Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[lost-sheep]

we introduced 2 ne chooks into the other 2 today. we have had them near but not with each other for 24 hours which according to the supplier is what we should have done... except it hasnt worked

 

the second we let them near each other all havoc broke loose,. one of the older ones started ripping out the feathers of the smallest newbie and our other origional ate the feathers!!! i am sure they arent meant to do that...

 

anyway, this was this morning. and they are still at it!! we have been using water disuasion making loud sounds on the top of the eglu with the hose pipe which stops the bullying... for a while!

 

we have put the newies in the eglu to go to sleep now and left the originals in the run to think carefully about what they have done!!! but i just cant carry on like this!! i have better things to do with my life than sit with a hose pipe chickensitting!!

 

help

[Poplars]

we got two new chickens on Monday, they were kept outside the run whilst the old one was in the run so she could lay

 

At night when it was really dark we would post the new ones into the eglu through the egg port

 

In the morning we would seperate them again.

 

On saturday we let them free range together and after a little bit of showing who is boss they are currently keeping to themselves in the garden.

 

Unfortunately a little bit of squabbling is inevitable but I hope that helps.

[AJuff]

We experienced the feather plucking and eating from Daisy chief hen. Rather shocking! Thank goodness it didn't last long though. You could always consider bumper bits.

[The Pearsons]

I put a bumper bit on Chips tonight and it isn't as bad in practice as it seems.

 

She hated it but can eat and drink and can't pull feathers or peck anymore!!!!

 

Thanks for the bumper bits Laura.

 

 

Helen in Hume

[Laura & CTB]

You're welcome

[chocchick]

How old/big are the newbies? If they're a similar size and not just too small can you give them more space to work it out?

If you break up every fight it may extend the fighting as they need to work out a pecking order to be happy.

It takes a few weeks to sort out.

My new chicken pulled out the tail feathers of the friend we introduced her with, and Katy ate fluffy feathers she pulled out

[Hen Watch]

Mine picked on the new girl for 8 long, long days (or it seemed a long time but looking back wasn't really). All 3 jumped on the new girl, and pulled and ate feathers, very nasty to watch.

 

They free ranged together (with strategically placed chairs around the garden so the new girl could jump up out of the way) and every night I put her in through the eggport when the others were asleep. But when I was out in the day, I separated them (with new girl in my childrens wendy house) as I didn't want to leave them in the run together (but I may have prolonged the process by doing that but I was a wimp).

[lost-sheep]

kk are there ant recomended sprays as well?? i read about them but does one shine out from all the others??