HampshireGardener Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 We lost one of our 4 hens to illness in June and the remaining Maran and the Blacktail decided to bully the Columbine who had previously had a sprained leg. So last Thursday we went to purchase 2 new girls. We thought it would be best to buy similar looking birds for easier integration, but my husband persuaded me to get 2 white ones, a Sussex Star and an Amber Link! The Sussex is very nervous but the Amber is calm and very friendly indeed. Our existing girls do a bit of chasing and bullying but nothing too serious, however the new girls wont sleep in the coop at night now, and have for a couple of days been roosting on a perch or the top of the plastic kennel I have as a second "coop". So I purchased a small chicken shelter/nest box and today I've closed the internal run doors to keep them separated while they eat and sleep, but let them all out to free range together. I think that before too long they should be ok all in together full time. I'm keen on this as I want them to be happy together quickly before the next bird flu scare comes about and we have to confine them all the time. And a bonus - because of the interlopers, Columbine is back in favour with her buddies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
