hippy chick Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Out of my original 5 ex-bats I am left with just Gwen Her two closest friends died this week. and I think she misses them. She has gone very quiet and keeps wandering around the garden making little sounds, almost as if she is crying. Could she be looking for the others. She is eating and drinking but hasn't laid an today. As I have another flock of 5 ex-bats which i have had for a month i'm wanting to put them all together. They have all been in the pen next door to my other girls. I have tried them FR together and a couple of them seem ok with her apart from the odd peck. But she completely avoids them. When I let her out into the garden yesterday two of the newbies were already out and standing where her friends used to stand. She went running up to them and when she got about 2 feet away she stopped and looked at them I think she thought it was Glenys and Maureen. What is the best way to merge them. Do I put just one of the newbies with her and hope that she bonds enough to start merging the others or do I just put them all together. Some of the new girls are really aggressive and Gwen is such a placid little sweetheart I don't want them upsetting her more than she already is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 I'm sorry to hear about your girls, and lonely Gwen. If I were you, I would try putting one of the less aggressive new girls in with Gwen at night when they are more docile, and see how it goes. It might make it easier in the long run to introduce Gwen and a new friend to the other girls as a pair to avoid them ganging up on Gwen. There is lots of good advice on the forum about introductions, and it has worked well for me. Good luck - I'm sure Gwen will be fine, but there will be some argy-bargy whilst they establish the pecking order I'm afraid, so keep an eye on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Aww that's so heartbreaking Poor Gwen and poor you. Could you pick two gentle girls out of your new group of five and introduce them to Gwen? Then a little later, merge the two groups of three? I don't know, just an idea... but might set you back as it means TWO sets of intros Good luck, I'm sure someone will be along with some good advice soon (((HUGS))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted July 22, 2010 Author Share Posted July 22, 2010 Thank you so much, to be honest i'm letting it all get to me a bit too much. I just want her to be happy and back to normal. I am worried that she might get to stressed by it all and that i will lose her also. How long do you think I should leave it before putting a couple of the others in with her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 As they've already been freeranging together see if you can pick 2 more docile ones try now by putting them in with her after dark when they're really dozy, keeping the door shut to keep the early morning light out and getting up early to remove them. When you've put them in hang around a bit to listen for them sellting. Let them range together & watch for them starting to group. Just a suggestion. We've found night intros very useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted July 23, 2010 Author Share Posted July 23, 2010 Well she has been free ranging with the others all day today. She is now in her pen with two others which she had seemed to get on ok with today. Two of the new ones had wandered into Gwens pen and she didn't seem to mind so i just shut the WIR door and hoped for the best. The new ones are trying their hardest to get out of the pen now though. Gwen is still a little nervous of them and even the bald skinny one is giving her the odd peck when she goes past her. I think that maybe I should have waited until dark to put them together as others have advised. Oh well fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted July 23, 2010 Author Share Posted July 23, 2010 Well they are all shut in for the night. One of the newbies kept trying to nick Gwens favourite place on the perch, but Gwen seems to have held her ground . Little Fanny was still going bonkers to get out, she didn't seem interested in perching so I have shoved her into one of the nest boxes . They all seem to be quiet now. Lets hope that's the worst bit over with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amc Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Well done, I'm sure they are all asleep now it has been dark for a few hours. Hopefully they will all be happy together tomorrow morning and it will all work out for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted July 24, 2010 Share Posted July 24, 2010 How's it goin. Well done for taking the initiative. It can feel a bit daunting and every peck feels like it will definitely become a bullying situation, but generally it doesn't. It's just letting her know. Great she held her own. We've just completed an intro & Aspro is still muscling in on Koukoula when near food, but she then loses interest which is when Koukoula gets what she wants....bit like kids in a way... possibly just as primaeval Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted July 24, 2010 Author Share Posted July 24, 2010 Well it seemed to be going okay. But during the course of today Gwen has become even more withdrawn. They have been FRing together all day but she just hasn't seemed interested. She wouldn't eat and she wouldn't come out from where she was hiding in the corner. So I decided to put them back in their pen and left her on her own. She perked up and started eating and even had a dust bath I spoke to the breeder from Raw Green Cottages about her and he said to get a young hen who she can dominate. So...... I bit the bullet and have been and got a 16 week old Black Rock. I have put them straight in together, I know I should have waited a week for quarantine but I felt desperate to do something and if I have made a mistake then I only have myself to blame The breeder says that she is fully vaccinated and all his Hens looked really healthy. Anyway Gwen seems ok with the new girl she has pecked at her and seems to be putting her in her place. I hope that it will give her a confidence boost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted July 24, 2010 Author Share Posted July 24, 2010 Gwen and Penny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted July 24, 2010 Share Posted July 24, 2010 Lovely photo! Loving the look of Penny too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted July 24, 2010 Author Share Posted July 24, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted July 24, 2010 Share Posted July 24, 2010 Gwen looks lovely , clearly a well loved girl. Penny is not bad either. I hope it all works out for you. I keep putting off mixing my old and new girls but I must do it now I am on holiday from school to observe. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted July 25, 2010 Author Share Posted July 25, 2010 Well Gwen is different again today She has been bossing her new friend around all morning. So now she if FRing with her arch enemy's and doesn't seem nearly as stressed out by them. She has even been feeding with them Fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted July 28, 2010 Author Share Posted July 28, 2010 Well I think that Gwen and the new girl Penny are getting along really well. Gwen is putting the newbie in her place but she is happy enough to feed with her and they both snuggle up together on the perch. However she still isn't coping with the last lot of aggressive ex-bats. She still apears to be scared of them I'm thinking about getting another POL, I would like Penny to have another youngster to play with. But do you think it would be pushing my luck a bit, after all Gwen has been through a lot of grief and is still a bit insecure. What do you all think, do I get another POl so that I have a flock of 3 which I can introduce to the 5 ex-bats or Is it going to be far to much hassle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 YAY! Such good news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 So glad that Gwen and Penny are getting along so well. As for getting another POL, I think you may be pushing your luck. You have been very lucky that Gwen and Penny have settled down together so easily, and I would be worried about upsetting the applecart. As you say, Gwen has been through a lot recently, so I would leave things as they are for now and let her get her confidence back before any more introductions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted August 7, 2010 Author Share Posted August 7, 2010 Gwen is getting along really well with Penny. She has even accepted Hennie (one of the ex-bats out of my other flock) Hennie has a bad limp and I decided to put her in with these two as they are much less boisterous. My plan was to get another POL today. But fate did its usual thing and spoilt my plans . But its really good that gwen is doing well and is finally done grieving All three are snuggled up on a perch together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
