Guest Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Everything seems ok this morning the older ones are a year old and the younger ones are around 15 weeks. I have let the sussex FR. What I am now going to do because I have school this week is my grand parents have a cage that can hold 3 Great Danes and they are going to let us borrow that to put the marsh daisy's in and put them back in at night and repeat this until they are ok together especially since next weekend the new area will be finished. I understand people may say I have done it wrong but you have to try things they still all have their feathers. It is just the older hens that are not amused at all and would rather be away from the hens. The old ones I think wouldnt do anything because they remember when they got their feathers completely removed form their necks and bled severly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 I've only had chickens for 2 days and I have read on this forum and in countless books that slow introductions are the right way. If the chickens were in a field then fair enough let nature take it's course, hopefully the weaker ones can take refuge somewhere until they are accepted by the rest of flock. I have already learned that chickens can inflict awful injuries on weaker ones. I can only hope that you have miles of space for them to at least give the weaker ones a chance. I must admit that I am feeling quite upset reading your post. Angela Im sorry you feel that way but I have only had chickens for a year and have had so many bad things happen. My chickens the 2 light sussex i have no had to have their 3rd companion rehomed because the 3rd one ripped all their feathers off their neck and made them bleed horribly. I understand that introductions are hard but I was going on what the breeder said for me to do because he has had suces and no i do not have miles of land we live in an estate. Anyway they are speerateed until night now and will be put back together around 9 pm every night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 When I introduced 2 hens quickly (after one afternoon of being in view but separate) We sat on the side lines to step in. There was one spat when my top chicken took on the top chicken of the other 2 which lasted seconds and then they stopped, over the next day the original reigning hen spent a bit of time reminding the new ones who was boss by moving in on the food etc. but there was no noise or nasty pecking and now they are totally united-so I guess I was lucky-if there had been any big fights I would have separted them and gone down the slow into route. I think I would always have a go at a fairly quick intro to see what happens but I would find it far more stressfull to leave chickens together that were not happy- I think you know in yourself if its working or not.Good luck Thankyou there have been a few people on here that have made me feel comfortable. I have seperated so they can go in at night together and let them sort it out in the morning. The hens were not attacking each other jsut dominating it is just my 2 sussex bantams the older ones were not happy and would not be quiet so im going slow until their run is built and then they will be put together in the run to sort it out then again if it needs to be at night they can do that. I am so thankful you have no idea how relaxed you have made me feel. There wasnt any big fights but im not in much today so i feel they need to be seperated just in case. Thankyou again so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 I'm the sort of person who puts them straight in together (after quarantine) but I do it at night. I have to admit though I would never listen to them scream or get to the point where it felt heartbreaking. If that happened I would and have done it gently. It took about 4 days of going in together at night and separate during the day It just felt heartbreaking because I couldnt do anything they had to be left to sort the pecking order out. The screaming was from the older hens wanting to FR still. The younger ones were asleep. I am doing it gently now I just feel bad because the new ones are in a dog cage for the day and at night they will be in with the older ones around 9 pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 (edited) There has been no blood shed no feather pulling. Just a loud racket from the sussex this morning because they still are not sure about the new hens and wanted to be let out. I have seperated and they will be put back together at night and then seperated in the morning before school. Then when the run is fully built I will let them out together and step in if I have to. I feel the way I did it was best because I saw there wasnt anything bad seriously bad going to happen. Edited May 16, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 the noise levels should drop in a day or so I had it the weekend before easter when I got my 2 new girls my 5 screamed the place down most of the saturday afternoon and evening had a little bit on the sunday until Hope the new sussex went to lay she had to telll the world (still does) she went in all silent untill Faith turfed her out so she could lay hope screamed on and off for an hour until she got the nest back. then told the world she had layed an egg not to be out done the last 3 of the older girls none of which have every told the world that they have layed all had ago after they layed 2 of them at the same time luckerly with me being at work in the week all 7 settled down and most of the time don't make to much noise except Hope she like the sound of her own voice far to much my lot are still in 2 runs and houses I'm haveing to take things slowly as 2 off mine still don't like the new girls sorry for the long post