Alis girls Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 I lost a girl at the weekend and OH wants me to get another. reason being "I like having 3" I think he hopes it will help me get over the sadness I feel at losing her far too early. I know I am being stupid and "its only a hen" but she was my favourite and was always up for a pick up and cuddle - the others are a bit more stand offish. Hes studied the diagram on the chicken page of the coop someones OH made to make introductions easy and thinks he could make one. I have a Go so more than one wouldnt be an option. In some ways its a good time as hes not working and can keep an eye on proceedings - I dont want another as i can't replace my girl - i have my eye on a Sussex, the other option - could I fit 2 bantums in with two or would they be beaten up? A bigger coop ie cube isnt an option as we have to be careful as he isnt working. He has been wonderful over the weekend - helping me bath her at 8am on Sat morning and coming to the vet with me. I think hes taken to them as much as I have - I know I am very lucky. Thanks for listeining. Sorry can't do linky things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Hi, i know how you must be feeling its so difficult losing a hen. I guess i was lucky in a way as i got my banties just before we lost our girl. Not sure what to advise you to do. Either way whatever chook you choose to get will be in for a bit of a bashing! I know some people keep bantams and normal hens together and i am sure they will be along soon with some good advice! Whatever you decide remember you are not being disloyal to your lost girl, just moving on.It might feel too soon but sometimes there is never a "right time". Good luck and keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 It may be possible to introduce 1 on 2, but you would need alternative sleeping arrangements for the new ones for a couple of weeks (even if its just a cardboard box somewhere). You could have another 2 bantams in the go, but, as above, it would take a couple of weeks at least to get them properly settled with the bigger girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy kc Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 I am very sorry to hear you lost your girl,its always harder when its your favourite. Lots of people say its best not to keep bantams with bigger hens but I have a black pekin who lives with my big girls. She originally lived with 3 other bantams but managed to get into the big girls run, everytime I took her out she would be back in again in 5 minutes.I just leave her to it now. It is easier to introduce 2 hens than 1 so I would go for a couple of bantams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 I too would go for the couple of banties option. at least they will have each other if the big girls are ganging up, whereas with just one newbie its very easy for the original ones to pick on her. I've always mixed banties with big girls with no problem, at one stage our flock had a golden sebright (blackbird size!) and a buff orp (tank size!) and in fact they were the best friends. I would avoid banties like Polands which cant really see it because I think they are easy to pick on... Otherwise there's loads of advice about intros on here - slowly slowly, make sure they have space to escape each other and plenty of food/water stations. good luck, and sorry for the loss of your chook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 So sorry to hear that you've lost one of your girlies I got two new girls on Friday morning & kept them in a cage by the run so that my old girls could see them & put them all in the Eglu together when the old girls went to bed, there was a bit of noise but they settled down, the next day was another story with the old girls attacking the new ones something awful, I felt terrible for bringing them into this. I let the oldies out to free range a few times during the day so the newbies get a bit of peace and quiet so that they can eat and drink, but they only come out of the Eglu when Lulu & Fifi are in the garden, when they are all together Fifi goes into the Eglu and has a bit of a go at the newbies but it does seem to be getting less and the protests are now more of an "ouch" than the terrified screams that they were So fingers crossed in a few days things will settle down and they'll all manage to be in the run at the same time. Don't be pushed into getting another girl yet if you aren't ready, introductions are rarely easy and may be an additional stress you can do without, however whatever you do decide there's always plenty of advice on here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Sorry to hear about your little girl. When you are ready to get another chook I'd suggest getting two banties, but taking care what breed you get. Pekins can be feisty little gals and are good at holding their own so that might be an idea. As others have said they would at least have one another. You could ask your supplier if they would leave you the option of returning them should intros prove difficult. I've only ever introduced one hen on her own, once. It wasn't a disaster but she has never quite integrated with my other hens. They don't boss her around but she is somehow always on her own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
