Chicken shack Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 (edited) It was 26 days ago that I brutally put two new girls in the with my original three. At last all is well. My OH couldn't wait to tell me yeaterday when I got home from work that when he gave them their afternoon treats they all joined in the feast. Today I watched them all together FR with only a few reminders of who was here first. I deffinatly have NOT got 'MORE HENS DESEASE' The thought of introducing new girls again fills me with horror. I hope my five live for ever. I did discover one of the new girls has lice at the weekend and had to give all five a dousing. I will repeat this weekend and now I know they are all feeding well I will worm them all. This has all been a learing curve for me. Thanks to everyone who has offered support and advice. What would we all do without our Omleteer friends. Edited February 20, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Silly question I know, but did you just put the new ones straight in with the old ones ? Just wondering because if I got any more I would probably have to do that as I have no spare space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 I have just got three new girls. although they are seperate at the moment I am thinking about putting them all in at night together probably in a couple of weeks on A friday so I can watch them all weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted February 15, 2011 Author Share Posted February 15, 2011 Yes I did put them all in together from day one. The girl I got them from said that was the best way. I would never do it like that again. They were all ok when they were asleep but the 3 original girls bullied the two new girls who were unable to come out into the run from the I had to put food and water in there for them. I then put a perch just out side the entrance with small containers of food and stopped feeding inside the but leaving water in there for them. They then spent most of the time perched and wouldn't come down. It was only yesterday that things changed. Also I found lice on one of the new girls. I will look out for an old Eglu and run and will isolate new girls for a few weeks, worm and de-lice and then introduce them very slowly by FR at first. I hope that I don't have to get any new girls for some time to come though. A very worrying few weeks. But hay ho all is well in the hen house now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Great news it must be a really nice feeling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 I am off work today and have spent most of the day outside with the girls. It was so nice to see them all togther instead of the new girls cowering in the corner or refusing to come out of the run. They are occasionally put in there place but that is to be expected. I sat on the garden bench and they all jumped up to be made a fuss of, with the exception of Jasmin. I was able to check them over and there appears to be no more live on nasties. I gave them all another dusting of lice powder just in case. My next job is to worm them. Oh yes OH named the new girls Drumstick and Nugget so I will add this to my signature. I am a mummy now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Well I am at exactly the same stage in days as you Chicken shack, but my Silkie is just not settling in. She is so docile that the others don't even bother actually pecking her any more- they just run at her and she either goes back inthe eglu and stays there for hours or if they are free ranging, she stays in one corner and the others wont let her return tothe run or the eglu. I am sure she has lost weight, and when I felt her crop last night, it was tiny, hardly anything in it. By contrast the tiny young Wyandotte is far more resilient and just dodges the bullies and goes where she wants. She tries to look after the silkie bless her, and often dodges the bullies to try to 'fetch ' the silkie back into the run. Unfortunately as soon as the Silkie plucks up the courage to try to make a dash for it, the bullies just run at her and wont let her pass. I can't see them ever being integrated. Have sent off for bumper bits out fo desperation, although even with them on, she will probably still be bullied as she runs awayat the sight of them, they don't even need to peck her anymore. Feeling really miserable about it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 Well I am at exactly the same stage in days as you Chicken shack, but my Silkie is just not settling in. She is so docile that the others don't even bother actually pecking her any more- they just run at her and she either goes back inthe eglu and stays there for hours or if they are free ranging, she stays in one corner and the others wont let her return tothe run or the eglu. I am sure she has lost weight, and when I felt her crop last night, it was tiny, hardly anything in it. By contrast the tiny young Wyandotte is far more resilient and just dodges the bullies and goes where she wants. She tries to look after the silkie bless her, and often dodges the bullies to try to 'fetch ' the silkie back into the run. Unfortunately as soon as the Silkie plucks up the courage to try to make a dash for it, the bullies just run at her and wont let her pass. I can't see them ever being integrated. Have sent off for bumper bits out fo desperation, although even with them on, she will probably still be bullied as she runs awayat the sight of them, they don't even need to peck her anymore. Feeling really miserable about it