gavclojak Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 Ah thanks paulad, am so stressed at the moment. I have Left the two nasties in the sin bin and they are NOT happy, then teat seem ok and dare I say it solo seems a little more confident already The others are letter her near so that's good I do feel sorry for the sin binners though Am gonna let them have a wonder around the enclosure together over the next few days to see how it goes Thanks again xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 aww try not to stress it will sort itself out - yes, its not nice for the sin binners but if it works its all good. have a glass of vino ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 Is it bad that I am glad they have gone to bed and today is over Today is the first day I have regretted getting them for peace tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 aww don't regret them - u have loved every minute until now. With all the problems we have had I have never regretted getting them - there are always ups and downs whatever animal u get x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 Wise word and your right, thanks...just a blip and a loss of confidence,,,onward and upward;( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I'm sending you a much needed hug because I know what it's like having two nasties xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 Ah bless you luvachicken.....I needed that xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Millies Chicken Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 When I got my ex bats they were ok for the first couple days. Then they started to gang up and bully Aunty Lily who retreated to the classic and wouldn't come out for two days. I had to put food inside the house for her. Ever time she set foot outside they chased her and pecked at her drawing blood. I sprayed her with purple and anti peck but this didn't seem to make any difference and she was being singled out for pecking by the other three Aunts. I know this sounds daft and has no scientific evidence but I wondered that by just spraying Aunty Lily I was marking/identifying her as even more different to the others. So I sprayed them all with purple and anti peck spray. I don't know if it was a coincidence but it seemed to work and after a few days she was slowly accepted by the others. So now if I use purple/anti peck I spray all of them and not just one that needs treatment.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 Separation day 2 Well the two bullies were not happy about being separated from the main group, they have been like a splinter group now and are remonstrated loudly yesterday. I have opened the Sin bin run and sectioned off part of the run so they still have some room to move Solo is recovering nicely, I think she is a tad more confident already, although one of the girls has given her the odd peck she is largely OK While putting the fence between the run princess layer escaped and made a bee line for solo, interestingly enough she didn't peck her....just had a look but she clearly hadn't learned her lesson so back to the sin bin she went.... I might let them have am hour together before bed and see how that goes......or keep them totally apart????? Not sure what is best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 11, 2013 Author Share Posted November 11, 2013 Well day 2 of the separation didn't go too well, princess layer managed to jump over some plants I had uses to block a gap, while I was out (for the first time since this nightmare started Thursday!!) she went straight over to solo, cornered her and pecked her again, making her bleed. I fear it would have been a lot worse if my daughter hadn't noticed and went out and separated them. I have now fitted a five foot net fence and although I suspect she could fly over it I have never seen her attempt such a feat. Having said that this is my first day back to work and I am afraid the two bullies are being locked in the Go run AKA sin bin today and tomorrow and come Wednesday I may let them out into their section which I am now calling HMP (her majesty's prison) After her attack I dressed the wounds(again,,,) but left her with the other two who largely let her be, one gave her a few pecks but they don't chase her, they spend most of their time sitting at the perimeter fence looking at the sin binners and solo likes nothing better than standing at the perimeter flapping her wings as if to say nah nah nah nah nah!! I may change her name to Tracy Barlow as I suspect she has an agenda:)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 sounds like u will be keeping them seperate for a while then - have u done the bumpa bits ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 11, 2013 Author Share Posted November 11, 2013 Hi there, I was hoping that separation would resolve it, I am keeping the bumpa bit as a last resort. I heard that they can still peck, the bumpa's just stop them from pulling the feather's out? is that right as its the pecking that's causing the damage as she has no feathers left:((( I am going to try supervised recreation from Thursday, maybe a few minutes first, I have a week off work next week so hope to get them altogether by then, was going to spend the week getting my hair/eyebrows etc done, doing lunch with the girls....guess what...I won't be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 yeah i guess its still early days - will take a while yeah they can still peck with bumpas they just cant grab hold. i found it also knocked their confidence too which is what we needed x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 11, 2013 Author Share Posted November 11, 2013 yes that's what I thought and its the pecking that is the nightmare at the moment.....dad just been down to check and all seems ok with her at the moment but betty and layer who are on remand are furious!