Mollydog Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Hi, Im a new member but ave been a chicken keeper for a few years now! I have four omlet hen-houses in the garden with various residents! My first purchase was a cube which I know is made for 10 chickens, I started with 6 girls in here and added three more about 6 months later. they all integrated well and apart from a random feather plucker ( she knows who she is!) all was well. My original girls have started to pass over the rainbow bridge now and I have only 4 left in this coup. A few weeks ago we attempted to add in 3 Vorwerks and a Welsummer, but it was carnage and we ended up having to set up a new Eglu go up in a separate part of the garden for these new girls( one of whom died from the stress.) We have a very dominant bluebell hen who will not have any new girls in her run( which is the one with only 4 in it now). So I guess I would like a bit of advice please.....will the 4 be ok in such a large house on their own.....or how can I get the very dominant en to accept a few newbies? Any advice would be greatly appreciated Mollydog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 I am sure that they will be delighted to have a palace to themselves, and there's no problem with keeping fewer hens in a bigger coop. Just your frustration with the situation. Po into the FAQ section and check out the thread on introductions - follow this, and let your old girls get used to the new ones whilst they are in their separate housing, take it slowly and be prepared to allow around a month for the dominant hen to grow accustomed to them. It will work, but intros can sometimes be tricky, which is why it's always best to use an other coop for a while I can sympathise, as I am currently introducing a couple of flighty little Blue Angels (Leghorn x Araucana) by their breeding, they will be inclined to be nervy and jumpy at first, so I am taking it very slowly, and they had their first free range with the others for a short while today. They are back in their own housing for the night and will be there until I am able to supervise another outing one evening this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Can we see your Blue Angels DM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Welcome to the forum, Mollydog . I'd agree you shouldn't worry about having a small number in a big house, they'll not be bothered . Also agree that introductions can take weeks (and weeks, sometimes!). Patience and perseverance usually pay off . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Can we see your Blue Angels DM? There was a thread about them here, with a photo. I will try to get some more pics. They will be layers of large, pale blue eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Definately persevere with intros. I had flock of 5 big girls, got 2 Mille Fleur Pekins,following week 2 Silkies. The Silkies were popped in classic with Pekins no problems at all as they were all young and fairly new. Introducing them to big girls has taken about 6 weeks and only now are things settled.They were in WIR in 2 sections so had sight of each other.Then FR in garden in opposite areas by choice now they are in same WIR and happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollydog Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 Ahh thankyou all, I will leave them in their house as they are then, as they seem happy enough...I was just worried about them being cold as winter gets along...My poor blue Vorwerks were really battered by the Lavender, she is a tough old broad! Nothing like the pecking when the others were introduced, they seemed to get the wrath of delilah. They are quite flighty too but happy in their raised eglu go and seem to rub along nicely with the Welsummer. Even when I let these three Free range in the garden Delilah stalks them from their run and has tried a two footed attack from behind her fence! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 If you're concerned, then you can always fit the aggressor with a bumpa bit, that way she won't do too much harm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollydog Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 ooh what is a bumpa bit?.... I think the Blue Vorwerks have learnt to stay well clear of her, they are a lot more flighty than the normal Vorwerks that I have in with my two little bantams. I actually have 4 runs, one with indian runner ducks, one with the cube which has cotswold legbars, a burford brown and delilah(lavender), one which has the newbies welsummer and two blue Vorwerks and the large walk in run which has two Vorwerks, and two bantams. Delilah really is the grumpiest chicken I have ever seen defending her turf....shes an absolute sweetie with people though and isn't bothered by the dogs either just these three new girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Sticky on Bumpa Bits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollydog Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 ooh fab thanks for that, it looks quite helpful for delilah, I shall bear that in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 If she continues, then I would try a bit of exclusion first - pop her in another run or a dog crate for a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
