3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[Lizzie]

Scarlet had a hormone implant in July - she had yolk perionitis and though she will for sure have scarring inside, the last fluids to be drained from her abdomen were clear (after antibiotics too).

She is my second hen to have this done, the first, Alice I have to say looks amazing. She had the very heavy moult which comes immediatly after having the implant done, but her feathers have all grown back and she is fine.

They both had the hormone injection at the same time to counter act the increase in follicles which stops when the hormone implant takes effect.

 

Scarlet however has had the heavy moult too and though her feathers have nearly grown back, she is being attacked by a few of the other hens. She talks like a young hen, coming into lay, perhaps this is why ? We have seperated part of the run off with chicken wire (just for her) so they can all see each other but they can't attack her. She also sleeps with them at night. But they just won't let her in the run with them and every so often, Milly will go for her when they are out free ranging in the garden and once that starts, a few others join in.

 

Should I carry on as I am and hopefully in time (its three weeks this weekend that she has been in her own section) things will be ok, or should I put a couple of hens that are fine with her in her run too ? and gradullly build the numbers from her side leaving the "aggressors" on their own.

 

Thing is I am worried if I do that, then they will lose their place in the pecking order, but trying to integrate 1 hen to 7 is a night mare !

 

Any advice welcome

 

Regards

Liz

[Plum]

Not sure but I think I would introduce one or two and if they bond then introduce them back as a two or threesome I

 

If she is still picked on you could seperate her with one or two different ones and keep changing them about. I've heard that works - divide and conquer

[fluffy chick]

I agree with Plum. I would try and let her bond with a couple of the calmer ones and then try again. I did this (after Plum's advice actually ) and I got there in the end. I thought one of my pekins was actually going to be killed at one stage and now she is a right cheeky character, outwits them all and is still only the size of a pigeon! The other day she laid and egg the size of a marble

 

Your other option is to isolate the worst of the trouble makers for a while, let them drop in the pecking order and then put them back in at night to wake up together.