Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Jigsaw1711]

Hello there

 

Can anyone offer any advice or had a similar experience? We are chicken novices!

 

We bought a new Buff sussex last weekend 'Pumpkin'. She is approx 17 weeks old, She is the sweetest little hen and so tame, we bought her to join my 2 light sussex hens 'Sage and onion' who we have had for approx 6 weeks- they are approx 19 weeks old. None have layed any eggs yet. When we put her in the run there was quite a bit of upset and Onion went for her a couple of times (Pecking / feather pulling / screaching). We found this distressing so we separated them in the run but they could still see each other. Today we have let them run together- the attacking has stopped so they must be getting used to her but she spends most of the day on her own and the other 2 don't bother with her/just do their own thing (they give her the odd peck when she gets in the way), which is quite sad for poor little Pumpkin. They have been sleeping together at night time and we've been getting up early in the morning before it gets light to let them out.

we 've read every chicken advice book going in the last couple of days and realise now that introducing 1 hen at a time is not a good idea and not recommended! Will the 3 of them ever become friends? Would getting another hen cause more problems?

[sari]

It will settle down, I have 3, was 4, but Selma ran off and got eaten.....and my littley was a bit of a victim, but has stood her ground, and still bottom chook, is part of the flock. They all lay in the sun together, and dustbathe...it may improve..took 3 weeks for us...as I believe all the books say!

[Jigsaw1711]

Thanks for your reply- poor selma! Sage nearly got eaten a couple of weeks ago by my cocker spaniel but somehow she survived the ordeal! They're tougher than they look!

[sari]

We've not had eggs yet either...I'm not holding out any hope! I had 4 from a huge mixed flock, so I assumed they would ok, but obviously it took a while to settle, and actually, Selma was not top chook, but biggest bully. Poor Selma...neatly decapitated..I assume by Mr fox. Fingers crossed your girls settle down x x

[Guest]

It will settle down it can take some time.

The best bet is to always introduce 2 hens together then the brunt wont all be put on 1 hen. But hopefully you have hens who are calm. I know light sussex are relatively nice to newcomers good luck.

[Minnie&Moose]

As others have said it will settle down and eventually you'll have a flock instead of a pair and a singleton. But in my limited experience it takes time and you don't really see it until the process is completed. Good luck.

[Redwing]

It will sort itself out in time, just watch for any bloodshed and intervene if that occurs

 

I'm not sure that chickens feel lonely if they are in a little group - as long as she has some company I wouldnt worry about it

[Egluntyne]

If squabbles are over food, it is a good idea to have several feed and drink 'stations' about the place, so that no-one goes hungry.

[Jigsaw1711]

Thanks for your replies. Hopefully they will get better, she is so sweet and thinks i'm her best friend at the moment. I've tried giving them some treat in the afternoons at the same time whilst i'm there- that seems to help them mingle abit more- chicken therapy!

[Thalia]

This sounds like Selene, our lone hen after her companion died so all my plans went astray when it came to introducing her to my two older ones. She has been wandering about doing her own thing but seems happy enough. I've been trying to divide and conquer by letting her free range with one older one at a time, which does seem to have gone quite well. They also all sleep together in the eglu and I get up early to separate them.

 

Tomorrow I'm biting the bullet and hoping that if they all wake up together in the Eglu and go out into the run together they might gel as a flock. If not then I'll be separating them again for a bit! Many food and water stations do seem to be essential as those are the areas they fight over, that and treats.