Unsecure chicken perches

[hopingforchickens]

I've had my newbies for 5 weeks now - my old ones are 3 hybrids and the newbies are a 2 year old silkie and a POL bantam Maran (they came together). The new ones have a run inside the WIR. The old girls have taken very badly to the silkie, to the point where I haven't really let them all out together, usually when I let them free range the Maran will go out with the others and the silkie will stay in the larger part of the WIR. The maran is doing really well and I would be tempted to integrate if they treated the silkie the same, but obviously I want to do them together.

 

The problem is that I generally don't let them out much and I'm finding it hard to find the time (or the enthusiasm) to do communal free ranging as it's so upsetting to watch the silkie get so beaten up. Of course I intervene when it happens and have only really let them at her 2 or 3 times in the 5 weeks I've had her. Am I being too much of a wuss? Should I give them more opportunities to be together? I've tried putting down meal worms/corn to distract etc but as soon as they've finished they're on her.

 

Please any advice would be great. I really want them to be one big happy family but I can't see them ever getting on at this rate. My hybrids have always been pecky little so and so's even with each other - please help

Edited November 10, 2012 by Guest

[LottyJ1]

Silkies often get bullied by LF as they are so gentle.

 

However some people on here have been able to intergate them so I would say just give it time. I my limited experience it takes quite a few weeks for hens to become friends and that is mixing LF with LF. I would just keep going slowly and make sure they don't hurt her. I'm sure with with time it will be OK.

[smartrus]

HI, I have just managed to intergrate 5 hybrids to another 5 and that's been hard work and its taken 6 weeks. They are now in the shed all together for the first time tonight so we will see how that goes. I have only done this once, but my advice is to take it really slow. Have you thought about introducing 1 older hen to the new ones at a time, so they are outnumbered? It may be worth a try. The thing that helped me was to understand that it would take as long as it takes and not have a time scale in mind and not stress over it. I would keep them separate for a bit longer and wait till they ignore each other. Then just let them together for a very short while, whilst they feed, then separate again. Slowly does it. I hadn't set a time to put them all together but left the gate open between the runs whilst cleaning so I was around until the time when they got more tolerant towards each other. Have you plenty of FR space? If so you could section a bit off for the newbies. Hope this helps. I'm still learning myself.

[hopingforchickens]

Thanks, I've tried adding one of the originals but they just go for the silkie I know it's going to take time but she's so lovely and I just want them to be friends, plus I want to take the temp run down and put up some more perches!

[smartrus]

Hi, just wondered if you had room, could you not have 2 groups of hens just living side by side? They may be happier that way?

[hopingforchickens]

Hi, just wondered if you had room, could you not have 2 groups of hens just living side by side? They may be happier that way?

I could - the newbies are living under the mezzanine level inside the WIR at the minute, they seem really happy there, it just seems a shame...

[smartrus]

I know it seems a shame and they may get on better in time. I would just let them live next to each other for the time being at least they will be happy.

[Hayleybug]

Hi, just wondered if you had room, could you not have 2 groups of hens just living side by side? They may be happier that way?

I could - the newbies are living under the mezzanine level inside the WIR at the minute, they seem really happy there, it just seems a shame...

oh dear it is a shame they arent getting on yet, but maybe they just need quite a bit longer side by side? hope they get on together soon i bet its very upsetting seeing your poor silkie being picked on

[hopingforchickens]

I got home from school last night and looked out of my kitchen window to see what the chickens were up to - imagine my horror when I realised the inner run door was open and the big chooks were in the little chooks run! I rushed outside, leaving 6 children in the house (not all mine) to find everything quiet and happy...

 

Francesca, the bantam maran was pottering about with the others and Mrs P was sulking on a roosting bar becasue she's broody again and I have removed her nest box!!! So I have relented and put her nest box in as the others are so far completely ignoring her. I closed the run door at bedtime as I wanted the little ones to have chance to eat and drink this morning (the big ones were all guarding their food). So I've just been out now and let them all out (obviously Mrs P hasn't moved!) but Fran is exploring all the higher perches and strutting about like she owns the place whilst the big ones eat corn!

 

I don't know if I've done the right thing as I'm not sure what will happen when Mrs P comes out of her self imposed exile and I'm loathed to crack her broodiness and do integration at the same time, any thoughts...?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You may find that all will be well now . Sometimes they do surprise you! Fingers crossed .

[hopingforchickens]

You may find that all will be well now . Sometimes they do surprise you! Fingers crossed .

I really hope so, Tallulah (bottom of the pecking order) has a few goes at Fran, but Fran very obligingly crouches and runs off so I'm hoping she'll be fine, it's just Mrs P when she comes round, maybe they'll be so used to going into the little ones area by then they won't care...