numpty2009 Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Hi I have this morning lost my first chicken, Doris to Mr Fox, at 9 o'clock in the morning. I had just looked out the window and saw that she had wondered a bit too far down the garden so I walked outside, as I got there I saw a fox disappearing through the fence and Doris laying on the floor! After taking her to the vets I had to make the decision to have her put down.. She looked a complete mess... and had bite marks all over her, she was also struggling to breath! Anywayl... to try and appease my little boy and the remaining chicken Dora, we need a new chicken but I'm not entirely sure how to introduce them. I have heard you should only buy in two's (I'm not sure if I dreamt that) and that you should keep them seperate for a while. Unfortunately I have no way of doing this easily.. Can anyone help with some advice on how to go about this. I live in Leicester so am fortunate to have a fantastic chicken supplier on my doorstep, but how to do it is a bit confusing! thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 So sorry to hear about Doris, getting 2 hens is probably not a bad idea, but you can do 1-1 intros carefully. The thread below has some useful tips on splitting an Eglu run and how to manage these introductions. http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=12688 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 I'm so sorry to hear that. I'd get two chickens, if you can. What sort of set-up do you have? The best thing is to separate them during the day, and put them together at night and now is quite good for this as the nights are long and the days short - you have to move the new chicken out at daybreak, which fortunately is quite late these days. Can you borrow a puppy crate or similar, to keep the newbies in during the day so they can see and hear Dora, but not make contact? I have seen photos of the Eglu run split in two with garden canes poked in from each side - worth considering if you have no other means of separating them. You can put a cardboard box or a cat-box in for them to lay in, if they are already laying. The thread that Space Chick has linked to is a useful one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 So sorry to hear about Doris . RIP little one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 So Sorry about Doris. RIP little girl. {{Hugs for you and your little boy}}}xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Sorry to hear it. Advice about managing intros **here**. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattaz Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Well remember to urinate around the garden as much as possible, disgusting i know but it does a good job of keeping mr.fox away. When my monica died i replaced her with 2 chickens and theyve settled in fine and now the 3 get on like theyve known eachother their whole life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
