DorisT Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 Hello, Just need a bit of advice as this situation is new to us. The 3 established hens who free-range in a fairly big area are doing the usual pecking order thing, pulling out the occassional feather, and chasing our 2 new hens who we introduced two days ago. On the first night the original 3 went into the eglu as normal and we had to put the new two into the run as they had no idea what to do. The original 3 wouldn't let the new ones anywhere near the inside of the eglu so the new ones spent their first night outside in the run. The morning was a bit stressful for them too as they were cowering in a corner, but we let them all out very early. Last night we shut the original 3 inside the eglu so at least the new ones had a relatively stress free night and morning in the run. So the question is, tonight when it's dark and our original 3 are in the eglu roosting, should we add the new two to them or just let them find their own way in when they are allowed? thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 I think popping them in once the others have been in bed for a bit is a good idea as they will be sleepy and maybe more tolerant of the new girls then. If it all gets too much you could fit anti-peck rings or bumper bits to the original girls. It can be such a worry when 2 sets of girls get together for the first time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 19, 2007 Share Posted September 19, 2007 We kept ours at seperate ends of the run for the first week but put them in the eglu together at night , putting the newbies in through the egg port when the others were settled. You have to up to let them out at first light because the nasty stuff starts early. It took about two weeks for them to settle and now the tables are turning slightly the other way as Dippy our white star is now pecking feathers out of one of the Pepperpots. We tried anti-pecking bits and these just made the original girls even more cross and they were causing more damage with them than without them. We ordered some bumper bits from the Wernlas collection but have not yet had to use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorisT Posted September 19, 2007 Author Share Posted September 19, 2007 Thanks very much for the advice. Things seem to have calmed down a bit today. They can sit fairly near each other outside the run without pulling feathers. Dusk seems to be the most stressful time for the chickens and us as well, as the new ones really don't understand the run or eglu yet! We haven't been brave enough to put them all together in the eglu at the moment, but we will soon. Feeling slightly less stressed and worried about them now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
