New arrivals

[Sue]

I collected my two new hens last Sunday (1 x red, 1 x buff sussex). They are 17-20 wks old. They have been in a separate house/run next to the other hens for a week now. The other hens were interested in the new arrivals, but have now lost interest. They are very flighty and I can't pick them up at all! I wanted to treat them for lice etc. and after they went to bed I shut them in and tried to pick one up, expecting them to be calm (they were when I got them out of the box they arrived in!) but the buff sussex went barmy and I couldn't catch her and she jumped out of the top of the house and was then free in the garden!!! She tried to fly over a 6' fence, but her wing had been clipped, so didn't make it. It was getting dark and I started to worry about how I was going to get her back in (catching her obviously wasn't going to be an option!) Eventually I gradually laid a trail of corn back into her run and luckily she eventually decided to follow it.

I have no idea how I am going to catch them to de-lice them. I went for more sussex because the ones I have are so calm and easy to handle. Looks like I've made the wrong decision again.

My question is this - how should I introduce them physically to my other hens and move them into the house with them and how long should I leave it? They are obviously healthy birds and I have wormed them this week. They are getting a bit bored in the small run and the buff is having her neck feathers pulled out. I have put a pecking block in for them to try to give them something to do. Should I just open the gate and let them out with the others? I'm not going to be able to put them in the main house at night (as I planned to do) if I can't handle them. I'm now wishing I'd gone for hybrids (which I'm told are easy to handle!)

The other question is, with a wing clipped, how high could they actually get to fly over a fence?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[chrismahon]

They have never been handled. Catch one and carry it in the correct manner, legs between fingers and breast on palm of hand. Take it for a walk with you, in the house, round the garden. Same for the other. Treats when they are replaced and in a few days they will be fine.
They are young and at their flightiest now. When they bulk up and start laying they will struggle to take off with a clipped wing. So a 4' fence is fine. Now, even clipped they may get over a 5' fence.
Two weeks before introducing is normal. Lavender spray on all hens on the night of introduction helps as they all smell same in morning. Be there at daylight just in case.

 

[E3lx]

agree,

 

[Sue]

Thank you for your reply. That sounds really easy, but first I have to get hold of her without injuring her and my hands are not big enough to hold her legs, let alone have her breast on the palm of my hand! If my fingers are between her legs, her breast would be way above my wrist! Instead of putting them in at night, is there any reason why I can't just open the gate and let them all be together? They already know they're here and must already smell the same as they are in the same area (where the other hens used to forage) anyway. One of the reasons I wanted to get them into a bigger area is because the buff seems to be losing a lot of feathers around her neck. I think it's the red sussex pulling them out. Also the buff is running frantically up and down the pen as though she is desperate to get in with the others. She does it all day! Appears to be quite manic behaviour! The other one is much calmer and just plods around normally. The run is quite small, about 2' wide x 8' plus the house. I'm worried about leaving them in there too long. I have put a pecking block in there and also hung up some broccolli, but they don't seem to be interested in it.

 

[Chuck]

Firstly, none of the breeds I've ever kept fall into nice little categories as far as temperament is concerned. Some batches from the same breeding stock turn out to be more flighty than others.
chrismahon is right, at this age they will be at their most flighty. Worth remembering too that they are in a new situation and you are new to them. Even different clothes can freak them out sometimes. I'd give them another week in their small run, then try again to catch them to do what you want to do. Once you've done that, try letting them out with the others in the garden to see what the reaction is.

 

[Sue]

Thanks Chuck, will do.

 

[Marigold]

Picking up a hen takes two hands. Put your left hand round her chest and up over her further wing, whilst slipping your right hand under her tummy, palm upwards, fingers facing towards her head. Spread your fingers so that one finger goes between her legs, to cushion them, and two others go either side. Close your fingers over the legs, and you now have them firmly and safely. At the same time, curve your left hand round her outside (right) wing, restraining it gently. Her left wing will be held against your chest. If she flaps her right wing, keep hold of her legs with your right hand and just soothe the wing back into place. The amin thing is to keep hold of her legs, as this will avoid the chance of her flailing claws giving you a nasty scratch, and will also hold her feet away from you so you don't get messy. Yes, once she (and you) are used to being picked up like this, and is calm, you can hold her by the legs just supported on your forearm, but to start with you'll need to gently restrain her wings. With her feet and wings held like I explained, she will calm down much more easily than if you try picking her up by putting both hands over the top of ther wings and trying to lift her. This is partly because her body will be more securely supported from below, and partly because the hold is much more effective in calming her down, since her feet can't flail around and increase her panic. When you want tpo put her down, put her feet on the ground first, whilst still holding them, and then just let her walk away, rather than letting her take a leap out of your arm and flying down, which may scratch you or even damage her if she lands awkwardly..

