Space Chick Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Hello all, This is my 4th set of intros, so I am getting a dab hand at it now Although this one is slightly different. I am introducing 2 new girls, Dorothea and Tegan. The first week, they were completely separate in my spare Eglu and run. After 5 days, I allowed the newbies to free range with two or three oldies at a time. With minor scuffles only. Last weekend, I moved them to my rabbit run in the WIR so they could see each other constantly and allowed full flock free ranging... again minor scuffles only. They have been free-ranging together as a flock every afternoon after I get home from work for a couple of hours, again no issues. However, Tegan is keeping herself separate from the flock and shouts and scampers away when anyone comes near her. Dorothea however is very much part of the flock now. I am considering at the weekend opening up the rabbit run, and keeping an eye, as I am very confident that Dorothea is ready, however, I have doubts that Tegan is (however, having access to the full run will give her more places to hide away) So, my question is am I right to move at Dorotheas pace, or should I slow it down for Tegan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I'd go at Dorothea pace let them FR togeather to build her confidence up and make a friend or two at least if there out and about she's got room to escape if needed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend21 Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Poor Tegan, what if Dorothea joins the other and then she is totally alone? Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I agree. Tegan is going to be bottom of the heap the way it's looking, so there will always be a hen giving her a nudge out of the way. She will learn to cope with it in her own way if she has places to fly up out of the way. One of the older girls will take her under their wing. You could always get a nice handsome cockerel to take care of Tegan for you. They are every hens friend. They have done really well so far Debs. All credit to you and everything you have learned in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 10, 2010 Author Share Posted March 10, 2010 You could always get a nice handsome cockerel to take care of Tegan for you. They are every hens friend. I'd love to, sadly I don't think my neighbours would I was hoping that Tegan and Susan would become friends, as Susan has always been a loner I am almost tempted to put them in together for a few hours to try and unite them Meant to say, no-one is picking on Tegan, they are mostly ignoring her However, if they get near her she runs off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 That all sounds good Debs. She will settle down, at last she has the sense to keep out of the way. The girl has brains I'd say. I like your idea of putting her in with Susan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I was hoping that Tegan and Susan would become friends, as Susan has always been a loner I am almost tempted to put them in together for a few hours to try and unite them : Seems like a good plan Sounds like you've done everything right so far SC, just see how it goes and take it from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Don't know whether this will help in your situation, but the last 2 lots of introductions we have done we have had spare accomodation, so we used the 'divide and conquer' method. We put the newbies in the cube with some of the oldies and put the remaining oldies in the spare eglu, then every day after that for a week we swapped the oldies around, but always kept the newbies in the cube.....it has worked really well both times (still odd pecking, but nothing serious) and might help your shy girl to gain some confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 12, 2010 Author Share Posted March 12, 2010 Well Dorothea went to bed in the cube tonight before I could separate them, so I have taken the decision to put Tegan in aswell Shall be up early tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poached Egg Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 Fingers crossed Debs. Intros here seem to be going OK and am tempted to put the old girls in the cube tomorrow night when all is quiet. OH should be back from work at a good time to open the door into the WIR Sun morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 12, 2010 Author Share Posted March 12, 2010 Sounds a good plan Glad your intros are going well. I have been the same every set of intros, the girls have moved quicker than I would have, and I have a very worried first fully combined night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poached Egg Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 and I have a very worried first fully combined night Was thinking you'd probably be suffering more than the chooks tonight. When is your alarm set for? First light? Hope you get some sleep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 Hope you had a quiet night and all is ok this morning. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 13, 2010 Author Share Posted March 13, 2010 I first went out to them at 5.45am , then 6.45. All is well although Tegan hasn't ventured out of the cube yet I am giving her until 9am, and then if she hasn't I am going to get her out myself (whilst the others are free ranging). Dorothea on the other hand is walking around the walk in run like she owns the place and is happily spending time following lots of different girls It is tricky, as Dorothea is definitely integrated, so with Tegan being quieter I honestly don't know what to do for the best. Part of me thinks I should just let her get on with it, as "Ooops, word censored!"ody is picking on her. I think that Tegan has not experienced a flock environment from observing her, as she was a "show girl" I am quite convinced that she has spent most of her chickeny life preparing for shows and not being a "proper" chicken. In many respects, she is like the antithesis of a battery hen, as she is stunning, well cared for but yet similar in that she doesn't really know how to free range, scratch around and dustbath She loves being cuddled and having human contact, she just isn't to fussed on being with other chickens Give her time though, and I'm sure she'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poached Egg Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 How has it been today? I've been out and apparently some of our old girls have been visiting inside the cube this afternoon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 13, 2010 Author Share Posted March 13, 2010 Tegan is hiding a lot, but I am leaving her get on with it as there is no nastiness. A few chases from Nyssa and a couple of half hearted pecks but nothing mean. Dorothea on the other hand is in her element, loving the full run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Just caught up with this Debs. As Erin was given the honour of naming your bird it only seems fitting that she's the one that's different! Sounds like she thinks she's a human and not a bird - which is so sad, although it's nice to have a particularly friendly hen. I think she will settle in time - she's just shy, or like you say she seems like a well cared for caged hen, so perhaps she's finding the space a bit daunting at first. Well what can I say about Dorothea - she's been well trained. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 14, 2010 Author Share Posted March 14, 2010 Tegan is hiding out in the nestbox at the moment. I had to manually put her into the cube last night aswell. I have a few things I have to do this morning, so can't let them free range until this afternoon, but once they are free ranging, I am going to take Tegan out, put her in the WIR and lock her in there with a few oldies, trying a divide and conquer approach. Maybe if she can become confident with a few she will settle in quicker. Dorothea is still being hilariously funny, and is having great fun with her sisters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Just caught up with this (2 weeks leave to get the bathroom gutted ahead of us). Well done for intro so far. Our Aspro was like this at the beginning: running away and not joining in. Now she appears to be top hen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 14, 2010 Author Share Posted March 14, 2010 Our Aspro was like this at the beginning: running away and not joining in. Now she appears to be top hen I had the same with Nyssa when she was introduced. Now she has elevated herself up the pecking order I am sure that Tegan will be fine, its just hard to see as I want her to feel part of the gang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Aww, i know just how you feel Debs. when the babies were first introduced and fully mingled all went well like yours. However, Angel, the silkie still keeps herself very much to herself even after all this time. and just like Tegan, runs off when others approach. She seems happy, eats and drinks well so i reckon shes just a bit of a loner. She will join in occasionally, when she wants to though I know you want them to all be one big happy gang, but as with humans, i suppose there is often one or two who would rather be looking in from the outside. Try not to worry too much Debs, im sure they are all very happy in their own ways Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