I'm a talker not a writer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Awww bit of competition The new 2 were silent except the still make the baby noises even though they are about 15-16 weeks old. The odler 2 never make noise so it was a shock and our neighbours behind think that when i go out the chickens are too loud because all i have to say is come chicks and they run over to me or shout bob betty and they come and the neighbours think oh there too loud when the happy cluck so when i put both on my shoulder i let them look over the fence and the neighbour said i was invading their privacy. I said oh well im sorry i forgot that chickens could talk and then put the girls down and the made clucking again but he is horrible and you can probably see im a talker aswell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 What an unreasonable neighbour. He's going to love you now Glad things are ok and it sounds like you have a good plan just need some ear muffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 What an unreasonable neighbour. He's going to love you now Glad things are ok and it sounds like you have a good plan just need some ear muffs. Where I live are a bunch of the older generation and the neigbours behind are jsut annoying he might be over 60 but he doesnt half make a racket himself shouting at his cats and us because our chickens attacked his cats. Hhahahah everything is going ok going to put the daisy's in tonight around 8-9ish so they can sleep but they are getting restless so hoping the run is done by the end of this week and the new house is hopefully going to be here. It is strange we are goign to get a 10 large fowl house for 8 bantams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 A few weeks ago I bought two new bantams to add to my flock of three chickens. I kept them seperated as advised by people on this site but one managed to get into the new girls area and pecked at it even though she was hiding in her house (a cat transporter thing) and there was sadly blood everywhere. I dont know when or how I am ever going to be brave enough to try them together to be honest and if it doesnt work out I will have to try and re-home them both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 A few weeks ago I bought two new bantams to add to my flock of three chickens. I kept them seperated as advised by people on this site but one managed to get into the new girls area and pecked at it even though she was hiding in her house (a cat transporter thing) and there was sadly blood everywhere. I dont know when or how I am ever going to be brave enough to try them together to be honest and if it doesnt work out I will have to try and re-home them both. Sorry to hear this are the other 3 bantams ? I have been lucky my 2 girls are very calm and now let the 2 new girls just do what they want when they are in with them but I still only put them in at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 Well 4th night in chicken land Everything is ok the pecking order is established and betty and bob are still alone together in the day but night is all hunky dory. I just hate getting the 2 little ones out in the morning though because they are rascals to catch. One nearly got out this morning but I have good reactions. No way of telling the difference if you are holding them though. Just cant wait saturday the posts are getting put up and sunday the chicken wire is going up so they shall be able to have a lovely wonder round in their play pen. I am glad I have my chickens even though I am getting up at 5 am because of the sun so I let them out but only problem with that is I have my GCSE's for this week next week ( week after half term) then all my major exams 4 1/2 hours of english and my maths so it is going to be fun with the chickens during that time might have to have parents chip in cleaning them out and letting them out in the garden to eat the weeds for mum Sorry for going on. Hope all your chooks are doing well x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 Good news and good luck with the exams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Ok so jsut let the new hens out after clippin ghteir wings firt time free ranging and they are all getting on better in open space. One thing one of the Daisy's not able to keep her wings up they hang by her side. Is it because it is really hot outside or is it because she might have damaged her wings trying to get away from me ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 It's how they cool down because I don't believe chickens can sweat. Just make sure they have some shade when it gets hot and sunny and give them access to water when out of the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 But what if your new hens have a disease or aren't well. Without at least a weeks quarantine, you could spread it to your whole flock....! . I made this mistake. i didnt have a spare coope and i got the silkies for a present.. so i just put them in. I didnt check them over, either.. a week went past, all 8 girls got colds from the new girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 It's how they cool down because I don't believe chickens can sweat. Just make sure they have some shade when it gets hot and sunny and give them access to water when out of the run. Oh right thankyou I thought they were injured because changing them to a new house in the morning is a hard thing to do. And they have plenty of water mum chnages it half way through the day aswell. and they are in a shady spot and in their new run they will have a troth of water and shaded areas specially made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 i hope everything is ok now! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
