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[KateCooke]

Introducing new hen into flock - HELP!

 

Hi

I have 4 bantams that I have had nearly a year.

My friend needed to rehome a bantam that her large fowl had picked on and pecked so I stepped forward and was very excited to be adding another chuck.

I first introduced her into the run in the evening but they straight away attacked her so I took her out and put her in an old rabbit hutch.

* Last Monday received new Partridge Wynnedotte Bantam

* Last Tuesday moved her into hutch by herself.

* Tues/Wed and Thurs I let the new hen out a lot to free range (as the hutch had no run), and then let the rest of the flock out at different times, they still manage to see each other as hutch just next to the eglu run.

* Fri I let them all out together to free range, there was a little fighting but the new Partridge was being braver and they were not pecking her

* Sat they free ranged again and seemed good

* Saturday night after night fall I put the new girl in with the others.

 

Since then they have picked on her so much its heart breaking, she stays in teh eglu until one of them chases her out, they then chase her round the run, she sits down low while they all have a peck at her and then they chase her back into house. She only eats and drinks when i let them out into the garden.

 

Last night we sprayed her with the very stinky anti peck spray

Tonight I have put water and food into the eglu but would love advice

 

I know that I have not done things right so far but what can I do now?

Some people recommend another hen so i introduce two, should i still consider this still?

 

All advice most appreciated

 

Kate

[Olly]

Don't panic! A long slow introduction is best, but it is not too late to sort things out. You say she's being chased and picked on, but is she being pecked badly, has any blood been drawn, or is she just being told off very firmly?

 

It's normal - even after a slow introduction - for the new hen to be chased and given a hard time. It may be best just to carry on now you've got this far, as long as no blood is being drawn. Put extra feeders and drinkers in so that she can get to some of it and just keep an eye out. It may take a week or two but gradually she'll merge with the flock.

 

The alternative is back to the start - separate her, let them see each other free ranging, put her in at night but keep them apart during the day, and do it very gradually. I'd go for the first option to be honest, if you think she's not being injured. Don't attribute human emotions to them, we'd be very miserable if it happened to us, but it's actually making her feel secure as she knows her place!

[Plum]

Agree with Olly you've not done anything wrong it just takes a bit longer with some. As Olly says it helps putting in extra food and water and I'd also put in extra perches, flower pots, piles of bricks or obstacles she can jump on or pop behind to get some respite.

 

If you decide to go back a stage you could try introducing her to her new 'friends' singly and then introducing both back to them. A number of people have reported success with divide and conquer who have struggled with other ways

[CharLeila]

I recently introduced 2 new girls to my existing 3. I have an area netted off around my cube which I had seperated with more netting; the old in one side and the new in the other. they had an old cat carrier as a nesting box (not that they are laying) and at night I closed the cube door and put the cat carrier in under the cube. I did this for almost 2 weeks and then FR'd them together under supervision for about an hour each night. Then I started to put the new girls in the cube through the egg port once the other girls were asleep. This worked a treat and now, after 3 ish weeks, they are all happily together.

as Olly says, a long slow introduction is best!

Hope that helps