Millie-Annie Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 When we bought the new ex-batts home, Marigold and Rene would fight through the wire. Hackles up, tails up, claws and beaks going hell for leather. They actually met when Rene escaped on Thursday and were just the same face to face. I shouted and grabbed Rene and put her back in the run. They seemed to be ignoring each other since though, so we tried some integration. They went for each other again and we shouted and my husband separated them with a broom, after that Marigold started running away from them. Today though both Rene and Lyla are going for Marigold and she is terrified. I have put vaseline on her comb and wattles and sprayed her with anti-peck but as soon as they come near she shrieks and runs, so then they chase her. If they catch her they pin her down and pull her feathers. She was so scared earlier she ran in their run, up the ramp and hid herself in their nesting box refusing to come out. She is absolutely terrified of them and just tries to get out the garden through the fence and I am worried she will hurt herself. More than that though she is such a lovely, happy girl with such personality I don't want her to become cowed and frightened. For now we have put Rene and Lyla the instigators in their run and shut the door. Veronica who is the smallest and lowliest of the ex-batts I have put in with Marigold in her run. She is calming down, as to start with anything red and with feathers was a cause for panic. I know we should just leave them to get on with it, but I can't bear to see her being attacked. Have we done it completely wrong or is there hope? Sorry for long post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 Have we done it completely wrong or is there hope? No and yes! NO not wrong! YES there is hope! I think you've done just the right thing in separating the naughty two away from Marigold and giving her a gentle friend for company and to bolster her delicate confidence. She will soon realise that not everything red are raving banshees! Well done, it'll improve, don't worry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted June 13, 2010 Author Share Posted June 13, 2010 Thank you, I wonder if she wonders what has happened to her pal Millicent too. Do chickens notice the loss of an established companion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sage Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 I have had my 7 ex Batts for 3 weeks. Mavis the smallest & least feathered was been attaked constantly by Betty & Hilda. I put a fence up in the run to seperate the 2 bullys. Each evening they are all allowed in the garden but as soon as they go for Mavis in jail they go. Betty after 2 week of jail is now fine, the odd peck but she is the top hen. Hilda is still in jail , the other hens are starting to give her the odd peck when they are all in the garden. Hoping Hilda soon mends her ways. Mavis is still a lot samller than the others but 6 of them get on fine. Little Mavis even layed me her first egg yesterday a massive 25g. Sage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 Yes chickens can notice loss of a companion - but generally if that makes them a lone hen, or if the 2 of them were bullied and now 1 is on its own being bullied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted June 13, 2010 Author Share Posted June 13, 2010 Thank you so much for helping ease my mind. When we had our first 3 ex-batts a couple of years ago, the last of whom we lost yesterday, we had no bullying. Annie and Millicent were top chicks and used to ignore Blossom but they never hurt her. When we only had Millicent left and we bought Marigold home, Marigold did go for Millicent. We shouted and clapped our hands and Millicent seemed determined that wouldn't happen again, so she took control. She would peck at Marigold, over food and if she talked too much. Marigold would just put her head down and slink away, but Marigolds confidence grew and she discovered she could out run Millicent, so she used to just grab and run. By the end they were good friends. These 3 ex-batts we brought home last week. Rene the biggest was a bully to start with over food, pecking at Lyla and Veronica, but that soon stopped and they seemed ok together, which I why I thought I would try to mix them. Now they are back in their run, which is inside Marigolds big run, they are literally like to caged tigers, stalking her and trying to get her through the wire. She is a bit scared of Veronica, but it will be interesting to see what happens tonight when they have to share the coop. Just hope Marigold will go to bed, or she will be in with me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted June 13, 2010 Author Share Posted June 13, 2010 Chickyhazel - it has made her both, the lone hen and the hen on her own being bullied Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 The poor hen. If you get them both in the house, then shut the door, she may panic a bit but she should be a lot better in the morning because she wasn't attacked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted June 13, 2010 Author Share Posted June 13, 2010 Will do that. She is such a lovely girl, more like a little dog than a chicken. I am sure I could put a little lead on her and take her for a walk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
