Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[cavysqueak]

We've recently intergrated two 'older' girls and three newbies. The problem is that the newbies are really skittish and have taken to hiding in the unless myself or my husband are there. They come down in the morning for their initial layers mash & mealworms, then they hide back in the cube. The older girls do have a peck at them almost whenever they go past, so I can understand their trepidation, but by running away it has made the situation much worse!

 

This is only the second morning that they've been together, so am I being impatient? Will they sort it out in the next few days? I'm a bit worried that the newbies won't get enough food & water. We've put two sources of food & water away from each other in the run so they should have access to it. They are let out to FR at about 1pm, but I'm also concerned that the newbies will just wait until then, so won't feed on the proper pellets.

 

Any ideas? Thanks.

[esta]

I've intergrated some youngsters in with my other hens too and there was some s"Ooops, word censored!"ping etc. However after a week they had settled down and were fine with each other.

They do still get a peck now and then even though they are older, but they get along fine, I would wait a little longer, you will be suprised

 

Esta x

[cavysqueak]

Thanks.

 

I have to say that the pecking seems to be less today. Also the newbies seem to come out much more quickly when I'm there - and one of them almost tried to drink out of the same container as one of the older ones!

 

I'm hoping for continued progression ....

[hennyjenny]

Be patient it just takes time. Put in more food pots and water pots so there is not competition for these - a new hen of mine once guarded the food pots and wouldn't let the older hens near without a fight, of course it can happen the other way around, the older ones defending their territory and food. When I introduced a newbie once, it took three weeks before things settled down and I could say I had one flock. It's good that you have a group of newbies and not just one. It can be stressful as they sort the pecking order out but they are just being hens. If one is a bully remove her for a day/night to a pen on her own before putting her back in. Good luck.

[majuka]

Good luck with the introductions, glad that things are getting easier.

 

As others have said, try and make sure there are multiple food and water sources avaliable. When we first introduced the new girls we thought there would always be sqabbling but things did settle down and fairly quickly. For a long time it was two groups, old and new, when they were free ranging but in the run they happily mixed after a surprisingly short peroid of time.