chelsea Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Sam died on Tuesday, we bought another chicken yesterday and Ella cant stand her, Ella has been sitting in my kitchen all the time and will not go anywhere near the eglu or run. To be honest, I havent taken to the new chicken (not her fault), she's very noisy (Sam was a beautiful placid and quiet chicken) and I think we bought her without thinking just so that Ella wouldnt feel lonely. Im not sure I can go through the stress of an introduction at the moment, Im still teary over sam and was wondering if I should just keep Ella on her own, she seems happy in herself. Do you think this is wise? do you think she'll really need new pals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalikoo Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Hi Chelsea, With having lost Scarlet yesterday I've been asking myself that same question. At the moment Honey seems oblivious that Scarlet is not around but I suppose it's very early to tell whether it will affect her. I've read chickens don't like to be alone so I am in two minds as to what to do. I do have a friend who has chickens who would probably take Honey. At this moment I do not want to get another chicken ( I think my husband is not in favor of getting anymore, he's never been their biggest fan) Maybe your new chicken just needs a little time to settle in and maybe she's just a bit noisey because she's nervous and it's all new to her. You are obviously still very upset at losing Sam I know how you feel I keep finding myself starting to cry at the least little thing, like finding one of her feathers on the patio this morning set the tears rolling. Give yourself some time before you make any decisions. Big cyber hug to you XX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 No you can't keep a lone hen, they like to live in small groups (safety in numbers and all that probably) sorry. We had this with Charlie but I'd suggest you have a look for some lovely companions and go for 2 then if you ever have a loss you don't have 1 hen left. Charlie now has 7 pals she lives with happily Go on, have a look for some girls to make her and you smile BBxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 30, 2007 Author Share Posted August 30, 2007 thanks for the advice . i guess just the upset of Sam is making me not take to our new arrival. Hubby has just come home from work and I did tell him to take her back....I've just been sat watching her in the run and I think we'll probably keep her now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 It's funny how we get excited at the thought of a new chicken but then don't take to them. I felt like this when I got two new, older hens. They are such different personalities and it took a little while for us to get used to each other. They also have an effect on your existing hens behaviour for a while. But now they are in a routine and I've got to know them and my chooks have accepted them, I love them to bits. Give it time is what I say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 I know how you feel, I rescued Lulu from being a lone chicken and introduced her to my other two hens. I did it slowly but I nearly took her back as she she became head chook and bullied Penny and Tuppence for a while. To see Penny's little face looking at me as if she was saying "what have you done mum" I kept with it though and they live together fine now. I'm with Buffie have three chooks in all. All the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHARLIE Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Introducing new chickens can be very stressful, but i think it will be worth it in the long run. when one of our original 3 (bovan goldline/ warren) died we decided to replace her (with a black rock) because we didn't want to end up with a lone chicken, we thought because the original 3 got on so well that the two remaining would welcome the new one but we were so wrong!! none of the reading up i did on chickens' social politics could have prepared me. The two originals went hysterical at the first sight of her- they actually shouted themselves ho"Ooops, word censored!" and we had to explain to the neighbours what was going on! when they finally were allowed to mix they launched some really horrible attacks on the new one- i found myself getting annoyed with them for the first time ever and incredible guilt about putting the new one through it all. we had to build a new temporary run to keep them seperate while we were at work. it took much longer than all of the books said to get them to mix well- about a month before they could all be out in the garden unsupervised and about three before they could share the same run, but now they are inseperable even though the newer one is still clearly at the bottom of the pecking order. We decided to get another black rock recently, intended as a friend for newie, but she's decided to team up with the old ones and so it all starts again... it is definitely worth it though and you'll notice some progress pretty soon- keep an eye on them when they first mix, try not to break it up unless it gets too nasty, but also try not to let them avoid each other for too long otherwise they'll just drag it out. i'm sure the new one will quet down once she settles in. Good luck, let us know how you get on! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Lulu is a black Rock, I called her Lulu because she is a very loud Chook and she can really SHOUT . My other two are omlet girls, are all Black Rock chooks noisy or is it just my girl??