Eglu Cube Coop For Sale

[midori]

I got an almost year old Cream Legbar hen (Loretta) and a POL Araucana bantam pullet (Tallulah or Lulu for short) a week and a half ago. I had only really wanted the CL but the breeder only had one left and we (the breeder and I) decided to get the Araucana so they could be quarantined and introduced together. We did discuss the pros and cons of the bantam mixing with my LF and decided to give it a go.

 

Lulu and Loretta spent a week in their own seperate accomodation, then on Monday I let them free range for an hour with my other girls before bedtime. At bedtime Lulu and Loretta went in with the existing girls, so I left them and let them all out together in the morning. The next night Loretta went in with the others and Lulu went back into her own house by herself so I popped her in with my other girls. Last night I decided to shut the seperate accomodation up so that all the girls went in to roost together. I got out of the bath to find Lulu frantically trying to get into her own house in the rain and had to run out into the garden in my towel and grab Lulu and dry her and then popped her in with the others. Again, tonight, the others had all gone in and Lulu was just wondering around by herself, so I picked her up and put her in the house with the others.

 

During the day they all free range together, and although Lulu spends some time with Loretta, she is definitely bottom of the pecking order and spends a lot of time on her own. Loretta seems to have integrated with the rest of the flock well. Then today I noticed one incident where Loretta pecked Lulu quite aggressively although she wasn't hurt.

 

I feel quite sorry for Lulu and although I didn't intend to get any more birds wondered if I should consider getting another bantam or two so Lulu has soem friends her own size and get them their own accomodation? She doesn't seem bullied as such, and can get food/water, but will she get lonely? Maybe I just need ot give it more time?

[Isabel]

Oh no, poor Lulu. Hope you get it worked out quickly, and that someone will advise you.

[crankycookie]

It seems a bit early to say, since after integration it took me a good two months or so before the pecking subsided and the girls were wandering together as a flock. I have heard stories of bantams being at the top of the pecking order despite their size, also I've heard of banties sort of breaking off into their own clique and not socializing much with the bigger girls. When I added banties, I was sure to get two on the off chance that they didn't mix with the standards.

 

If she continues to be lonely and picked on in the next few weeks, I personally would give her a similar sized friend or two, if you can add chickens to your flock.