amber-pants Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 ~Hi all, This is the first time i have posted on here, as usually my fella posts any enquiries but he is away on work this week and i really need help and advice as to what to do for the best! Basically we had 3 chickens and an Eglu delivered in Dec and everything was brilliant, all laid daily most days until sadly about 2-3 weeks ago i found one of my girls had died whilst laying (we assume it was a prolapse), we continued with the 2 we have and decided we would look at getting a cube and getting a couple (or a garden full if i let him) more. I was than shown the video about the closing farm near Silverstone so i agreed to him going to collect 2 more on Sunday, we now have 2 new beautiful chickens. However the our first 2 are pecking the new 2, one of them (Whisky) has been pecked really badly on her bottom end that she is bleeding- she has red feathers , and when i had a look closer at the 2nd new one (Brandy) i have spotted she has got slight pecking too... What can i do??? At the moment i have put the naughty 2 (i stood and watched Tilly peck Whisky, and then Miranda attempt it after) into the run and shut the door leaving Whisky and Brandy to roam the garden freely. I have tried to clean up a very scared Whiskys bum area. I have also ordered some antipeck and antiseptic stuff (on the orders of the boss lol) So my question is- am i doing right? What can i do to minimise this? It seems to be worse when they are all shut up at night but we only have 1 eglu classic aat current. PLEASE HELP ME I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY GIRLS xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 ours take it it turns to sleep in the garage, as we've only just got some new ones, and they still fight when put in the house together. It would be best if you let the new girls sleep somewhere else (as your old girls sees them as a threat, as they have stolen their old house and garden!) Try and keep them separated as much as you can, we rotate the girls around the WIR, garden, Omlet run and garage to keep them separate. It should help after you've put some anti-peck spray on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Aw im sorry your having problems so soon after getting your chickens, try and cover up the blood as much and as quickly as you can because they will be attracted to the blood and keep on pecking and pecking. Introducing new chickens should ideally be done very slowly, keeping them seperated for weeks if necessary, until they have got used to each other. Your original girls will be fighting to keep their place in the pecking order. Seperate your old and new girls as best you can and if possible within sight and sound of each other so they can get used to each other. Theres some really really good advice here; http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=25886 Sorry, i cant get that link to work, if you go on the index page and look in the FAQ section under chickens, all you need to know about intros is there Good luck and let us know how you get Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amber-pants Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share Posted February 23, 2011 so seperating them is the best thing to do right now? I was worrying that by seperating them i would be causing more troubles. Asyou can tell i am very new to this and if Bri wasnt working away he would be dealing with it But as mummy i have to sort them out! I'm hoping the spray doesnt take too long to come as i ordered it first thing (once i got his bank card details haha) and put 1st class delivery... I just want happy chickens like we had before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Yes, keep them separated but within sight of each other as per the info about introductions. Have you got something such as a cat carrier that you can put the new girls in at night? Once the wounds have healed, and they have all got used to each other, you can introduce them again gradually. It can take some time, but it is worth taking it slowly. I have just introduced 4 ex batts to my existing flock after 2 months of living side by side, and there was quite a bit of argy bargy whilst the pecking order was being re-established, so don't worry if it takes a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 So sorry about your fighting situation, but if you look at other posts on here, you will see there are several of us introducing new chickens at the moment with all different experiences. I am having trouble with my 3 old girls picking on 2 newbies, even though I am 5 weeks in! Keeping them 'together but separate', as suggested for several weeks with gradual free ranging together is definitely the way to go. Keep checking in for other peoples posts on their progress and you may find something that will work with your chooks, and it is good for moral support so you know you are not the only one struggling at the moment! good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Separate out the injured one, she will need to recover properly, a dog cage or cat box or even a cardboard box would do for a couple of days CWG in Towcester and Bagforce in Brackley sell anti peck spray and also Purple Spray (found in the horsey section and labelled as 'Gentian Violet' this is antiseptic and will cover any redness really new chooks need to be introduced in a separate coop and run near to the existing one and over some time. there isnt a lot of room in a classic run for the newbies to get away from the others sadly and you'll probably continue to get problems for a few weeks. putting spare feeders and drinkers in the run will stop any squabbles over food/water (those little hook on pots are ideal) I live near Towcester and have a spare small section in my big run if the two new ones need time to recover while you rethink your stragegy, pm me if I can help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amber-pants Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share Posted February 23, 2011 Thank you all so much, as you can tell i'm just "the partner of the chicken daddy!" but as he is away ive had to step in and sort it out! After some great advice i have looked about and a friend is lending me a hutch to