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 We have two "lone" chooks - Eliza - our bantam babe left after Maisie died and Nigella aka The Lone Ranger - after she scalped herself and had to be kept separate whilst recovering. Having said that, they are in arks where they can see the other girls and get to free range the gardent together making ya boo sucks faces at the others as they have a go at all the lush green grass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poplars Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 One of ours got cancer a while ago and had to be put down last week but we got another chickens the same day and then another tow days after that, they were kept seperated until bedtime then joined, and now are nearly best friends... the one when she was on her own was not happy at all so I recommend you get 2 more to stop bullying! Good luck with whatever you do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 30, 2007 Author Share Posted August 30, 2007 Ahh, thanks for the replies folks...it has given me a bit more confidence to proceed. Well, they have gone to bed in the eglu together tonight (newie slept in my kitchen last night). There was a bit of squabbling and now silence as its dark. im just really worried about the morning...noise etc waking up the neighbours. Time will tell I suppose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHARLIE Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Lulu is a black Rock, I called her Lulu because she is a very loud Chook and she can really SHOUT . My other two are omlet girls, are all Black Rock chooks noisy or is it just my girl??? Our black rocks are the quiet ones by comparison!! they are just as vocal but have quieter voices. well that's usually the case anyway- one of our warrens can barely squeak at the moment because of all of the shouting she did at the new arrival.. this happened last time too- she lost her voice for about a week and just wandered round making an indignant whistling noise- very cute and probably a good thing for everyone withing earshot as by the time she got her voice back she wasn't so outraged. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 How are they this morning ?? Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 31, 2007 Author Share Posted August 31, 2007 Well, they slept well. After some squabbling they were quiet thanks. Ella is constantly pecking her when she is in the run. So I have removed Ella as she is also so noisy (neighbours ) and she's in my kitchen and the newie is in the run eating. Going to get a friend for the newie this afternoon, Ella cant peck 2 at the same time then can she?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Is the pecking 'serious' or just asserting her pecking order rights ? Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 31, 2007 Author Share Posted August 31, 2007 I've never witnessed pecking before....it seems more "im boss" pecking though....everytime the new chook gets near Ella pecks her. Ella was eating out the grub this morning and everytime the new chook went near she was pecked also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 When I got my 2 (at the same time from Omlet) Chikki wouldn't let Boo eat from the grub until she had eaten - she used to give her a quick peck. Boo learnt to wait. But they both eat together now. Hopefully, yours will learn to love each other soon. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 31, 2007 Author Share Posted August 31, 2007 Ella is doing exactly the same as what you are describing. fingers crossed they will learn to love one another Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Awww Chelsea - only just seen this thread (owing to too much time on football chat probably ) So sorry for the loss of Sam hun However, ever the helpful person i am, I have come up with a great name suggestion for your newest chook (see the other thread ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James H Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 its worth putting yourself out to make a good introduction because it will pay off in the long run, chickens like to be in small groups and it would be a bit cruel to keep one on its own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fridgn8er Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 im just w2ondering how old was sam? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 31, 2007 Author Share Posted August 31, 2007 she was 14 months. no illness whatsover in my chickens until 3 weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 hey chels... just caught up with this - so sorry to hear about your loss.. i remember getting miggins and spot after my others got eaten - i kind of resented them for a bit - I guess cos they were very different to the bugblatter, trillian and marvin.. but pretty soon we clicked - and now we're best of buddies! as for the pecking - it doesn't look nice - but, trust me, it will settle down after a week if you leave them to it - nowt to worry about unless copious amounts of blood appear (often - a nicked comb can look worse than it is!) keep us posted, Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 Is the pecking 'serious' or just asserting her pecking order rights ? Hazel this is a really good point. There's a big difference between serious damage and the normal 'pecking order' stuff. Every morning my girls reassert the pecking order. In a lot of cases I reckon they don't even touch each other, its a sort of lunge that stops short of a peck - the 'victim' runs off, and honour is satisfied. Its a bit like the fashionable 'faire la bise' kissing that doesn't make contact (don't see the point to be honest, but then I'm a pretty basic Englishman - if you're going to plant a bise, or a bisou (or even have a snog), you might as well make it a good 'en ...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 1, 2007 Author Share Posted September 1, 2007 hey chels... just caught up with this - so sorry to hear about your loss.. i remember getting miggins and spot after my others got eaten - i kind of resented them for a bit - I guess cos they were very different to the bugblatter, trillian and marvin.. but pretty soon we clicked - and now we're best of buddies! as for the pecking - it doesn't look nice - but, trust me, it will settle down after a week if you leave them to it - nowt to worry about unless copious amounts of blood appear (often - a nicked comb can look worse than it is!) keep us posted, Phil Aww, thanks Phil, I know you've been away - hope you had a great time You're right - the pecking is getting less now between the 2 big hens. The 2 cochins we bought today are seperate from the big girls for the moment as they are only 13 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
