number1chick_2008 Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Hello any suggestions please , collected four hens yesterday -- on long journey home one of the hens seemed very timid and had her head jammed into corner and was very verbal when others moved around her. She was the first into cube for night others slowly followed. On the journey home one of the others pecked at the back of the other hens (moulting|) and made one bleed (thought this one was going to be a problem). The problem is today when I let them out the timid girl jumped out did a circle around run and dived back into cube where she has remained. Shooed her out to clean and gave her a grape but as soon as door was opened she shot back in and i have not seen her eat or drink anything. should I chase her out and close door or leave be. the other three seem to have settled ok so far and are happy to sit and feed together. Worried first time chicken keeper who only had two hours sleep listening for every noise!!!. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Oh dear, poor little thing. I imagine she is just a little shaken and shocked, and will take time to get used to her surroundings. I would perhaps try and turf her out and shut the door behind her. Sit in there with them to make sure nothing nasty goes on, put some extra food and water bowls out so she can definitely get something to eat or drink. I hope things get sorted and I'm sure someone with more info will be able to suggest some other ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisyisarobot Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 We had one like this & now she's one of the bossiest! We tried turfing her out but I felt too guilty & ended up putting food & water into ramekins & put them in the coop but not overnight. Worked for us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
number1chick_2008 Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 Well I have just turfed her out and shut door but she is just sitting on steps begging to be let back in, others are not actually doing anything to her but she is shouting at them! going to watch and see what happens not sure how long to leave her out. But might cave and try your other suggestion if she doesn't calm down in a while. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Hi, they are both a constant source Rolf worry and joy:) how old is she and where did you get them from. Is she hiding in the coop or in the near box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
number1chick_2008 Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 We got them from Cheshire Poultry and she is in the cube unless I lock her out. Put some food and water inside for her a couple of times later on today so at least she has had something to eat she is around 12 months old and just finished moult the rest are going through it now. They are all now settled took themselves off to bed about 8 again. Hopefully things will settle down just don't know if I am making it worse by letting her hide inside cube?! Thanks for your interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquiefrost Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 I am so glad i have seen this post. We picked up our 3 girls today, 2 have been scratching around run, eating and drinking no problem, but third one is terrified of them and runs away from them sqwarking her head off! They haven't done anything to her. She has spent almost all day hiding in the coop, and i've not seen her eat or drink. I did end up putting some food in a little dish in the coop for her which she has had. They are all roosting in coop now after a lot of commotion, although 2 are squeezed in one nest box and 1 is just on coop floor! They seem to have something against the perches. i'm hoping everything is ok tomorrow. We are first time chicken keepers too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
number1chick_2008 Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share Posted September 2, 2013 Hiya the saga is ongoing!! We have named her Princess Layer and she is still staying in cube (water and food provided). When I came in from work i took into run meal worms and she was happy to feed from my hand but others hid underneath. So she is quite brave with me but not so with the other girls. Once she was out I closed the door and she was out with others for a couple of hours. One of the others is pecking her but not too much but she still runs around making lots of noise. I did sit and watch until they took themselves off to bed just before 8 again. They were lining up on the ladder to go in sooo funny. Hope your girls are settling down, let me know how you get on fellow newbie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Haha I have a princess layer and a hen solo:)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
number1chick_2008 Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share Posted September 2, 2013 The names are picked but only one has been given to a hen yet --- seems we have copied yours! We have Princess Layer, Hen Solo, Babs and Kentucky Freida Chicken. The silver pencil is Princess Layer, the Blue Maran probably will be Babs, but are waiting to see who suits what names over the next few days!!! We could have a change of name to Darth Vader soon if the Copper Black doesnt settle! Ha ha our nephew loves Star Wars !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 They are amazing names:) all mine had names but when they arrived one was a mean ugly girl, she was just plain horrible so i changed her name to Barbara after the mother in law Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquiefrost Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 My nervous one is still hiding in coop. I shooed her out and shut pop hole and she just sat a top of ladder, the goldline is now picking on her epecially if she is in run. she will chase and peck her until she gets back up ladder. I then let her back in coop and goldline started chasing her in there too I have had to put some food and water in coop as she hasn't used feeder or drinker in run. Starting to worry, how long do i give them to settle, if i need to take one back, then which one? The goldline is obviuosly the head girl The rhode island red seems to get on with both, but won't feed from feeder at same time as goldline. The speckled sussex is terrified of the goldline, and defers to the RIR but is not too scared of her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Don't worry - its early days and they are still sorting out the pecking order. Give it a week at least, it's very rare for them not to settle down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquiefrost Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Can't bare seeing her distressed. Need to put some trellis up at certain points round garden before i can let them out to free range, as we realised that they could possibly jump on a few items round the garden and then maybe jump over fence to next door! I am hoping that with all the space in our garden free ranging will help settle things down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
number1chick_2008 Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 Things seem to be settling down a little today, not saying they like each other but all outside and door open! Little bit of noise throughout day but all sun bathing digging holes in grass ignoring the sand box i put down for them. They seem to have split into two groups of two, will see how it goes for the rest of the day! Patience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquiefrost Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Glad things are settling down for you. Hope this happens for us soon. My scaredy cat is still staying in coop, She did venture out very briefly this morning which is a slight improvement but got chased back in coop by goldline. I have attached a couple of coop cups with water and food just outside of pop hole to try to encourage her out. She has used these but is watching goldline whole time and scurries back in if she moves! We really need to pick out names! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
number1chick_2008 Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 Let them all out this morning timid was first of two two come out. But as soon as other joined and came anywhere near her she ducked and dived right back in to cube. Sooo once again she has been evicted and the door closed!!! She is just so scared of the blue laced wyandotte. Lets see what today brings!! They are not shouting as much today so far though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
