Soggy run

[Swift]

Last Friday I went down to the last of 3 ex batt ladies, 2 year old Joan, so bought a 20 week gingernut ranger on Saturday to keep her company. Joan had always been very laid back, she was the biggest and most well feathered of the ex batts and yet didn't seem interested in being top of the pecking order, she was #2, then when the head hen died the remaining 2 seemed equal pecking. She would never peck the other hens and would always back away from conflicts.

 

I really enjoyed just having 2 hens, so thought I could introduce a single hen to Joan. However,since being introduced to my new hen Joan has completely changed personality and become a vicious little madam! She chases and pecks the back of new girl Sally's neck at every opportunity, despite Sally being very meek, never showing any resistance and showing respect allowing Joan to eat first, backing away from her when given the eye etc. If Joan ever catches her eating anything, even just the boring limitless pellets from various containers, she runs up to her to give a good peck. Then about every 5 minutes she'll give her a good peck for seemingly no reason at all. I know I am only 6 days in, but feel so sorry for new bird Sally and really wish I'd introduced 2 new birds so they could be friends and at least divide Joan's bad attentions! I've hung up cabbages, scattered corn and mealworms, tried being rooster myself and clapping or picking Joan up when she pecks, they have plenty of room, yet it still continues. Sally doesn't seem to be hurt yet and is still laying.

 

I have the option on Saturday to buy another gingernut ranger from the same flock as Sally came from. I know this would create further initial pecking order conflicts, but wonder if it may be worth it in the long run so I have more of a flock instead of 2 unhappy chickens playing out bully& victim roles in my back garden! Will Sally still remember a friend from her flock from a week ago? Any advice gratefully received!

[Cat tails]

I have to state that I have never introduced any chickens to others.

How did you introduce the two ladies? What I have learned on here is that introduction is something that should be taken very slow. So have the two chickens in seperate runs, where they do see eachother, but can't touch. Then slowly over weeks let them free range eachother.

Might it be the case that you have sprung the new chicken on your existing hen too soon? I would give them some time apart, make sure you have at least two feeders and drinkers some distance apart and give the new hen the opportunity to get away.

[Swift]

I was definitely naive when I introduced them. Joan was always my favourite peaceful chicken, I was expecting if anything Sally to go for her rather than other way around. I could use netting to separate them, or leave one within the omlet run whilst the other is outside, however I only have one nest box, so they would have to sleep together. Thanks for the advice.

[Grandmashazzie]

I would get another one if only for the reason if your ex batt goes you will be down to one. I would get them to sleep together and separate during day. I am doing intros at moment and I have my newbies segregated by dividing run in two . They can see but not touch. They FR but are two different flocks. They are getting used to each other but the poor black silkie is bottom in each and the big girls really go for her. I may end up keeping two flocks.

[Millie-Annie]

I introduced a youngster to Millie when she was on her own. Millie was an ex-batt too. She was a bit evil to poor Marigold to start with, but Marigold didn't seem to mind. Whatever Millie took off her, she just shrugged and found something else. It did settle and they were really good mates. I got three new ex-batts once Millie and Marigold had settled. By then Millie was very doddery and the ex-batts were truly evil to her. So I had to separate her and Marigold. Once Millie died I put Marigold in with them, so the poor thing had to go through it all again. She was fine though, but she did have the most laid back chicken personality.

 

I think I would stick Joan and Sally out a bit longer, then get two more. Separate Joan and Sally from the newbies and then introduce the four slowly. Two is always a difficult number because sadly they don't pass away at the same time.

 

but PLEASE PLEASE do not use netting. My neighbour separated his newbies with netting and one got her leg caught in it. She twisted and turned and finally had no choice but to lay there, whilst the others pecked her to death. It was horrible. We climbed the fence and rescued her, but even as I held her whilst by husband clipped the netting, they were trying to pull lumps off her. At that point I vowed never to have chickens myself, now I just vow never ever to use netting.

[Swift]

Thank you to everyone who offered advice. Really glad to say that one week on Joan and Sally now seem to get on really well, haven't seen a single peck in 3 days now and they seem content together. I obviously just needed to give them more time and not worry! Have learned a lot about how to go about introducing next time and will get 2 to replace the next one to depart. Thanks for the advice about netting - it's also a problem for other animals getting stuck in it and we get hedgehogs, so we have bottom metre as garden edging - the coated wire stuff and netting above that.

 

Thanks again,

Gemma