Chicken boarders

[baberella]

Hmm seem to be having a few issues! All was peaceful here! I have 2 2 year old hybrids in an eglu with run in a fenced off big bit of the garden so they are never really in the eglu run. Well my well meaning friends bought me a chicken round on my birthday 2 weeks ago! In hind sight I should have just tried to rehome her but anyway popped her in the rabbit run next to my chickens then in their fenced off area in the rabbit run. After 2 days tried so see if my 2 would let this one come to bed but no attacked her.

 

Hmm thought safety in numbers and bought a friend for the new one the next day....... The old new one keeps attacking the poor new one. It's been 10 days now. They are not to bad when not in the eglu run but she is so mean to her, chasing her out of the laying box, always grabbing and pecking her!

 

Anyway added problem is I am moving in a week into rented. I know that my 2 won't accept the new 2 so am going to have to buy another eglu!!!! but the problem is at the new place they are going to have to stay in the eglu run a lot more as its in the country backing onto woods! Mie seem to hate the run, pacing up and down waiting to come out and the new ones will have to be in closer quarters. I plan to make the run as interesting as possible but they seem to hate it in there!

 

What advice do others have about keeping them in the runs more? Obviously I add CDs,h ang up treats, have branches and boxes in it, they just seem sad in it and I am worried about the new two getting on

[Olly]

Provided the run is large enough - around 1 square metre per hen - they will be fine, many people have no choice but to keep their hens in the run most of the time due to working hours and other commitments. If the run is high enough, it's a good idea to put branches or planks (or even an old chair) in there for them to perch on, as it gives more space and they enjoy being up high.

 

They will always want to come out, that's natural - it doesn't mean they are unhappy in there. Mine will plead, shout and begbut if I ignore them and carry on gardening or whatever I am doing, after a while they calm down and stop pacing.

 

As far as integration goes, it is best done slowly and usually I'd recommend going back to stage 1 - keeping the new hen(s) visible but separate from the original hens, and letting them get to know each other over a couple of weeks. Obviously that's going to be more difficult for you as you're moving. Chickens have to establish a pecking order - it's how they work, someone has to be top and someone has to be bottom, and unless there is blood being drawn I would just let them get on with it. My flock live peacefully together but if one of the 'bottom' hens tries to eat first she will be jumped on by the others and told off firmly, and that's just the way it is.

[blueandwhite]

Maybe because you are moving it will be a fresh start for all the girls as no-one will be on home ground? Good luck with the move. I did it last year and because my new garden wasn't secure at all my girls had to stay at my sisters for a month until I had fencing put up. It didn't seem to bother them at all.