Omlet cube and run

[youkaygreen]

Our neighbour had a surprise this evening to find a small chicken running around his back garden. Knowing I keep them he questioned whether I'd lost one. I only have 3 and they were all present and correct so to cut a long story short I now have the stray in my fenced off chicken run. I think it's a bantam and it seems to have settled in straight away eating corn and drinking. At the moment I have my 3 chickens shut within the Eglu run making quite a noise.

Is it safe to let my chickens out to introduce themselves to my tiny newcomer?

[KimmyCustard]

Ooooo noooo, your girls will be very cross at the newbie and will peck her! She needs to be kept fenced off for her safety, if you get to keep her it takes approx 2 - 3 weeks (I think) to introduce a newbie to an existing flock and then its done slowly and under close supervision. I bet she's sweet - any pic?

[youkaygreen]

Thanx for the prompt advice Kimmy

Will try to get a pic tomorrow when it's lighter

[Tutti Frutti]

Aww she sounds a real sweetie ! No wonder your others are jealous Does she look healthy? Sure she's a she not a he? If you can, try to keep her away from your girls, just in case she's carrying any infections or other nasties - but I'm sure she'll be fine and you'll end up with a magical flock

[gongladosh]

We had similar with our bantam Chicken of Fate, Houdini.

 

It's perfectly possible to merge a bantam with an established flock of 3 full-size girls - we did exactly that.

 

What we did was keep ours separate for 2 weeks to check there's nothing wrong with her.

Then after that, we put her in a spare eglu that we have any didn't let them free range together

After 3 more weeks we allowed limited, supervised free-ranging. There were a number of pecks at first and we had to use anti-peck spray. The pecking went in order, ie week 1 was mainly from the top hen, then the week after , the henchman, then the ex-bottom hen.

 

After another 4 weeks or so the pecking started to subside and at that point we moved the eglu to be 1 foot away from the WIR so they could smell each other constantly.

 

After another 3 weeks we merged her in successfully.

 

She's part of the flock now and very happy! If I have any particular message, it is to take your time (it WILL take longer merging in a sole hen, and longer still for a bantam with big girls) but you can do it, just listen to the hens, all of them. They'll tell you when they're all ready.

[Egluntyne]

I'd quarantine it for a while. Also, are you certain that someone hasn't let it go because it is a cockerel?

 

If it is a girl and you decide to keep it, there is some advice in the FAQ section about managing introductions.