Hens turning into Cockrels!!!

[Lucylou]

Hi Everyone,

Just back from hols & OMG what a time the poor peeps that had the (supposedly easy) job of looking after the chooks have had.

In 2 weeks:-
2 'girls' have turned into boys

the little henpecked one was nearly killed by the others Luckily my Mum heard a comotion & managed to get there just in time (she's disabled so makes slow progress). Having got there she couldn't lift her up (due to her disability) so had to stand guard until help came nearly an hour later!

and due to weather in the first week, its like a quagmire with mud from one end to the other. All the wood chippings I put down have spread about & not done much good.

So I've got a couple of questions that I'm hoping you helpful & experienced lot can help with.

The 2 'boys' are 25/26 weeks old, before I went away they looked just the same as the others, nothing different except these 2 were the top of the tree in pecking order. I come home to Liza turning into Lenny & a beautiful boy with long curled tail feathers, & Goldie (well he's still Goldie!) with tail feathers but not so long. Neither has attempted to crow (yet!) Although I would love to keep Lenny, he's so beautiful, sadly I can't risk a cockrel crowing! So this is my question, I will have 2 hens in exchange for the boys from the supplier, so these will be new girls (although probably hatched at the same time).

Now, the poor henpecked one was badly attacked, her head was pecked & it's now featherless (poor thing looks very odd!) She's separated from the others in a pen within the run.

Do you think I could introduce the 2 new ones & return Scruffy to the main group at the same time? I can divide the run with netting for a time so they all get used to it.

Advice welcome.

 

[snifter]

OK lets work down the list for you

Firstly, if you are using wood chip you really need to put some kind of sheeting down under it and then a fairly deep layer on the top of the sheeting otherwise it will do as you've described and mix into the ground and turn to mush. Just don't forget to poke holes in the sheeting so water can drain through it.

Secondly, if you get 2 new pullets I'd be inclined to put them in with the henpecked hen for a week so as all 3 have time to bond together and one not be bullied. Ensure you try to get 2 pullets from the breeder that are not ones who have been together closely, but in with lots of others so they don't really 'know' each other. That way they should be more accepting of the bullied hen. Keep an eye on them to ensure she is not picked on too much.

When you finally put them all back in the hen house together, ensure its when you can be about for a couple of days to make sure you can see who is the hen pecker and take her out of the group. Don't remove the henpecked hen as its better to take out the bully and leave her too cool off for a week. Taking away the bullied hen will only make the others pick on her more when she goes back in.

Also give the hens something to do so they don't pick on each other. CD's hanging up in the run to peck at, broccoli florets tied up with some string, that sort of thing.

 

[Lucylou]

Thanks snifter, good advice.

Never though of putting a membrane down, its always the simple solutions that do the trick!! I will suggest to the breeder that she gives me 2 pullets as you suggest, she keeps about 50, & I'm sure they are kept together in a field so although they will have lived together, I dont think they will have formed any sort of bond.

Another question, I was thinking of dividing the run with simple garden netting, as I'm assuming the old & new won't try & get to each other. Do you think this would be adequate? Its got to be full height as mine fly! I know I can clip the wings but I've never had much luck with this & they have still flown a bit!! I have a wire roof to the run so the netting can easily be attached.