Chicken bald back

[Minnie&Moose]

Turns out lovely Goldie, one of our new bantams, isn't Goldie after all I was greeted this morning with a quiet but definite crow Sadly this means that 'she' will be going back to the breeder tomorrow to be swapped for Goldie Mark II. Poor little Onion, who came with Goldie, is going to be a bit confused and rather sad to lose her friend.

 

But - how do I go about introducing a new companion to Onion? I hadn't begun to try and integrate her and Goldie to the others yet so I can't put her into the main group. Normally I'd quarantine new chickens for at least 2 weeks but I'm not sure I can do that this time (I haven't got a 4th house which is what it would require; the other spare is occupied by a broody and 2 large maran 'chicks'). Will it be enough to get a new bird from the same place, and hopefully the same pen, that Onion came from, put the 2 together once it's dark, but then separate them during the day if needs be (I have a spare run I can use during the day but it's not very fox proof and I don't have an extra house)? This won't be great re possible stress/disease exchange but at least if I keep Onion and new friend very separate from any of the other birds I should be able to minimise the risks to the main flock. It does mean though that Onion will just have to take her chances but at least this way she won't be on her own.

[jeshen]

Whoops! Shame about Goldie. I'd do exactly what you suggest. It's the best you can do with the accom you've got and Onion would hate being on her own. Best of luck!

[Beantree]

I agree with Jeshen. Your plan is a good one and I'm sure Onion will take to Goldie2 just fine, but be a bit bossy because that's her territory. Hopefully it will all work out. Pity about 'Goldie1' being a boy. How did that happen?

[Minnie&Moose]

Hi Beantree,

 

Goldie I must be about 15-16 weeks now but bought when 11-12 weeks (same age as Onion). At that stage he had virtually no comb, just like Onion, and to a novice like me he looked female. I did check, just as a matter of course, with the breeder, who confirmed they thought both were pullets. A couple of weeks later I did begin to wonder - Goldie wasn't really taking on quite the same shape as our existing pekin hens - looked less rounded - but comb was still small! So - perhaps a late developer? His comb is still smallish but not the same shape as our hens, and it's now much more in evidence than Onion's is - but he doesn't have impressive saddle feathers or anything like that yet. Will let you know how it goes! It is a shame though because Goldie I is quite a sweetie.

[Minnie&Moose]

Well, Goldie mark II, aka Garlic, has arrived and is now tucked up with Onion in the eglu. They've been twittering to each other all afternoon, sitting together either side of their respective fences. So I took the plunge and let them both meet in Garlic's run - they behaved like long lost friends and have been eating, drinking, and preening together, without any signs of pecking, stand offs etc. I remember seeing Garlic when we originally got Onion so I'm assuming they knew each other then and perhaps remember each other. We'll keep an eye on them just incase they change their minds about being friends! But so far it's looking good.

[Lewis]

I thought you were going to say you had an egg!

 

I think Onion would be fine if you swap Goldie for Mk2 - as they're both young they should be ok, just keep a close eye on them for the first few days.

[mullethunter]

That's good to hear Minnie&moose. Sounds like maybe they do remember each other.

[Minnie&Moose]

I found Garlic and Onion snuggled up together in the nest box this morning when I went to let them out:dance:

[Beantree]

Appears Pekin hens have a longer memory than I'd have previously given them credit for M&M. I know Wyandottes have a long memory and can be introduced back together several weeks after separation without any issues. Buff Orpingtons on the other hand seem to have little, if any, memory at all. We separated two sister hens who had lived together for 18 months. They were only apart 24 hours and fought immediately they were put together as if neither recognised the other at all.