Angela & Ken Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Hi there. Having sadly lost our Hennie to septic peritonitis last week, we decided to get 2 replacement hens for Barbie who was making very odd calling sounds and seeming very lonely. Unfortunately, we now have WWIII........we've got a very small Maran who seems to be the runt and a Speckedly, who's the youngest but very strong and dominant to the the Maran. Barbie, our original hen, is even more dominant! We've got the Maran (Bubble) and the Speckedly (Squeak) in one Eglu and Barbie in the other, facing each other. However, Squeak is bullying Bubble and pecks her as well as stopping her eating and drinking. Today Barbie also got hold of Bubble whilst we were trying to introduce them to each other. She was just vicious. I am really concerned about Bubble who seems to be so scared of them. I've ordered an anti-pecking spray but also wanted a bumper bit or bit ring to fit on the other two. I can't seem to find them anywhere. Any ideas please? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Hi I've no experience with introducing new hens but I'm sure others will be able to give you some advice. I know that to some extent you have to let them get on with it but I bet it's easier said than done. Bumper bits can be got from: The Wernlas Collection, Onibury, Near Ludlow, Shropshire, SY7 9BL. The phone number is 01584 856318. I have spares of both bumper bits and peck rings - PM me if you'd like me to post a couple to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangers Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 From what I have read, the easiest way to introduce newbies is to keep them separated in the run for a few days, in full view of each other, each with there own water and feeding stations, there are some piccies on here, when someone has used canes shoved through the mesh in the run to separate them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutechicky Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Yes, I would advise putting them near each other at first (not being able to actually get to each other), with everything seperated. This way it will give the chickens time to get used to each other and maybe even accept each other! To a certain extend you have to put them together however, as part of the pecking order is to show how tough you are! If there is any blood, seperate them immediately. As you probably know, chickens kill the bleeding chicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela & Ken Posted August 28, 2007 Author Share Posted August 28, 2007 Thanks everyone for your advice......have been so very worried as Bubble was seriously being pecked and dominated by Squeak, so much so that she wasn't eating or drinking as Squeak wouldn't allow her to. However, I went to work and came home today to find them both sitting together in the run! We then gave them some grapes and spinach and they ate together with Bubble even being daring and eating leftovers off Squeak's beak!!! I am amazed! They've obviously established their pecking order and all we need to do now is introduce these 2 newbies to our lovely old hen, Barbie, who is still intent on WWIII. The anti-pecking spray arrived today but we may not need it.....I hope! However, bit of a shock at the weekend.......I was holding Bubble and saw a red "thing" scurry across her back!!!! It was very early in the morning and perhaps it was red mite. Heaven forbid! We've now covered the eglu with red mite powder - both eglus just incase Barbie has them too. Oh yuk! We've never had anything like this before and they must be from the newbies as we stupidly never checked them for fleas etc when we got them last week. I wasn't too impressed with the poultry farm we got them from either. Fingers crossed all will be well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisie999 Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Hi. i have successfully introduced two new girls a few months ago with no problems at all.... however i have just introduced two more and everything seemed to be going ok, a bit of pecking and chasing away, but now one of them has a nasty wound on her neck. I obviously separated them straight away, the two new girls are fine together as they have been together since chicks. I really need to get them all back in together so am interested in bumper bits or rings, dont really know anything about them. ie how do you fit them, also does the anti pecking spray work and can you buy them in feed store type places. I wont be puting them back in together until her wound has fully healed. I would be grateful for any info...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lost-sheep Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 take my advice and dont bother with the anti-pecking bits and use the bumper bits instead. the anti-pecking ones dont stop the chooks from stabbing one another... our poor white star has had her vent pecked and stabbed til it bleeds... we are awaiting the arival of the bumper bits and i think she is too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisie999 Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Thanks.. but what are bumper bits and where can i get them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lost-sheep Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 they look a bit like an A shape and you insert it into the chickens nostrils... there is a thingy about it in the FAQ section with piccies! (so helpful is my language ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Bumper bits are great! Ideally you need two people to fit them. First catch your chicken, ideally the one you want to fit the bumper bit to. If you catch the wrong one you have to let her go and start over.... We dropped a towel over Chips to stop any nonsense. My daughter, Jane, held her still and I took firm hold of her head. I put the "bit" (the cross bar) into her beak and then hooked the "beads" into her nostrils. To start with she didn't like it one little bit (no pun intended) but now doesn't seem to notice it at all. Helen in Hume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 I now have 2 out of 3 hens wearing bumper bits!!! Bobbie had hers fitted quite a while back as she was really hurting the other girls and making them bleed. For the last few days I have seen Ria eating feathers but had not actually witnessed her pulling them out of anyone so I remained optimistic that she was just finding them in the run but alas no!! This morning I watched her chasing poor Rose and Bobbie and grabbing at their feathers. In the space of ten minutes she must have eaten 3 or 4 of Bobbies and about 10 of poor Roses!!!!!!!! So, that was that-I marched out into the garden and made my 7 year old daughter hold her while I fitted it. I wonder why I have 2 out of 3 girls needing bumper bits?? Seems crazy to me. They get their pellets, fresh fruit and veg, access to grass every day, citricidal in their water, poultry spice on their food once or twice a week, oyster shell grit, garlic powder etc etc etc so I doubt it's a deficiency! Could it be boredom? They have a dustbath in the run and I hang veggies up for them and stuff. Mmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 I think it is sheer "badness" - the need to have their place in the order of the flock recognised by any means available.... Helen in Hume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
