hertsholly Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Hi all, we've just taken delivery today of our first chickens - 2 gingernuts. They are lovely and settling in, apart from when they saw our cats! The noise and upset was disturbing. The cats eventually wandered off and the chickens went quiet. Will they eventually get used to each other or always get upset and noisy? I'd understood from all my reading they would, now I'm wondering! Any advice or opinions welcome. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Congratulations on your new girls! They will eventually be fine with the cats. However, since it's already stressful for them coming to a new place etc. I'd be tempted to keep the cats away from them for a bit, just till they've settled in. It's probably a good idea to supervise the first few times they meet properly, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hertsholly Posted September 30, 2011 Author Share Posted September 30, 2011 That's great, thank you. I feel reassured and will take your advice. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 They will definitely get used to them - as said above, they're probably a bit nervy and unsettled by the move. I have two cats - one is terrified of the hens and will skirt the garden rather than go past them, especially if they are free-ranging. In return, they will sometimes bok-bok a bit if they see him. The other cat is not bothered at all by hens, and will happily sit in the garden whilst they peck around her - and they take absolutely no notice of her! I can't fathom it, but rest assured that your hens will soon get used to the cats and all will be calm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chookingham Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Have a close look at my avatar pic - that is Nelson, my cat having a cheeky drink from the glug. He and the chooks mostly ignore each other these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 I got two new girls last Friday, They were very upset by the cats at first but a week later they ignore them. My cats even sleep with my pekins scratching around them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 My 3 cats know who is in charge and it's not them My avatar is of my Samus cat and Ruby one of my originals. The chickens mostly ignore the cats unless they feel like chasing them off. They don't make any noise about the cats, even when Samus decides to walk across the WIR roof! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 My cat will happily chill out in the garden with the hens, and I often find him in the WIR with them. The girls are great with him, unless they feel wicked... There are a few that like creeping up on him and pecking his tail However, the cat that lives 2 doors down is another matter... He terrorises the girls and the girls when they see him (if they are free ranging) will let out panic announcements. I'll run out and shoo him off... Unless Thomas (my cat) beats me to it.... He's protective of his girls, so will frequently frog march the delinquent cat off the premises Give them time, everything is new at the moment.. I'm sure they will tolerate each other very soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hertsholly Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 Thanks everyone - they are already calmng down a bit with my furry girls 24hrs later! Now we have another worry you may be able to help with. Henrietta, evidently the top bird, is pecking the hell out of her submissive sister. I know establishing the pecking order is normal, but she's pecked a bald patch and a blood blister has come up! We dashed out for anti-peck spray and it's put her off a bit but not entirely - what to do?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Henrietta, evidently the top bird, is pecking the hell out of her submissive sister. I know establishing the pecking order is normal, but she's pecked a bald patch and a blood blister has come up! We dashed out for anti-peck spray and it's put her off a bit but not entirely - what to do?? I tried Stockholm tar and anti-pecking spray but the only thing that makes any difference is putting a bumper bit on the hen doing the attacking. Even then, one hen manages to use her bit as a battering ram, and the other still manages to feather peck (now she has to live in a partitioned-off bit of the run). But it was far worse when they didn't have bumper bits on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hertsholly Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 It's got worse, it appears Henrietta is a bully, she is now separated and her first act was to hoover up all the feathers she could find. The other one is in a sorry state and it's too much. I can't bear it and they're going back to Omlet - they agreed it was excessive. We're going to try again with another pair and I can only hope we've been unlucky and it won't all be like this. Very upset and disappointed that we've failed already! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Hi there, you havent failed! So sorry you are having such problems but its not your fault whatsoever. I am sure your next hens will be fine. Sounds to me that your aggressive girl needs to be in a larger group of established hens, she may get a taste of her own medicine! Dont be put off these things happen. Fingers crossed for you and your new girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 You haven't failed, you were just unlucky. I expect the new girls will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Oh please , please don't give up Enjoy your new girls when you get them , you were just very very unlucky. I had my 3 girls from Omlet 4 months ago and they are a joy. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on...Good luck . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 You've done nothing wrong, and I hope your next lot show you how nice hens should be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hertsholly Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 Thank you all so much, your good wishes really really help. I will be in touch again when the new girls arrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hertsholly Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share Posted October 9, 2011 Hi everyone, thanks again for your advice and support. I am really happy to report that my 2 new girls get on fine together, no pecking and harmony in the coop. We can sleep again and are now enjoying our chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Hooray! Have fun getting to know them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
