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

[the-marks]

Hi All

 

2 weeks after introductions, one of the new girls - Joan - appears to have been accepted by the original 2, but Cinders is still being bullied. She is often by herself and if she dares to come too close to the others she is frequently chased away.

 

I know it can take far longer than 2 weeks for the pecking order to establish, but wondered if maturity plays a part? While Joan is laying, poor Cinders is yet to develop her comb. Will things improve as she matures, or just generally over time? Or is this the way things will be - with Cinders at the bottom of the pecking order.

 

Poor Cinders is so skittish and it's sad to see her by herself while the 2 originals (the ugly sisters) and Joan happily go about their daily business.

 

Any thoughts would due greatly appreciated.

 

Many thanks

 

Mark

[not enough chickens]

i introced 2 new girls to my flock and unfortunatly one was picked on for months and by the end of it looked oven ready felt so guilty leaving her in their as she ran up and down the run desperatly trying to get to me, i toyed with the idea of keeping her on her own but thought thats no life , i left her in there and after 3 months of being pecked on she is now a member of the family and all sunbathe and cuddle together and are inseprabile shes much happier now they where just asserting there dominance over her, now she very rarely gets pecked , unless she s being greedy with the treats its horrible to see one getting picked on but its not forever

[Tweety]

It is still early days as far as introductions are concerned. I have usually found that it takes a minimum of 3 weeks before peace breaks out and, of course, someone has to be bottom of the pecking order.

Having said that, Cinders is obviously younger than Joan and that will definitely play a part in the fact that she is being picked on. I have a little bantam Frizzle that is the same age as the others but is physically very immature, even underdeveloped, and as a result is very much bottom of the pecking order. She is always on her own, and runs away when any of the others go near her even though they never do much more than give her a little reminder of her lowly position! I feel very sorry for her, but I'm not sure that there is much I can do to change things, and I think that the same may be true for poor Cinders.

Sorry I can't be more positive, but I hope that things will improve once Cinders starts laying and becomes more confident.