Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[riven]

the dominent one of my old pair. I don't have anywhere to put her so today removed her into a cat basket for a couple of hours. The other old chicken does not peck the newbies when the top hen is gone.

They were ok at first but dominent is guarding the food and water. She's taken a particular dislike to the one ginger one (who is bottom hen)

Obviously she cant live in a cat basket but why would she be ok at first and now being a bully?

[legend21]

Dont know, she is maybe feeling more confident, more feeders as she cant guard them all.

 

Jackie

[Olly]

This just happens - maybe the new hens are feeling more confident and she wants to put them in their place, who knows.

 

I would definitely have more than one food and water station, so she can't guard them all. Plastic dog-bowls, clean takeaway cartons/margarine tubs will do - put a big stone in if you think it's too light and they'll tip it over. Try some scatter foods like bird seed or corn, which let them scratch about and keep them busy, or try hanging up a cabbage or something which may give some distraction.

 

As long as the new hens aren't being injured - i.e. blood isn't being drawn - I'd be inclined to let them get on with it. It looks horrible, I know, but they need to establish the pecking order.

[poachedegg]

When we do introductions, we put plenty of galley pots with food and water in around the run as top chook can't guard them all.

 

 

You could also try and put some treats/distractions in the run.

[riven]

thanks muchly. No wounds despite some very loud shreiking. I popped in water and food on the other side and she is now wearing herself out running from one to the other. Hen num,ber 2 is eating all the 'distraction' treats amd the 3 newbies are sat in the coop watching.

 

If the fox wasn't sat on the kitchen roof I'd let them all out to free range/trash the garden.

Because the new hens venture out singly they get beaten up. If they came out en masse I think she'd back down.