speedqueen Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 I have been putting my new little hen, ( well i say little she's bigger than my girls already and she's only 14 weeks tomorrow! ) in the run seperated from my 3 girls for around a week or so now so they get used to seeing her around. I have introduced them to each other one at a time, but she is quite 'skitty' and squarks everytime one goes near her, which in turn makes them peck her! They always go for her face too, the poor thing. They seem to like pecking the top of her beak and made it bleed. but my ginger one ( a warren hybrid, says a knowledgeable chooker from here ) is having non of it. She is not a happy chook at all with the new comer! She is 'stalking' her through the run i'm worried that with the 3 of them they may gang up on her? Any suggestions? She is sleeping in a rabbit hutch on her own at night and then i put her in her seperate run, within the run every morning. Do you think it's just a matter of time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 I think you are doing the right thing keeping her separate for the time being. When you do introduce them it is best to let them free range together for short periods. After a while put her in at night to wake up with the old ones. Then be up early to pull her out if needed. If she is bleeding it is best to take her out. I only know this as I've just been through it. It was painstakingly slow but worth it. Apparently introducing one chicken on it's own is harder could you add another at the same time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedqueen Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share Posted May 5, 2011 Unfortunately dont think there would be sufficient room for another. We only took this one as a rescue from a neighbours nephew! (you know the type.......oooh a cute fluffy chick......then they realise they poop alot, etc...etc..... ) She has spent most of her time in the kitchen so i think she thinks she's a German Shepherd as she's not faized by him at all!!! Hubby said pop them together at night but i dont want them waking up in the morning and attacking her in the confines of the night house before we get chance to let them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Do you have a secure run? I do (on the eglu) so left the eglu door open so they could come straight out when they woke up, Obviously with the run closed. I also hung broccoli and bananas, put a cane 'wall' for the new ones to hide behind. Put extra food and water around (the old ones will feel the need to guard food ) Generally anything I could think of to keep them busy until I got up. Then I rushed down to them with a water pistol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedqueen Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share Posted May 5, 2011 Ha Ha! a water pistol! Now there's an image trotting round the garden in your pj's brandishing a gun at your chooks still i bet it works well! Yes they are in a secure coop so we could do that. I also have been putting the food next to each other so they are in effect 'eating from the same place' and making sure when i throw in the corn treats that it's right up to the enclosure so they peck at it together but safely. Suppose it'll be just a matter of time and perseverence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 Ha Ha! a water pistol! Now there's an image trotting round the garden in your pj's brandishing a gun at your chooks . Yep pretty much! And yes it works (actually I used a spray cleaner with a jet on and emptied it and filled with water) it works because it shocks them. My aim wasn't great though but they got the idea! it is a matter of time as you say. Don't try and rush to put them together. I left mine 2 weeks but that was 3 new into existing 3. Some people leave it longer, some don't bother at all. I am a big softy and hated watching the new ones getting beat up. But it's now been 4 weeks since I bought the new girls and they are all in together and (generally) getting on ok now, this is the first day I can say that. At one stage I was looking into new but pleased I stuck with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
