Chicken bald back

[chickchick2012]

I have 1 hen left from my small flock of 3 bantams. Do I get 2 more hens or is it so difficult to introduce new ones, that it's better to start again from scratch and re-home my remaining one. Please help

 

Thank you very much

[ISCA]

Personally I would get more hens, of a similar size, and introduce them. Chickens are flock birds and need at least one other companion for a happy, healthy life.

 

This may help:

 

http://www.newlandpoultry.com/images/pdfs/introducing_new_hens.pdf

[sjp]

it's not difficult if you don't rush it trouble with forums by their very nature is your going to get more posts about the negatives of intros than the positives because folk are going to be looking for help with a bad intro not a good one

[Cat tails]

If you are dreading the whole introduction, I have opted for the lazy version!

When I put my chickens in boarding, I made the owners stick to new chickens in with my existing two. Unknown turf for all of them and I didn't have fo worry about them for a week.

Had no problems since they got home.

[Blackrocksrock]

Lets just say a week makes a whole lot of difference - I have just introduced another one to the last hen I had - she decided to be a bully over food until she realised there was plenty to go round both of them and within the week are the best of pals and both laying well. Well.... small pullet eggs from the newbe and a wind egg today!! I do not have a spare run to enable me to keep them apart so I just go for it!.

[Cat tails]

Same here. That's why I let the boarding place do it for me!

[chickchick2012]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I think I will take a chance and see if I can find 2 new bantam Wyandottes to go with my existing one.

Much appreciated

[Blackrocksrock]

Same here. That's why I let the boarding place do it for me!

 

Proves it works fine eh!!!

[Cat tails]

Jup! Just chuck em together and walk away!

[Ursula123]

I have introduced twice in the past and just put them in together and let them get on with it. You hear the odd squabble but it soon calms down and the pecking order sorts it out. I just put extra food and water stations in to avoid any going hungry.

[gavclojak]

Oh dear...I'm for the slow approach, a couple of weeks keeping them separate then very slow introductions, I guess it has to be what works for you.

[Cat tails]

I think it does depend on how many chickens you have and want to put together. If you have to big gangs that can square up on eachother it might be wisest to do the slow approach. My two itty bitty bantams had no chance and no choice I guess. And they were used to be in with big fowl.

[mullethunter]

My mum had 1 left and introduced 4 new ones just into the house at night and then left them to it. No problems at all.