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 they are just like little children arent they - let them sulk ! its their own fault for being naughty ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 Ok so as we speak princess layer is furiously pacing up and down the perimeter fence.....she is not a happy bunny today, she is pecking and scratching the net fence to see If she can get through and launch another assault I fear....vey reminiscent of the scene in Jurassic park when the velociraptor is testing the fence to find a way to get through......what a naughty girl...Betty is watching curiously and solo is desperately hoping she doesn't get in.....she won't as I am off to work in a few minutes and they are going to be locked in the sin bin At first I thought it funny but I am so sick of it now....layer is pacing and clucking and had been since 7 am....I know shE either wants to be back in the fold or attack solo, maybe a bit of both but my neighbours wont have it too much longer as I an in a terraced house....I am soooooo stressed at the moment, this was supposed to be fun!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Blimey, you have had a time of it... reading this whole thread. Chooks can be downright viscous when they want to be, as my two head Isa browns aged 2 now patrol together and take it upon themselves to jump on a newbie and peck her head while another pecks from the side. All over in 2 mins and chook scuttles off in indignation at the unprovoked assault! Am sorry I cannot help in any way as my lot can run off in another direction/part of the garden and then peace is restored. Hope you manage to resolve it soon (bumpa bits?) but if not then decisions may have to be made? Hate the idea of bumpa bits myself but lots on here have used them successfully and then were able to remove, if they hadn't fallen off. Good luck.......who said chicken keeping was easy, just feed/water and enjoy the eggs, ha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 Ah thanks redsunset, really hacked off at the moment, really hope I don't have a difficult decision to make, if I have to keep them apart that's fine but it's the remonstrating and pacing up and down I can't handle. If I am sure she can't get through/over the fence I can leave her out and I think she will be a bit happier but after having 35 square foot to roam in then having to be confined to a 3m run must be difficult for her but she has been such a naughty girl!! I am going to try reintroduction in the next few days and if that's no good I will try bumpa bits and should that not work then I will fight that battle then....what would help was if I knew what started all this chaos! X . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 13, 2013 Author Share Posted November 13, 2013 Dare I say it,,,I might have slight progress this morning, let them all out together for an hour and no attacks! The odd peck from Betty but nothing sustained, have put them back in HMP while at work. And I left before she realised she was confined. Will let them out together again this afternoon an hour before dusk and if all goes well I might let them all bed down in the cube together....am I going to fast? Would you guys wait a little longer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 you can only really judge it yourself - you know ur chickens and how they are behaving. When we got new chickens we only took about 2 weeks with them seperate from the old ones and I know lots of people on here recommend ALOT longer. I also know friends that put their new chucks straight in on the same day with the old ones. Its just up to you - if its too quick you just split them again and start again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 13, 2013 Author Share Posted November 13, 2013 Thanks paulad ....its a tricky one. I think I will see how they behave this afternoon when I return from work I spoke to a lady who I did a chook keeping course with before getting them and she had the same, she said she put them together and thought they were OK, went to the supermarket and came back to a dead chicken.....pecked to death....how horrific, that's my quandary, when will my faith be restored....is strange as the main aggressor was great this AM but her cohort betty was a bit pecky! Time will tell I guess.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 goodness that is horrific. all i can say is trust ur instinct. its a constant learning curve where these chucks are concerned x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 13, 2013 Author Share Posted November 13, 2013 Well the afternoon free range session wasn't as good as I hoped, both the sin binners made a bee line for solo and pecked her head. I let it happen a few times then straight back to the sin bin they went. Do you think they understand the consequence of their action or am I putting human on to chickens? Maybe I was expecting too much too soon, if I don't see an improvement in the next few day bumpa bits it is:((( This is turning into a blog but maybe it will help someone else sometime!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 Poor hen solo, she has now been pecked by the only two friends she had, they are pecking her in her sore spots too. I have been out for a few hours to find her bleeding again. What do I do now, seperate her and she will be alone but I can't leave her in there as they are setting about her. At this rate u am gonna have three groups... Do I seperate her for a few days? To be honest I thought she had healed so I don't know what to do! It's freezing and I didn't want her sleeping alone too:( Should I rehone her? Who would take her, bless her:(( I was resigned to the fact of having them in two groups but that hasn't worked so what now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I think you have to separate her until she has healed. But if you can do it so that they can see each other that will help. Re-homing could be an option. ASTW on here took on a very badly bullied chicken (with similar injuries) and it settled beautifully in with his chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...