Single hen

[Guest]

I'm picking up a new chicken on friday to replace my sadly deceased Amber. I'm geting a Bovans Nera (I think but we may have crossed wires) and I need to get her used to my 2 existing girls.

 

My girls freerange all day so I was thinking of taking the run off the eglu and putting the new girl in it butted up to the shed so she can't get out and no-one else can get in. I've advertised for a rabbit hutch on freecycle but I don't hold out much hope. Do you think I could let the new girl sleep in the cat box for the first night? I could put it inside the play house for extra protection from the elements although looking at the forecast that might not be necessary. I could take the smaller roosting bars out of my Mk2 Eglu without causing any problems for my current girls - one of them always sleeps in the egg tray anyway.

 

Mind you if I did get a rabbit hutch it could be my in to more hens!!!

[Nicola H]

Putting the new chicken in the run for the first few days is a good idea then the others can get used to her, in the evening when they have gone to bed just post your new chciken through the egg port to sleep with the others then get up very early to seperate them in the day time again. This is the easiest and fastest way of getting them used to each other, the only problem with doing this in the summer is that you will have to be up early so that they don't bully the new one in the morning.

 

I would watch how the older chickens respond to the new one and after a few days let her free range with the others just to see how it goes, you will need to be ready to step in if they start to get nasty, if they seem OK you can extend the time they free range together and let them get on with it, there will be some pecking because they have to sort out the pecking order but if the new hen submits they should be fine..............Good luck I hope it all goes well.

[Egluntyne]

Have a look at Lesley-Jeans fab idea....here...

[Sarah 2]

When we got Toffee from the breeder she reccomended that we put Toffee in the run while the others free range. As it got to bed time we took Toffee out of the run and put her in a box until it was really dark and then posted her through the egg port like it's been suggested.

 

We let them out at 7am into the run and out to free range almost straight away. Normally we keep them in the run till 9am.

 

The only thing I did find is that the older ones were not keen on letting Toffee eat, but she used to sneak back in the run when the others weren't looking to get her food. (She refused to eat from the other food stations .)

 

I let them go to bed on their own and they're now the best of friends. Unfortunately Toffee's second night was a little bit uncomfortable because Polly spent the whole night standing on top of her. But it did seem to help them bond.

 

As you let them free range you shouldn't have too many problems. Fingers crossed. I did it this way when we got Daisy and it worked again.

 

Hope this helps. I think it's basically what you're planning to do.

[Guest]

Thanks all - I liked the little temporary home but I fear my joinery skills are a little (ok a lot) lacking. I have now been offered a small rabbit hutch so I will try this as a night house and give the new girl the run in the daytime.

 

I'm excited all over again

[Guest]

I got the rabbit hutch! Is there anything I should do to it to make it chicken friendly? I've given it a good scrub and I'm going to put in the smaller of the 2 bits of roosting bars from the Eglu - my girls won't miss this and "bunny" (DS has already named her!) will have enough to roost on.

 

I'm sooo excited!

[AJuff]

We are currently introducing two little columbines to our existing brood. During the day the newbies are locked in the run with the eglu door closed. I take the egg port door off to allow the others to lay when they need to. Eggs are usually laid early on so then I put the door back on and open up the eglu. For the last hour of the day I have allowed newbies to free range with the others. I have lots of feeding stations dotted about so there's no trouble. At the moment they are keeping out of each other's way a lot. When the exisiting hens have roosted and settled into a dozy sleep the two newbies hop in to sleep alongside them with no problems so far. We bought a run extension so they have more space and extra grub and glug. So far it's been a much easier introduction than the initial three were when they arrived.