emmastar Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 HI all i offeed to take an elderley ex bat that was left on her own when her firends pased away she arived last night as as i was haveing a hen chat with her person she had a wonder around the house . She is in very good condition and is a feisty girl she was not to happy about the cat stroling into the hall near the dog food she had started to investigate . I have put her in the spare hutch so sh is still on her own but the others can see her and vice versa . This morning i let her out for 5 min before the walk in run door had been openend and what a to do from my cochin and silkie mop who could see her through the fence none of th people who live near me had a lie in put it that way . Molly ( her new name ) struted over to the walk in run and pufed up with a little jump i think these intros may take a while . Is it ok for her to stay on her own untill she can behave and not scare my mard girls to death ?? she can see other hens from her hutch so she knows shes not on her own entirley . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I think the way you have started out is just right. Letting them all see one another is the first step; letting her have her own FR time and walk around looking at the others is also the way forward, until such time you feel they can FR together - but, that will still cause a bit of asserting themselves Keep her seperate though for quarantine reasons. Well done you for your kindess in taking her in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I agree, you are dong it just right. Take it slowly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmastar Posted January 5, 2012 Author Share Posted January 5, 2012 Thanks i just feel so sorry for her on her own im not usto seeing it and thats why i took her on, my girls are a bit scared and wont go near the hutch now but i guess thats helping the qt She dosnt seam to eat as much as my other girls do you think she is just upset about the move and her now home ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Emmastar, her intake will depend on a number of factors. For example, how do you judge how much she is eating in comparison to your others? Do you weigh the food? Do you weigh your chooks vs weight of food? She will eat what she wants to eat. Unless you make a scientific chart, it's all guesswork Plus, you have to factor in treats/free range time, bird weight etc., so its very hard to judge amounts. Is she used to the feed you are giving her? So, for example, as a battery hen, was she given mash and you are offering pellets? That can make a difference to her tolerance. Re-homing will always cause a degree of stress/upset; only natural (think how you would feel?) but the desire for survival (eg food/water) should over-ride the stress. Of course there will always be exceptions, but, from your original post, she seems to be doing fine: Molly's survival instincts seem to be well in place! We humanise our own feelings and project them onto our chooks - very natural, we all do it - but, really think about it from her perspective ... she was in a cramped space, vying for food/water, in unnatural circumstances, denied her basic instincts. Fast forward: she now has her own food, her own water, space previously unheard of, and, she has to assert her instincts of survival (eg, her behaviour when she saw other chooks in *her* domain!). Let her settle, find her own rhythm and confidence and I think you will have a heartbreaker, eager to please and flourishing in her new found environment. She may be adjusting to a different food texture, new environment, other "competition" (your hens), but, she sounds like a real gutsy gal: a survivor! She's going to do just great :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmastar Posted January 5, 2012 Author Share Posted January 5, 2012 My others are ganets , they never stop eating . she has barlet touched her food at all but she is still on the food she came with for now she has mash and pellets , im going to change her to garvo like the others when she is finaly out . She dose seam to not care about whats going on i think my other girls are more scared of her being in a hutch than she is of the entire situation, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alet_chicken Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Is she laying eggs at the moment? If not, and the other are, then that might account for the difference in how much they eat. Well done for taking her on. Sounds like she is quite a character! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmastar Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Shes now in with the others my son put them to bed and put her in with them as they had been freeranging together and all has been well She has sloted herfelf in 3rd place my elle has shot to the top in the last few weeks clostley folowed by mop . she is 3 years old im not to sure on ex bats but i have had no eggs but i didnt think i would get any at her age just didnt want an old girl living her retirement on her own . She is a great hen very friendley and likes a stroke and to sit on your knee , she is now usto my cats as i think the others ignorning them has helped , my cats can now go for shelter in the day in the cube again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubababe Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Awww that's lovely. Long may the peace reign. You did really well getting them integrated so quickly. Good for you. Yep must admit my cats legg it from my ladies, they give them what for!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
