alex_m Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 My existing girl has been pecking her new roomates for three days now. It's not constant but I hate seeing it. When I pick up the water pistol she runs. Hides behind the shade until one walks past and tries to do it whilst I can't see her. Cheeky mare. Just shut her in her room for half an hour but it didn't help How long does it take to sort it out "normally"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Integration and sorting out the pecking order can take a varied length of time. It took me 9 months to be able to leave my 2 newbies with the existing trio. Others do it within a week or two. And remember the pecking order can change depending on whether one is ill, not laying, growing up etc so it's not always fixed. I should make sure there is no damage being inflicted and be prepared to keep them separate and gradually integrate them. I'll bump this up for you Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesL Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 I have the same happening here but the other way round - my one existing chook is pecking at my two new girls which I had on Saturday. I bought them from my local chook supplier and the guy told me to put them straight in with my existing chook as seperating them but allowing them to be able to see each other etc will only "wind them up" and delay the inevitable anyway. We have put the two newbies in the run and they seem to be fairly ok other than my existing chook will peck and chase them around if they go too close to her and also she won't enter into the Eglu at night anymore as the newbies are already in there. We are having to physically put her into the Eglu (the newbies are happily going in on their own). It has been 4 days now and my two newbies managed to jump over the pen last night so I'm going to clip their wings tonight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_m Posted May 26, 2010 Author Share Posted May 26, 2010 Thanks for the replies. Fortunately no one is getting injured Yes jules it's almost exactly the same here but have 3 newbies. One is laying and isn't affected by being pecked and keeps coming back for more. The other two get chased round the run. I often see them in the eglu. But suppose they will toughen up when they get older. I seem to have a young girl as her eyes are blue/grey and she has a pink comb. Trying to protect her but I'm back in work over the weekend so I'm hoping it stops before then. Wishful thinking I know. They will all be bigger than my existing girl so would expect some payback in a few months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Some gung-ho suppliers do say bung them in together, but why increase the stress and risk when introductions can be done relatively painlessly? I'd take it slowly myself. Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_m Posted May 27, 2010 Author Share Posted May 27, 2010 Looks like we have peace they were all sat together yesterday afternoon bathing in dust. It was sweet. Then again this morning. They still get the odd peck though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtie14 Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 I can sympathise. Our girls have been with us for 2 weeks, and Betty's still pecking at all the others, and pulling their feathers out. Ukadex has put her off 2 of the girls, but Ginger is still too difficult to get hold of and spray. We've decided to put Betty in solitary for a while and we're getting a small run to put inside the WIR. I can sense she'll put us on a huge guilt trip, but I'm hoping that a bit of time on her own will make her a bit better-behaved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
