Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Ange1]

Right, I'll try to explain my problem without waffling too much! :roll

A week ago we bought two new girlies to introduce to our two old (2 years old) girls.

They had a week in the garden together separated by Omlet netting and the new girls sleeping in a plastic and metal guinea pig cage in the greenhouse!

There were a few pecks through the netting but not too bad.

On Saturday we decided they aught to meet properly so we let them free-range in the garden whilst we cleaned out the Eglu (they have an extended run then further omlet netting for further playing space!)

They chase the newbies but oddly enough it's Margot who is the worse (who is bottom hen) she was jumping on the newbies' back and pulling at their features, no blood drawn yet

Any how when it came to bedtime, the newbies tried to go into the omlet run and Margot kept running out of the eglu to chase them out! This carried on until almost dark. I am afraid I gave in and went to fetch the guinea pig cage and bless them they came running to me as if to say, 'yes please that's where we sleep'! They were already used to it.

Last night though, not sure if we did the right thing, we removed Margot and put her in the greenhouse and let the two newbies to go into the Omlet run and eventually into the eglu itself! Ethel, the top hen gave a customary peck but they did settle.

This morning we let the three out of the run and Ethel was at one end and the other two were at the end of the omlet run! Then we fetched Margot in her guinea pig cage and Ethel seemed anxious to be reunited with Margot!

So we're not sure what to do now, we realise Margot is only putting the newbies in their place as it's her chance to be long longer the bottom hen, but if she wont even let them in the omlet run, let alone the eglu then not sure how to progress, if we make a temporary house at the other end of the omlet run then at one point will they eventually live happily ever after, or may they never?! That wouldn't be a problem but I know we wont be able to make a house that is warm enough for the winter and can't afford another eglu.

Thanks for reading all this, REALLY need your wise words and suggestions so i know what to do next, strange that the top hen Ehtel, is very placid and it's the bottom hen Margot being the bully, could it be that Margot is trying for top spot?!

Here's hoping for help

thanks ever so

xxxx

[C&T]

A week is very quick. Having said that, chooks do need to sort out their pecking order, and they do that by pecking. If no blood is drawn, and they have plenty of space to run around and escape from each other, and you are around to keep an eye on events, I would be tempted to let them get on with it - they have to sort themselves out at some point.

 

However, if blood is being drawn, or you can't keep an eye on them, I would keep then seperate for a while longer - 1 week really isn't very long for introducing 2 to 2 from what I understand.

[Old Speckled Hen]

Yes I think you just have to take longer.

I had three 2 1/2 year olds in a wooden coop and I introduced two hens and a cockerel of about 14 weeks.

They had a separate arc which they lived in for a week with the old girls free ranging around them. Then I let them free range with netting in between them for 2 weeks followed by 2 weeks free ranging together but still having their own accommodation.

Then the fun and games started when the Cube arrived.

The babies went straight in at their usually earlier bed time followed about an hour later by the big chooks.

What a kerfuffle!!!!

The babies got squashed into the nest box to sleep where they remain still two weeks later.

The older hens rise first and monopolise the run and food. Sometimes the youngsters come out to perch on high perches I've put up so that they can get away from the three fat ladies who can't get up there or they will stay in the coop till I let the older ones out and shut them out of the run.

I hope the cockerel gets his hormones soon and sorts everybody out

I have to go away for a few days in two weeks so they will have to live together

Best of luck and let us know how you get on.

[dancing cloud]

Could you let the newbies have the choice of where to sleep, just for the time being? Perhaps if they have the option of the guinea-pig cage at the end of the eglu run or nearby till Margot is a bit more friendly, it'll put less pressure on the situation. If they're anything like mine were when introduced, the newbies will start to follow the "big" girls to bed very quickly and you can then remove the cage.

 

With my second batch of ex-batts, I introduced 3 to 6 (not ideal) and expected the 3 to stick to their at bedtime, but no. After a couple of days of free-ranging together, all 9 packed into the to sleep and lay, and the didn't get a second look . Only with the arrival of did they eventually spread out again

[figarogir1]

I am in week 2 of intros at the moment too and it is my bottom chook who is being the biggest bully as well I think they do see it as their chance to not be at the bottom! Mine have FRd together since Saturday but the babies stay in the WIR out of the way most of the time they are slowly getting braver and I think it is just a case of taking it slowly.

Good luck

[Minnie&Moose]

Interesting that your less dominant hen is being more difficult. I've noticed the same thing during each of the 3 intros I've done - Moose, the top hen doesn't do much initially other than eat the newbies food and lay in their eglu. But the second ranked hen, on each occasion has been the most aggressive bird, even when introducing 2 to 4. I think perhaps the top hen doesn't have to assert herself so much; it's the ones lower down the pecking order who are more threatened by new birds.

[Eggasperated]

That explains a lot. Carol, the bottom one of my two original girls, has been quite aggressive with the new girls, chasing and pecking for no particular reason. However Alice has just been wandering into their eglu and eating their food, then into their nest box to lay an egg, I wondered why she had given up using the nest box in her own house.

Mine are on week 3 of free ranging together and I'm hoping to get them all sleeping together soon but I'm worried that as Fearne and Jo still seem quite immature that they're not quite ready for it.