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

[Oat]

Hi All

We added 3 new hens over 3 weeks ago, initially a bit of fighting went on between our 2 older hensa and the 3 new ones. However, all accept 1 of the new hens has now settled in.

The speckled hen is getting continuous abuse from our 2 older hens. Pulled feathers and badly beaten her back which has torn the skin. She just doesn't stick up for herself at all.

We expected a few weeks of madness but would have thought it would have settled down by now. A further concern about the speckled hen is that we will be going on holiday in just under 2 weeks. Whilst my parents will call round daily to feed and take eggs etc they will not know what to do with a bullied hen.

I can move the speckled hen from the to the but is that the best option?

 

Your suggestions and advise please

 

Regards

Tim

[Purplemaniacs]

Did you introduce them gradually?

 

Has blood been seen where they have torn the skin, if so the others will go for the blood.

 

Did the three new ones get on before you put them with the older girls?

 

Sorry lots of questions

 

Chrissie

[Oat]

Hi

No we didn't introduce them gradually. It's the first time we added more hens, also place we bought them from said they would settle down in about a week.

 

No blood but it doesn't look great.

 

Yes the 3 new ones seemed to get on ok. Agression is from our 2 older hens on this one particular new one.

[minieggs]

When we introduced 2 new ones to an existing 2, the older ones were bullying the new ones. We took one of the old hens (the more dominant one) and locked her outside the eglu run for a day...the less dominant older one retreated and spent the day in the eglu on her own, caused no trouble at all, the 2 new ones were allowed a bit of peace and quiet in the run. The aggressive one who we locked out seemed very put out that she couldnt bully the other two, but after a bit was walking side by side with them, and after a few hours when we let her back in everything was great!

 

So what i'm basically saying is...try to split up the bullies and they might not be as strong on their own, and reintroduce gradually.

 

Good luck!

[The Dogmother]

I'd advise that you check the introductions thread in the FAQ section and start again. Hopefully they'll settle better this time.

 

Good luck.

[Purplemaniacs]

If you are still having problems when you go away could you put the new ones in the eglu and the old ones in the cube, or the other way round and then start the introduction process again when you get home.

 

If they could still see each other that would start the process gradually.

 

If it was me I think I would split them up and take things very slowly but I am dreadful for introductions my ex batts still aren't in with my other girls and I have had them for well over a year, they are now in the WIR but it is separate from the other end of the WIR with the other girls

 

Chrissie