numpty2009 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Hi on sat we introduced 2 17 week hens to a 1 year old coral. We haves done this before and it's been fine which is why we did it. we had them free ranging together for a day... Then they went in together at night in the eglu and run. Everything was fine until today when I came home to discover the coral had attacked the 2 new hens. Pecking at their necks and taken all the flesh off... Although very injured they seem ok. I rang the breeder whose given me some anti peck and the purple antiseptic stuff. SHe's also given me some calm down stuff for the water... After repairing the 2 new ones I put them back together and the coral started agin. Clearly not bothered by the anti peck. I now have the 2 new ones stuck spending the night in the run and the coral in the eglu... I'm not sure quite what to do now. my husband wants to dispatch the coral... but i am thinking of setting up a temporary run with omlet netting and a cat box (its all i have to do this) is this situation rescuable though i wonder? i cant see them getting on the coral seems very viscous... sorry for the long post. anyone have any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Youll need to keep them apart until the two new hens have healed up then do slow introductions, the Coral will simply open the wounds again otherwise The purple spray is good and will cover any blood, if they see blood they could start pecking each other so spray all over the wound and any surrounding bare area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numpty2009 Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 Thanks for your quick reply. Do you think this will happen again when healed? I can seperate them by putting the netting around the run and a cat box as a temporary coop but obv this wont be fox proof... Do this sound do able do you think? Apologies for ll the questions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 (edited) Oh no, so sorry to hear about your poor hens That's a really awful situation for you and you have my sympathy - I had to separate my girls into two groups after bad pecking. Is it possible to bring the injured ones inside to ensure they are safe and the wound is kept clean? I kept a girl in a dog cage in the potting shed over night before, so she wasn't exposed. A garage, shed or summer house is somewhere to put some hens - so they are safe from being outside. Regarding intros, I would read the threads on this forum to do intros slowly as they can be very tricky. Edit: Just want to add, although the coral did attack your two new hens, I personally wouldn't ever dispatch a hen for this as she was only naturally fight to be top chicken. Slow intros will help stop such a violent situation. x Edited March 5, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Introductions are definitely best if done slowly. I wouldn't risk anything that isn't fox proof - can you separate the run in half? People have done this by putting garden canes through the sides of the run to make a barrier - it's fiddly and it's going to be a nuisance for you feeding them and so on, but you definitely need to keep them apart. I've just picked up a dog crate on eBay for my next set of introductions, but that's easier because I have a walk-in run. Do you think you could borrow something like this - or even a rabbit or poultry ark, to keep the little ones separated during the day and then pop them somewhere safe at night? They will all settle down and get on together in time, I've done a few introductions over the years, but it does take time and you need to keep them physically separated until they've got used to each other and the younger hens have grown on a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Oh no, please don't dispatch your coral If you live anywhere near me I could lend you my spare eglu and run I am in Welwyn Garden City, Herts. I am sure if you start again with slow intros everything will settle down eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Separate out the coral, she can live quite happily in a large rabbit hutch for now or even in a dog crate in the garage and out to free range when you are around Giving the Eglu and run to the newbies will give them the home advantage when intro time comes You shouldnt get the same problem if you do the introductions more slowly next time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Latte is living in a dog crate in the utility at the moment. She is my oldest girl and has always been top chook but has now lost that position and a couple of weeks ago the others pecked her, she came inside for a few days and then went back in the WIR again. All seemed well for about a week but then I came back from school to find her back slightly bloody, so she is back in the utility, she seems happy enjoying extra treats and chats I am thinking I may try to introduce her to my lone surviving ex batt who is in the other end of the WIR in view of the hybrid girls so they have been close to each other for months, but seperate and see how they get on. I think pecking is so upsetting but of course it is natural behaviour. I am sure if you take it steady they will get on in the end. Good luck numpty. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numpty2009 Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 Thanks for all the advice so far. We're making do trying to separate t mo. I have sprayed them with the purple stuff again as one seems to have had a peck at the other. Nightmare we've done this for years but never hd this issue... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I'd leave them apart until the new girls are laying (say 22/23 weeks) - as long as they can see each other, "Ooops, word censored!"ody will get lonely. The new girls being young won't be able to protect themselves from an angry older bird who's trying to protect her space. In a few weeks' time, it'll be a very different story, just a few squabbles. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
