rabbitfluff Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 I've been introducing 3 new girls to my one old girl. I separated the run for a week or so so the new ones had their own area but since opening it all up, the new girls stay up on the raised parts of the run and refuse to come on the ground at all. The old girl will sit up with them but they won't come down. And despite me lifting them in to the house at night they leg it out and are preferring to sleep perched in the run. They won't even come down on the ground for treats. It's 2 weeks now - any ideas how I can encourage them to at least mix and hopefully to sleep in the hen house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 it takes time 2 weeks is nothing that's just getting over the move to new surroundings and it's more than likely they've never been higher than ground level before they got to your place just let them sort thing out for themselves at least your old girl is making the right moves and wants to spend time with them intros came take at least a month but more like 2 or 3 before they are fully complete at the end of the day there's no rush I assume you've got the feed and water at the lower level so they have to get down as for them going to bed without help that can go either way. I've got a 2 year old sussex that still doesn't always put herself to bed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 Yes, as sjp said two weeks is nothing for intros, I did have one new pekin who jumped out of the separation pen and mixed immediately as if she had always been there but apart from that it takes a couple of months. Even then they keep in their own little groups when free ranging, its nice to see when they finally totally mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitfluff Posted April 7, 2016 Author Share Posted April 7, 2016 Thanks for the replies - I'll be more patient. I've only done one intro before and after a week or so they were as if they'd always been together so it looks like I was lucky then. I've got food and drink both raised (as I was worried they might not eat enough if they were scared to go on the ground) and on the ground. Should I put it all at ground level to encourage them down or give it a bit longer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 If it was me, I'd put it all on the ground level so they have to go down to feed. Your other chicken sounds lovely as she wants to have friends. Keep a close eye on them to make sure they are feeding....chickens normally want to eat if they are anything like my greedy lot! This will get them accustomed to each other Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