put my 2 new girls in over night and im going to put them in the conservatory as i dont feel safe leaving them out incase of foxes as we have a fair few in area and the hutch wont be as safe as our eglu. I have had them seperate today, im going to have to alternate 2 in run 2 out i think until chicken daddy comes home on friday to sort it properly. I have ordered the sprays. As i am putting them in the house in a hutch what do i need to do to make it comfy overnight for them?? I am extremely grateful for all your advice and support as i was quite upset earlier and didnt know what to do (team that witha poorly 7.5month old baby and a nearly 4 yr old on half term....) i feel slightly more in control now and like i partially know what im doing xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amber-pants Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share Posted February 23, 2011 Separate out the injured one, she will need to recover properly, a dog cage or cat box or even a cardboard box would do for a couple of days CWG in Towcester and Bagforce in Brackley sell anti peck spray and also Purple Spray (found in the horsey section and labelled as 'Gentian Violet' this is antiseptic and will cover any redness really new chooks need to be introduced in a separate coop and run near to the existing one and over some time. there isnt a lot of room in a classic run for the newbies to get away from the others sadly and you'll probably continue to get problems for a few weeks. putting spare feeders and drinkers in the run will stop any squabbles over food/water (those little hook on pots are ideal) I live near Towcester and have a spare small section in my big run if the two new ones need time to recover while you rethink your stragegy, pm me if I can help Thank you for the lovely offer - unfortunately im in derbyshire so a bit of a distance! Hopefully i'll be able to keep them happy til daddy returns to sort them all out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Aw you poor thing, with a baby and a 4 year old too Look, dont panic, chickens are tougher than you think, your doing the right thing seperating them and bringing them indoors overnight, that will give them a break from the other two. Put some paper/bedding/sawdust, whatever you use in the hutch and they will be absolutely fine until morning. Make sure they have their food and water available until they roost for the night, they wont need any during the night, just make sure its available to them in the morning and they'll be fine. Let us know tomorro how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 The hutch in the conservatory will work fine - put some aubiose/straw or similar on the floor, stand the hutch on an old rug or blanket as they will kick stuff out and make a mess Food and water can be put in a small bowl or as Redwing says in the hook on pots (galley pots) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amber-pants Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share Posted February 23, 2011 Aw you poor thing, with a baby and a 4 year old too Look, dont panic, chickens are tougher than you think, your doing the right thing seperating them and bringing them indoors overnight, that will give them a break from the other two. Put some paper/bedding/sawdust, whatever you use in the hutch and they will be absolutely fine until morning. Make sure they have their food and water available until they roost for the night, they wont need any during the night, just make sure its available to them in the morning and they'll be fine. Let us know tomorro how you get on Chicken daddy has a good habit of working away in half terms.... i'm sure he plans it!! LOL I think i started panicing when someone told me they could peck them to death and after i found Stevie in the Eglu so suddenly it kinda worried me ALOT, i've already ahd to try and explain to a nrly 4yr old why Whisky has red feathers on her bottom.. Thankfully she seemed to understand and keeps asking if she is better yet and why Tilly is being so naughty! I'm going to bring them in about 4.30pm when they are usually getting ready to go to bed, i have the hutch coming just after 4pm so if baby allows it i will get it all set up and sorted - biggest problem is the 2 new ones are faster than our old 2 and i had to run round the garden to get Whisky so i could clean her up... could be a stressful event LOL But will be worthit just for peace of mind i think xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 We've got a cardboard box filled with straw for them in the garage. We do have to take them off the worktop (as they try to roost there as it is the highest place), incase the fall of at night! We're letting them free range together more often now, but under constant supervision incase one gets cornered, and can't get out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amber-pants Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 Hi All! Good News, i managed to sort the situation til Bri returns latr today! The hutch went in the conservatory and night one i spent a good 45 minutes trying to catch the "Ooops, word censored!"s!! But they settled in ok and i let them back into the garden first thing - i even moved the hutch outdoors for daytime use if they wanted it! Last night about 5.30pm i went to check on them (i brought hut back in about 4.30pm ready for bedtime) and found Brandy stood at the door waiting to come in, and when i opened the door Whisky appeared too they both went into the hutch themselves and settled down lovely and went out first thing again this morning. I put the hut out again for daytime and i hear banging so went to check and found them both pecking my conservatory doors trying to get in... Bless As for Tilly and Miranda, they ahve been kept in the run until a second accomodation option is sorted.... Which bri (who says he hasnt got MHD..... hmmmmmmm) has decided to buy his today instead of waiting... I see us having a garden full by summer... (but he does have his money making schemes... lol) OOh and i had a little hunt round the garden when they went to bed last night and found a egg hidden behind my compost bin xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Good news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