all. chickenNutter, it is so sad seeing them like it it breaks your heart. I nearly gave up and was going to take them to a friend who has 35 girls plus cockerels and plenty of space but I persevered. OH couldn't believe his eyes when they all came for their treats. The new girls had previously stayed on the perches or in the and wouldn't go on the run floor. I still can't tell a full crop from an emplty one. I am a bad mummy at times but am getting there. I am quite new to all this Aug last year. Keep at it and let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Have you tried squirting water at them when they run at her. You need to stop them in their tracks and get them out of the habit. Is she young still? I've found that as they mature they get a bit more confident and less easily chased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Plum, I have tried squirting water, and it stops them while I am out there, they know it is me! When I go indoors and watch out of the window they start it again. Midweek I spent a couple of hours in the freezing cold on two occasions sitting huddled up with the hosepipe! Yes Lilo Lil the silkie is only 6 months, but the Wyandotte is only about 15 weeks, bless her, and she is coping much better with it, and doesn't seem to fazed. The Silkie just seems petrified. I am going to spend all this weekend trying to improve things. Perhaps isolating one of the bullies for a while may help? The two of them seem to egg each other on (if you will excuse the pun!) They get her into a corner and will then leave her alone as long as she doesn't leave the corner. One move and they go for her. I wonder if her white colour marks her out as different? Crikey, I've got racist chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Hmmm difficult. I think divide and conquer may be the way to go. Good luck let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Thanks Plum, nightmare day to day. They free ranged together in 2 separate groups as usual, and I started to think they were slightly better until bedtime when all 3 chased Lilo Lil out of the second eglu in a horrible attack and Ruby the ringleader was jumping on her back with her claws like a fighting cock. I sent for some bumper bits which arrived today, and tried to put one on Ruby but despite two of us trying I couldn't get it on, and I think it hurt her, so I gave up. Really don't know what to try next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Could you divide the WIR with an eglu in each. Perhaps start with Ruby and others in one and the two new ones together then put one of the old ones in with them for a bit and if all well swop for another and keep doing it. I would leave Ruby to last to try and bring her down a bit. It's a faff but in the long run you could end up with a group that works Is Lilo lil a youngster still? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I think you could be right Plum, I have sent Asbo Chicken to Chicken Borstal (my friend's) for a fortnight, and I am concentrating on geting the other 4 settled together. I will see if that works, although dreading that despite the break, when I bring Ruby back again, she will be jus t as bad. I will have to wait and see. So far in the WIR, it has been much more peaceful though, with very little chasing from the other 2 old girls. They still went to bed in separate eglus though. Maybe one day...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 That's good. I think its best to let them at present then I would pop them in later so they wake up together. Good luck. Hope she doesn't have too rough a time in borstal. At least she'll have it in for all of them when she comes back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I've put Lola in the sin bin today as she was the only one really going for the new girls, the others were just half heated pecking and a bit of chasing. She can stay there for at least a month as she is a bully and a persitant feather pecker. i do feel mean putting her on her own but a least she is in the WIR with the others she just can't get to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 That's good to hear that they have settled as we are in the same boat! We put three newbies in with our 1 yest afternoon and the 1 keeps chasing and pecking a bit and doing what yours was doing. Will get some perches sorted. I a bit worried now as we have a silkie too and she's a bit shy and docile, but the other two newbies do stand up for her and seem to be doing quite a good job of looking after her. I look forward to the day when peace is restored! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Forgot to add that one of the newbies did come out into the run while Matilda (our older one!) was in there, our new one Willow did scrab about in the run but stayed close to the eglu door, but at least that's a start I suppose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 Here are the images of all five happy girls feeding together after 4 long weeks and pictures of Drumstick and Nugget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyChickenLover- Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 (edited) Great to see that they've settled in Your girls are very beautiful. Also, I'm jealous of your lawn! I wish mine was that way againbut the combination of chickens and people walking down the garden to get to the chickens has reduced my garden mud! Edited February 20, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 They are gorgeous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
