snailsandchickens Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 HELP I have just got two more birds to add to my four that I have had for 6 mth and they were fine when I first put them in now they are fighting the new birds are backing down but the others are drawing blood from their combs what should I do I only have one run and coop and should I treat their cuts??? Please help me to sort this out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Hi, I'm no expert and I'm sure someone more knowing will come along but I would use violet spray on blood as others will keep pecking them. Do you have cat carrier, dog cage or ckn wire? I would really recommend separting them but keeping them in sight of each other and maybe letting them fr together once healed up. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snailsandchickens Posted January 27, 2011 Author Share Posted January 27, 2011 I will try it I just went out and saw that my Speckled hen has a nasty cut on her wattle would you use tea tree oil on them as an antibacterial? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 If they are drawing blood you REALLY need to separate them. Chickens are drawn to blood and they will just keep getting attacked. Is there any way you can separate your run? Say with garden canes threaded through the wires to make a divide, or some chicken wire? As Donna C said, you can use a dog or cat crate as a temporary coop for them til things settle down. Not sure about tea tree oil, it might be a bit strong. If you don't have purple spray you might be best to just leave the cuts and clear away any blood that you can. Be prepared for the intros to take a little while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Really recommend the purple antiseptic spray as they will keep attacking if they see blood. One of mine had a gnawing wound on her wing from a painful moult and the others started pecking at it because of the blood. The purple spray stopped any infection and disguised the blood so it didnt attract attention from the other birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snailsandchickens Posted January 27, 2011 Author Share Posted January 27, 2011 have i done the right thing by putting in the new birds with our existing chickens or should i have done it different and shall i put them into the cat box for the night and let them back in in the morning but keep them in the same coop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I think always best to have them saparate for a while incase they do have anything wrong with them and to let girls get used to them. Some people do say just put them together but i think best to take it step by step. a cat box will give them a rest for tonight but still think best to keep them separate for now but in sight of each other, unless you are around with a water pistol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 What breed do you have ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I personally wouldn't put newbies straight in with oldies it works for some but I stick to the slow intro method. Ideally you want some kind of divide between the two where they can see but not get to each other to begin with then try freeranging your lower ranking hen/s with the newbies if that goes okay add another hen to the free range but have a hose or water pistol at the ready to break up any fights even chicken wire or garden canes anything you can cobble together is better than having nothing. Perhaps try freecycle even an old rabbit hutch would suffice. There is an excellent sticky all about intos on the forum someone with the IT know how can probably add a link for you not me though I am a IT numpty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 Hi, How are they this morning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snailsandchickens Posted January 28, 2011 Author Share Posted January 28, 2011 Hello thanks for asking they are still fighting but i went and got some anti pecking spray that also has some anti bacterial init and got into the coop and gave them all a good spray even the older girls no blood this morning but as I was spraying some of the stuff went in my mouth and it was grim they wont be pecking each other for long I haven separated them I was going to see how they got on with this spray the lady at the farmers co-op said you can get things to over their beaks? I need to find some if they don't stop I put some purches into the run to add a bit of veriaty just keeping an eye on Henny who seems to be top chook at the mo I thought it was Elli. Thankyou again for all your help and advise everyone I love this forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
