2025 Omlet tractor Go Up with 5m run and new boxed auto door and covers. £950 for bundle

[libby22]

After much deliberation, and wanting to wait until spring, I have had to put my girls' needs first and introduce two new chickens quite quickly. I lost Polly two weeks ago and they have been frightened since as the pen is quite big and there are only two of them - been very jumpy.

 

Therefore, yesterday I introduced two lovely ex-battery hens. I have divided the run down the middle with wire mesh shelving that you get in small greenhouses and it seems to be doing the trick - and put a temporary house for the newbies Maisy and Bonnie. My older girls - Pickles and Pepper were astounded I would do such a thing but there you go!

 

My question is, Maisy and Pickles are fighting through the wire mesh about every 20 mins. They can only reach each other's beaks with is a good job as Maisy is kicking too. Does anyone know about the behaviour they exhibit during this time? I have noticed that they line up, bob their heads, bow, throw bits of wood chip about and then fight for a couple of seconds. They repeat this over and over in the same format each time. I am wondering if there is something I should look out for that tells me one has given in or taken the higher place in the ranks. I appreciate this can take a good couple of weeks but would be grateful if anyone knows.

 

I am trying not to intervene as I don't want to prolong it however, they have both had a few sprays with a water spray when it gets bad. Maisy has two cuts above her beak which are bleading. I am keeping an eye on the cuts, which get a good bathe when she has a drink, as the two new girls are terrified of me and I can't even stroke them - they literally scream. I think they are tired of being picked up and put into yet another box so giving them time to settle.

 

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Lavenders_Blue]

I have had exactly the same experience when introducing ex batts (to existing ex batts). I found that after a couple of weeks or so, they got bored of fighting at the divide and just ignored each other. I then left it another couple of weeks before attempting to merge them. During this time I fed treats along the divide so they became used to feeding together. It seemed to work as once I let them all in together, there was absolutely nothing by way of chasing, pecking or squabbling.

 

Ex batts will take time to become tame as they have had pretty much nothing by way of human contact but given time they do tame very easily. Mine follow me round the run pecking at my feet and legs and Bella even likes to hop onto my lap for a snooze

 

If one of your new girls has sustained an injury, you should find it fairly easy to handle her at night, once she has roosted. You can then pick her up and treat the wound as necessary with (hopefully) the minimum of fuss.

[libby22]

Hi

 

That is so reassuring to know. I have sat outside with them for most of the day and the squabbling has died down a bit. They have had a dust bath, preened, figured out what half a grape is and wrestled with a lettuce leaf. I couldn't believe how much time had gone by, they are very soothing to watch - unless they are fighting of course!

 

I was wondering exactly how long to proceed with the divide, so you have given me a really good guideline there. I did, in the end climb into the run and double the divide so that they can still squabble and sort themselves out but they can't lock beaks as they were doing and this seems to have helped.

 

I have one very big stocky one and one little one who has sore feet by the looks of things. They have had a great day in sun digging and doing general chickeny things and it has been a joy to watch. The smallest one - Bonnie - was very interested in watching the others dig and took a while to copy them and figure out what to do. Such a shame bless her!

 

Thank you so much for your advice - just what I needed and I feel a lot clearer on how to proceed now.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Great Just go with your gut feeling and err on the side of caution if necessary. It won't do them any harm to be separated an extra week or two, but merge them too early and they could end up causing an injury. Good idea to double up the divide - you could try bringing it down to a single layer after a week or so and see how things are progressing.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Dont rush it,...

It takes as long as it takes...

Free range a fair bit altogether first so thry can avoid each other. then in the run be sure to have more food and water pots than you would ever need

Also things for them to get up on, under, around and behind, will all help.

[libby22]

I have just put them to bed - well ushered them towards bed with them telling me no! I think they were enjoying themselves and had no intention of going to bed just because it was dark

 

You are right about the pots. I have duplicate sets of everything one down each side and was so lucky to have as many spares as I never realised just how many holders you would need once the pen was divided

 

Reading your advice and putting it to my situation, I realise now there is no rushing it and it is just a case of day at a time and see what happens and make sure I really do take as long as it needs. It is just so good to be able to talk to people who understand and have done the same.

 

Feel a bit bad as my original girls are in the Cluckingham Palace Cube whilst my newbies are in a cardboard box - albeit double thick with lots of bedding, a snuggle safe and the cube extreme weather blanket over the top - not blocking the ventilation holes of course! Doesn't quite seem the same though. I couldn't risk putting them in together as I don't think Bonnie would cope - she is so very tiny and small boned. Need to fatten her up a little.

[sandyhas3chucks]

It'll probably be just fine in the end..

I have integrated so many now.. many singles.. and with time most have been fine. I have a little old disabled girl, that some wont accept, but that is a different,

Without exception, space issues/boredom and no hiding places seem to cause the most problems .

Sounds like they have a cosy enough bedroom for now.. MUCH better than where they came from...

good luck and enjoy their progress

Just re read your first post...

I would put "some" shade or something along part or all of the wire for a while. (if they were mine) this gives time to hear and smell each other without the fighting.

Your new girls will not smell right at all.

It will also reduce the stress of the move and allow them to relax a bit and maybe feel calmer altogether.

I personally find mealworms are THE best making bestest friends food

They will soon associate you with the good things in life...

I would then reduce the visual barrier bit at a time...

(well works for me and MY sanity)

[libby22]

That's a great idea - I will do that first thing in the morning

 

I noticed today that they are a little bit open to the other girls whether they want to be or not, but wasn't sure if this was best. Now that you say that, I have a shade that goes across the top of the run during the summer. I will pop that across the divide and give them a large space to sit quietly and a gap to sort things out if they need to and then, as you say, gradually decrease it.

 

And mealworms it is - anything I can do to settle them down and make them feel happy.

 

Totally understand the need for sanity! Sure mine slipped away as soon as they all started to fight

 

Thank you so much.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I had another old ex bat that could not have any stress. So. I did have to have fight free stress free Introduction s

[libby22]

If I could buy stress free and fight free introductions I would pay any amount so your system is, quite literally priceless and has made a big difference to my girls already

 

I put the shade across the divide - they have two thirds blocked and one third where they can see each other, however, they can still see out of the run etc. Bonnie has been so appreciative of this already You could almost see her sigh with relief, especially as I put her nest box, food, water and veggie holder all behind the shade so she could get some peace.

 

Maisy is fighting fit so far but Bonnie really needs a lot of TLC and I do hope she makes it through. Although her main aim in life is to eat and drink so fingers crossed.

 

I gave them a small amount of mealworms this morning and after watching the other girls eat them, they dived in and even ate some from my hand so massive progress today

 

What can I say - you should write a book, espeically with your knowledge about the girls who need that extra care. Thank you again.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I hate intros

hope all is still going well.

x

[libby22]

Touch wood, so far so good Much to my horror, the tiny one managed to get into the side with the older girls. That aged me when I found her there She had flown through a small gap at the top of the divide and landed on the glug. The girls screamed their heads off but she sat very still. I threw some mealworms for the oldies to chase so that i could pick her up and she ran with them! She got a couple of body pecks but was ok. When I picked her up and put her back in her own side she shouted the place down.

 

They all dust bathe and feed together down the divide but there are a few pecks being thrown at each other. Lots of treats and keeping an eye in general.

 

I am worn out Sure I would have less trouble with four kids

[sandyhas3chucks]

No Chooks go to bed like good girls and stay there till morning. Sounds like it is going well actually. X