Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[monstermunch]

Hi,

 

I was hoping someone might be able to help me as I'm coming to my wits end!

 

I've never had chickens before and got 3 ex-batts on Saturday, one of which is very feather-bare and quite small. I know that they need to establish a pecking order but didn't think it would be quite so distressing to watch - the other 2 seem to be ganging up on the smaller one (Ginger) and pecking/chasing her everytime she ventures out of the nesting box, and now she has a little cut above her beak (nothing too serious but a little bit of blood). I can't be sure that she didn't do this herself as she becomes quite stressed around the other 2 and runs her beak up and down the bars. I've bought some anti-pecking spray and given them all a spray over (the other 2 are fighting a little as well), and I shut Ginger in the coop for a little while so that she could have uninterrupted access to food and water; however I don't want to remove her because it'll just make it worse when I reintroduce her to the others. I spoke to BHWT and they said to remove the bully, but I'm not sure which one it is as they're both having a go, and I only have one coop and run so don't know how to keep them apart.

 

I just feel really awful and upset about it, I wanted to give them a better life and I just feel as if poor Ginger has escaped one hell straight into another, she's so sweet & affectionate (to me!) and it's really unfair - everytime I open a door she's trying to get out so I think she must be really unhappy; and to top it all off I'm going back to work tomorrow so won't be able to protect her from the others.

 

Bit of a big rant, but I just really don't know what I can do or who to talk to about it!!

 

Any help would be really appreciated.

 

Hayley

[surfer_chicken]

Can you separate the run using bamboo canes etc. and put a container in one side, such as a cat carrier or a box? This would allow you to separate her from the bullies while you're at work, but still allow them to see each other and bond. You could then supervise them all together when you're home.

 

If not, just make sure there are more than one food and drink supply so the bullies can't "guard" them and put obstacles and hiding places in the run so she can escape from them if she wants to.

[monstermunch]

Thank you, that's a good idea - I have a cat box and some screening so will give that a go; I've put 2 feeders & waterers in, and she does seem to be eating and drinking so that's good I guess!

[Mercedes55]

Oh I am sorry you're having such a hard time. Wish I could offer some more advice than has already been given but I think the idea about using canes to separate them is probably a very good idea. It's really upsetting when you get ex batts and then have a problem with some of them. We got 4 last year and one of them had a bad limp and I used to phone the BHWT helpline and pretty much say the same as you regarding rescuing them from one life of hell for them to just have another life of hell, it really is upsetting. My experience has been that these poor girls have such a tough life in the cages that it's survival of the fittest and they tend to be more fiesty than other hens. I do hope things settle down for you.

[monstermunch]

Thank you, me too! I suppose the others have had to be that way to survive really, so can't blame them too much. My partner suggested rotating them while I'm at home, shutting 1 in at a time so that Ginger can get outside and not have 2 of them after her, so I might try that and then if it carries on separate the main bully with the cat box!!

[WitchHazel]

Sorry to hear about your girls. It's horrible to watch!.

 

If you can find enough, I would recommend that you have at least 3 (if not 4 ) feed and water stations, spread out as much as possible. This is so that it becomes impossible for the two bullies to man (or "hen"?) all of them at once, and your little girl always has at least one spare one to move on to.

 

Teh antipeck spray is the right idea. Purple spray of some sort (if your antipeck isn't coloured) is also worth doing, as this disguises the blood. Beware that purple spray gets everywhere.

 

If you are able to, putting some other things in the run - like a peckablock (or similar) or two, suspended - will help to give them something else to do.

 

Shutting one of them in while the other two range is also a good idea - I would recommend that you let Ginger be one of the 2 that gets to free range, so the bullies take it in turn to be locked in. You don't want to isolate ginger too much if you can help it as your initial instincts are correct. (I think that's probably what you were saying you were going to do).

 

It WILL settle down.

[alet_chicken]

Just to agree with WitchHazel and the others.

 

Good luck. It is not easy to watch, but it will settle down.

[chocchick]

I hope they settle in soon. I just thought I'd say that it can look worse than it is. With our new ones Abbie will jump on the newbie, peck to the back of the neck and the newbie will squawk as if in pain and struggle away. It is all very frantic. Ours have feathers for padding but we've seen it quite a few times without injuries. It is natural and they feel happier knowing the pecking order. Eventually they will just stop or just give the odd peck.

Saying that I'm a wuss and give them more space which probably drags it out longer.

 

If there are injuries you can fit anti-pecking rings to the beaks.

[monstermunch]

Thanks everyone, your posts have made me feel much better - even just knowing that it is normal behaviour! Separating them for a couple of hours seems to have helped a little for now and they're peaceful at last! I didn't know about the anti-pecking rings either, so that's one to bear in mind if it carries on. Thank you!

[Bramble]

Hello Monstermunch! Just wanted to add my support, really! I picked up three new ex-batts on Saturday too (were your's from Coventry?) and so far they are getting on well together, but I have three other chooks, two of which are ex=batts from last year and I am DREADING the introductions ... hopefully things will settle down for you (and me!)

[monstermunch]

Hi Bramble, yes they were from Coventry! Aside from the bullying, I'm really enjoying it - I'm amazed how intelligent and friendly they are, it's so sad to think what would have happened to them otherwise. Glad yours are all getting on ok, and good luck with the introductions!!!

[Bramble]

Small world, isn't it (unless you're an ex-battery hen, in which case it looks like a very BIG world!). I'm sure your girls will settle down, I remember being in your position last summer when I picked up my first lot, I was so nervous and everytime they made a sound I was convinced it was something bad, but they settled (and so did I ) and here i am twelve months later with some more! I let my existnig chooks FR in the garden yesterday so they could see the new girls and neither side seemed overly bothered, just hope that's not the lull before the storm Good luck and keep posting on here, there's ALWAYS someone around who can help if you're not sure about something and anyway, we'd like to here of your progress!!!!

[Alis girls]

Just a note with the bamboo canes - I have a new hen who is separated from my other 2 by canes - but one of mine bulldozed her way thro - head down gangster style - you need a lot - i also put mesh between them - I am amazed - she was bottom of pecking order when she had 2 sisiters - now shes top hen and a bully to boot. Hope you get it sorted

[chuckmum6]

They should sort themselves out in the next couple of weeks maybe sooner, I would separate one of the bullies, the worst and let Ginger work it out with one. If you isolate her to much she will go though it all again. They are horrid to each other and it is better not to watch too much, although if blood is being drawn then that's different. Leave the biggest bully out, until the other two are coexisting in relative harmony, then reintroduce them, leave a cat basket in so they have somewhere to hid. They will learning to accept each other, hang in there!

[monstermunch]

Thanks everyone for all your advice; I just wanted to report that today seems to have been much better and although I'm sure it won't be the end of the squabbling, I haven't seen them fight once and now they're all snuggled up together in their coop. I'm very proud as they have learned to put themselves to bed already and all 3 laid their eggs in the nestboxes today instead of wherever they happened to be at the time - clever little girls!!

[Bramble]

That sounds good progress Monstermunch, well done! Mine too have sussed out how to put themselves to bed, but eggs are still appearing all over the place!

I'm dreading the intros to my other three girls, in one way I'm desperate to get on with it, but in another, I don't want to even try!