helen_molly Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Advice please - Had my first set of rescue hens for a week now. I thought they were settling in quite well, I can tell who the boss is and who is at the bottom but I've not witnessed any bad pecking - yet yesterday I realised that the most timid one hadn't come out of the eglu cube into the run at all - tried to encourage/Usher her out but she wasn't keen at all - dont think it is the ladder that is causing her problems- she just seems scared of the others. Put her in a separate run for an hour so that she could get some food and water while the rain was at bay. Shes stayed insode all day today too - put some food and water in the cube for her, but my partner said i am just encouraging her to stay iinside. I'm worried about her - how can I help her integrate? At the moment they just have the eglu cube run but within the week we will have built a 12 foot by 6 foot walk in run for them. I'm sure space will help but in the mean time do I force her to go or with the others? Sad to watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 It's still very early days, is she in the cube part or in the nest box. If she was in the nest box I would take her out and make sure she has had something to eat and is hydrated, I wouldn't put food in to the cube itself. If she is being bullied then make sure they have access to water/food and lots of places to escape if the bullying gets too bad, a bale of straw is good for camouflage and to jump on to escape as is some strategically placed logs . I would also try some boredom busters for the bully too, a corn on the cob bobbing or a cabbage hanging, maybe a corn filled yellow play ball. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen_molly Posted May 25, 2014 Author Share Posted May 25, 2014 She spends the day on the main part of the cube. I did see some off the others peck her while she was at the to off the lladder before and it looked horrible - no wonder she's scared. Are they likely to get over this with time and space or is it possible they will never accept her? When you say I should take her out so you mean to a run on her own for a few days? Thought I should try to put a non pecking hen in with her to help her make a friend? They're are no marks on her to indicate bad pecking bit that may be because she's been on hiding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 No don't take her out! The only time you should take her out is if they draw blood, otherwise they will never accept her. I am sure this is just a flock establishing the pecking order. I bet your girl is getting a swift peck to the back of the head??? If they are pecking her vent/bottom maybe try some nettex anti peck spray, just keep an eye out for blood as they will all go in for a peck if it gets that bad and then you have a whole other world of hurt to deal with. They can be pretty mean girls at times. I have two girls that get the back of the head peck for any misbehaviour. If they try to eat near the top hen....peck...if they are in the dust bathe first...peck..out of the cube last...peck. As I say it can seem brutal but this is perfectly normal behaviour, they will accept her, although she may be a low ranking hen,but then again it's very early to say what order the hierarchy will be. I would see if she can be tempted out of the cube and if not take her out and make sure she eats/drinks, the extra room in the new run will help, just make sure she has some escape strategies;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
