bit shirty with one of the hens through the wire. After a bit of hackle raising and a bit of claw action they went back to what they were doing before - eating! Emily has visited them again this afternoon & I put an equal amount of sesame seeds both inside & outside their enclosure to show Emily that they were not a threat to her food supply. She still tried to eat theirs through the wire, but didn't get very far! We're just going to let Emily take the lead as she is used to having a free run of the garden & we're pleased to see her coming out again after the dog attack. The newbies seem to be accepting that she's the boss already. We'll still wait for a few more weeks till we let them free range with her or share her hut. So far so good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 Great news All this bossing around for Emily will take her mind off missing poor Julian. Let us know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Great news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathypancake Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share Posted November 18, 2009 Emily is now free ranging with her new friends, Nicholi, Sophie & Martha (my little boy names them after his school friends). They still sleep in separate houses but they seem happy to share a space during the day & share food bowls. Emily gives them the occasional peck to show them who's boss which they accept with good grace. I'll leave it another week before I try to get them to share a house, but so far so good! Cathypancake x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megghen Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 that's good news! its lovely to see them getting along together, good luck with your new flock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I got two new hens after Clara Cluck had to be put to sleep. They arrived last Monday I just chucked them in with Ginger. Mrs Tweedy is left alone but Babs is still being pecked I spray her with water and tea tree oil.but I may have to buy some anty peck. As for the names blame the kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 I just chucked them in with Ginger. Mrs Tweedy is left alone but Babs is still being pecked I spray her with water and tea tree oil.but I may have to buy some anty peck. May I suggest that you keep a close eye on Babs please ? Chickens can be real Bullies and often need time to adjust to new living arrangements. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Cathy, sorry about your Julian What a lovely young man he was. Just wishing you luck with your new hens and sending {{{Hugs}}} xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
