HELP aggressive chicken

[darkwoodali]

I know there's a lot of advice on the forum already on introducing new chickens to each other but I'm a bit confused. We brought home our first lovely girls on Thursday (one Amber Lee and one Black Star) and are so smitten we're already thinking of adding more. When I asked the lady at the place we bought our first, she said that there wouldn't be a problem doing this as if they all come from the same place then they all smell the same. However reading some of the stories on the forum I'm a bit worried about fights. Is she right? I expect there will still be some issues as they settle their pecking order but I'm now terrified about it getting out of hand! Guess it's clear I'm a novice at this...

[Mollie333]

I wouldn't think it was the 'smell', as i have got chickens from the same place and they have pecked each other. But if you only got them on Thursday, they will probably still be sorting the pecking order out. So if you introduce now they should be fine in a few weeks.

 

I'd always introduce in two's, as if there is any problems the new hen won't get lonely.

 

Good luck.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You may well find that as they've all arrived at much the same time, they'll get on fine. You should probably have some form of alternative accommodation in mind just in case though!

 

Alternatively, if you're around most of the time, a watchful eye and a water pistol might be all you need .

[chuckmum6]

Your flock isn't really established the sooner you get some new ones the quicker they will settle, there will probably be some feathers flying but not too many!

[darkwoodali]

Won't be able to pick up the new ones until the 23rd and thinking I'll get a run extension in order to give them all a bit more space. At the moment Peppa (as in Pig - my 2yr old has chosen the names) isn't letting Egg (he is only 2!!!) into the during the day and although it's pretty cold out there Egg doesn't seem to mind too much as she's got access to the food and water. Haven't seen too many fights yet. Does the water pistol thing really work? Is that the best way to break up any fights?

[madchickenlady]

I find the best thing to do is to allow plenty of space, and let them more or less get on with it. I only ever intervene if blood is drawn. I also do intro's very slowly, although some swear by chucking them all in together and letting them duke it out

[NatalieC]

I had no problems at all introducing new girls, the breeder said to keep them separate until the evening when I should put the new ones in the Eglu when the old girls were settled and just let them all out together the following morning. They sorted out the pecking order themselves without any trauma or distress. I made sure that I put extra food stations out so that the new girls could get a go at the food but it was all fine. When I get my next lot I will do exactly the same thing without any concerns.

[darkwoodali]

Thanks that's all very reassuring. Am getting excited again now, instead of scared. Goodness knows what names the little fella will come up with next though.

[koo2cat]

My last experience of integrating two new chickens to my flock of 6 went really well. I kept the newbies in my spare eglu alongside the permanent chicken run for a week. There was a bit of posturing from the old girls but nothing much really. After a week I let the old girls free range around the new girls whilst still in their eglu run. After another week they all free ranged together without any problems and so I decided to put them all in together. The only problem I had was that the old girls were reluctant to let the others into the cube at night so I had to lift them in manually for two nights. Take it slowly at first and speed up if things go well but remember you can always go back a step if things aren't working out! Good luck!

[Space Chick]

The key with intros is watch for trouble and be ready to intervene.

 

I have successfully completed 7 sets of intros now, which have taken between 5 days and 6 weeks. Every set is different

[darkwoodali]

Hoorah! Picked up two new girls on the weekend and followed the advice of the the lady that sold them - kept my original two out in the run, put the new girls in the coop, then when bedtime came let them all in the coop together. There was a bit of squawking but all were intact and unharmed in the morning (although Sylvia was hiding on top of the divide between the roosting area and the nesting box). Peppa did her usual trick of not letting the new girls into the coop during the day for just the one day but since then they all seem to have worked it out and are getting on. Lovely to see them all. Thanks for all the advice!

[Plum]

Congratulations, glad it went well but you know the rules - where are the pictures