Auto door randomly closing during the day

[Chicken Kitty]

We picked up our 3 sussex bantam girls this morning

All seemed to be going well as we watched them in the run for the first half hour.....I popped into the house for 2 mins and when I came back out they were in the eglu but I can see two spots of blood on the roosting bars HELP! That was about 10 mins ago and they are all still quietly in the eglu.....so I have left them alone to try to get used to they new home without the children, or us, getting to close and upsetting them....but not sure what has happened or what to do Very worried!.....any advice would be gratefully received.

[percy049]

Keep an eye out for bullying (e.g feather pecking, and a hen not letting another eat or drink). If the bullying does persist, use anti-peck spray.

[lindafw]

try not to panic...they are just sorting out their pecking order. If it was really bad they wouldn't be sitting together. Just keep and eye on them follow the advice already given.

[chuckmum6]

It will take time, it might even be worth just closing them up in the nest box for an hour so they can calm down, dark is good for them to do this in. I would just keep an ear on any squawking though. Then you could put a few tasty treats out for them to eat, this will help distract them for a little while and help them to see you as a good mum who gives them nice things (you'll soon have them eating out of your hand!).

 

It will take few days for the pecking order to be sorted, you could put a perch (garden cane threaded through the bars) or cat box in, so there are places for the lower members of you flock to escape to.

[Chicken Kitty]

Thank you for the good advice

They are still in the eglu but seem happy snuggled up together with no obvious signs of bullying. I sprinkled some corn just ouside and they soon popped their heads out the eglu to eat it!

I have some anti-peck spray in case and I'll go and put some canes through the run.....and I'll try not to panic

They are so gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!! I want them to come out so we can take some photos and decide on their names!

[Plum]

Congratulations, its early days yet but sounds good.

 

Wouldn't worry about a couple of spots of blood but do look out for any wounds. Perhaps pick them up tonight when locked up to give them a quick check over

[Tweety]

They will be easier to pick up in the evening once they have gone into the eglu to roost so, as Plum suggests, I would give them a quick check over then. It doesn't sound too serious though, just keep an eye on them until they have sorted out the pecking order.