bullying
- Thread starter netti
- Start date
Yes it is early days yet, With two established birds, a single new comer is going to be bullied for a while. Things normally settle down after a few days, but it may take longer. You just need to make sure she has plenty of room to escape persecution, and that they are not keeping her from food or water. If need be provide extra feeders/drinkers so she can feed and drink in peace.
chrismahon
Well-known member
You should try to introduce new birds in pairs Netti, after two weeks quantine in a run alongside the existing flock then introduce with plenty of space to escape. Two feeders and drinkers help diffuse problems. In this case you can take one out and put it separately so that the Pekin and Cochin (probably the more docile) bond for two weeks then reintroduce the RIR. But the Silky will probably always be seen as an outsider -some of our flocks have had single birds added and year later they are still at the botton of the pecking order. Some are OK after a few weeks.
You really need to keep her separate from the others for a couple of weeks, not only to let her settle down but as a quarantine measure in case she is bringing in any infections or infestations that the others aren't resistant to. Maybe you can fix up some sort of wire barrier across the run, with a waterproof box for her to sleep in, it doesn't have to have a perch. Then they can see each other but she won't be threatened by the big girls.
Introducing just one chicken is always difficult. The established ones are never friendly to newbies, but if there are at least two pullets, they pair up during the quarantine period and are not so exposed once they get to meet the older birds. Have you got room to go back and get another one to keep her company? I found that a third bird, introduced later than the others, was never properly accepted and so was always quite lonely, whereas when I've introduced a pair they get on much better.
Is she younger than the others? There will always be ructions when new birds arrive, but it's not fair to put a pullet in with larger, older birds until she is at least 20-22 weeks old as she won't have the confidence to stand up for herself until she is ready to lay. When you do introduce them, there is lots of advice on here about how best to actually do this - don't just put her in with them during the day, this may well lead to bloodshed and will be distressing for her in any case.
Probably best to separate them for now, think it through, and ask more questions about how to go about the next step towards a happier integration for your new little girl.
Introducing just one chicken is always difficult. The established ones are never friendly to newbies, but if there are at least two pullets, they pair up during the quarantine period and are not so exposed once they get to meet the older birds. Have you got room to go back and get another one to keep her company? I found that a third bird, introduced later than the others, was never properly accepted and so was always quite lonely, whereas when I've introduced a pair they get on much better.
Is she younger than the others? There will always be ructions when new birds arrive, but it's not fair to put a pullet in with larger, older birds until she is at least 20-22 weeks old as she won't have the confidence to stand up for herself until she is ready to lay. When you do introduce them, there is lots of advice on here about how best to actually do this - don't just put her in with them during the day, this may well lead to bloodshed and will be distressing for her in any case.
Probably best to separate them for now, think it through, and ask more questions about how to go about the next step towards a happier integration for your new little girl.
hi
i wrote a post earlier about my new girl being bullied by my two other girls well i was going to seperate her and put her in the bottom of the run with a box and stray for her to sleep but then she went up the ramp and is now in the coop should i shut the hatch on the coop or not x and also should i get another one as im a bit worried
thank u
i wrote a post earlier about my new girl being bullied by my two other girls well i was going to seperate her and put her in the bottom of the run with a box and stray for her to sleep but then she went up the ramp and is now in the coop should i shut the hatch on the coop or not x and also should i get another one as im a bit worried
thank u
chrismahon
Well-known member
I would Netti. At least then she will have a friend. They do pair up and become inseparable in time, following each other everywhere. Many of ours are pairs, although a few prefer their own company. We've had some go to the nestbox together and one waits outside! We even had one cockerel (Gandalf) who used to go into the coop with his favourite hen when she laid.
foxy
Active member
netti said:
Merged into one thread for you Netti
17
If she has gone into the coop with the others, that's good because if they sleep together they will wake up all smelling the same and she is less likely to get bullied. Personally i almost never shut the pophole so they can get up when they need to. If she laid an egg she is mature so not so much to worry about than if she was younger. As its a bit late now to try quarantine maybe they will be OK tomorrow if you can put out two feeders and drinkers (not necessarily the proper kind if you only have one, just use bowls or something) Watch carefully for trouble and if she is pecked hard enough to draw blood you will have to remove her. You could give her some time out to rest and feed away from the other hens if she is getting picked on and is having problems feeding. How big is your run? If its small she will find it hard to get away, try putting in some things she can hide behind.
Yes getting her a friend would be a good idea but only if you really have room for 4 - hens need at least 2 square metres of run space each so with 4 hens you would need 8 square metres ie 4 metres by 2 metres or the equivalent. Less than this would have its own problems as when hens are crowded they are more likely to fight or start feather-pecking etc.
Yes getting her a friend would be a good idea but only if you really have room for 4 - hens need at least 2 square metres of run space each so with 4 hens you would need 8 square metres ie 4 metres by 2 metres or the equivalent. Less than this would have its own problems as when hens are crowded they are more likely to fight or start feather-pecking etc.