Wantchooks Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 After poor Helen went to the happy hunting ground, I decided to get another chook. So I thought, get three more (as you do) and hopefully tried to introduce them all....... Dearie me today. Have been trying for two weeks now and my three older hens are so damn vicious! One in particular seems to egg on the others! I have a 12x8 run with a cube outside, and have now put a wooden coop with small run inside. I let them into each alternatively, change them around each night, let the new girls into the garden whilst the others have the whole run, and vice versa. I even fenced off some of the garden, so that they could have half each. It seems that they are fine while they have something between them (even if only a thin net) but as soon as the boundary has gone, the original hens chase and attack. I admit it is not soo bad as the first time, but when do you bite the bullet and just let them get on with it???? Should I now be trying to integrate them at night? Help please before I put three hens up to the highest bidder! PS The originals are lightsussex/RIR cross brown hens, and the new 3 are a bluebelle, columbine & a black rock (I think) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 I'd start splitting them up - and moving them around constantly, to confuse them. Divide and conquer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wantchooks Posted September 28, 2010 Author Share Posted September 28, 2010 When you say split them up....is that as in one old girl in with the new ones or what? They have been FR ing a bit this afternoon together but as soon as the newbies go where the other dont want them they will chase them off and woe betide anyone caught behind or in a confined space! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Like Egluntyne, we use divide and conquer too - I put the new ones in the cube run and then if you have separate accomodation, swap them all around everyday for about a week. We have just successfully done some more introductions (had them since July, but they were too young to go in until last week) and also find that plenty of perches and feed stations make life easier for the newbies too. Good luck and remember you will still get squabbles for the next couple of weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wantchooks Posted September 28, 2010 Author Share Posted September 28, 2010 Poached egg - I take it that you kept each set together? The thought of mixing them up worries me. Did think of grouping 4 and 2, ie the quietest of the old girls in with the new 3, but one new one with two of the old ones would be murdered methinks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