Sussex are quite large birds, and I found with mine she did take longer to get used to being handled than my Legbar, which is supposed to be a more flighty breed. As Chuck says, it's all down to individual personalities. Both of mine had the same conditions from hatching, and I took them on at 5 weeks so both had the same environment, but the Legbar, I think, is basically much more intelligent than the Sussex, who is really a bit thick, but does lay almost every day so I can forgive her now she's got used to being picked up.

I think if feather pecking is starting, I'd probably put them in together with the older ones ASAP, but I'd get the new ones out of their house once they've gone to roost, shouldn't be any problem picking them up once they're asleep, and then put them in with the others, rather than just letting them loose during the day. Spray the old ones with something strong-smelling before they go to roost, then do the new ones when you can catch them up off the perches after dark.

when are you going to write your book, Sue? (- suggested title 'My First Year With Chickens.') Should be an eventful read!

PS (Edit) to catch her in the first place, get something like a piece of wire mesh, or even a broom, and try to guide her into a corner, then put your left hand out and place it on her neck, fingers facing forward, two fingers and thumb one side of the neck and the others on the other side. Then slide you rright hand under her tummy, as above, whilst changing your hold with your left hand once you have her legs. Sounds complicated, it's easier to do than to explain! Once you have firm hold of her, get a second person to do the powdering with mite or louse powder if possible.

 

[Bertie & The Chooks]

"I have no idea how I am going to catch them to de-lice them."

Head torch, go in the dark! Get used to picking them up and handling them when they are dormant in the dark. then see what works for you.

I have small hands too and I find putting hands out, thumbs facing and placed on the back bone of the chicken, pressing down wrap my fingers round the wing and lower breast as much as i can, get a good grip lift up and in one swift motion, tuck them under one of my arms, then place my free hand under them at the feet for support and further maneuvering. the other option is use a small towel, get them wrapped up and quiet and then place them on a table or counter top at a more stable height for you, then do what you need to do with the towel over the head to keep them calm.

hope this helps.

 

[Sue]

I appreciate all your replies, but the problem with trying to pick them up after dark is that if she gets away from me like she did the other night, she will be loose in the garden all night and could get over the fence. Unless I stay in the garden with her all night (I may care about the hens, but not that much!!)

Funny you should mention about writing a book Marigold! I've already thought about that and have several titles lined up already! Potty Dotty is still broody by the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought I might get some of the Ivermectin spot on to treat them. This may be easier than trying to dust them at this stage and less traumatic for them (and me!!) They're not laying yet, so no worry about wasted eggs.

I was supposed to be going away for 2 nights today and leaving hubby in charge! I'm afraid that's been abandoned, so if anyone wants a Travelodge for 2 nights in Cornwall let me know (already paid for)! I was quite looking forward to escaping, just me and one of my dogs! Whose idea was it to keep hens?!?

 

[foxy]

Sue you could always drop them off here!

Some excellent advice in this thread, I would only add don't worry about handling them for now...just take a cup of tea and a handful of grain into the run and just enjoy them for now...oh the grain is for the chooks!

 

[Marigold]

Do you think they actually have lice/mites, or do you feel they should just be done as a precaution? Ideally, yes of course it's standard practice to dust new hens before introduction, but if you think they are healthy, and it's going to be really difficult to give them what is just precautionary treatment, it might be better just to get them in with the others and let them settle down. Hopefully this might cure or reduce the feather-pecking before it gets too much of a habit, as this seems to me to be potentially a bigger problem than hypothetical infestation, if you've seen no signs of this. It would give the RIR something else to think about, and would save the B.S lovely black neck feathers, also maybe calm her down a bit.

Have they got a dustbath? they will all treat themselves, probably more effectively and more frequently than you could, if you added generous amounts of either diatom or redmite/louse powder to the bath. Mine roll around in theirs and have a lovely time.

Sorry about your weekend - non-chicken people just wouldn't understand, would they? As Foxy says, keeping poultry is supposed to be great for stress-busting - as if!

 

[Sue]

Yes, it is just precautionary - they have been with a lot of other birds and I can't imagine they have come here without anything. I didn't want to introduce a new problem to my other birds (who are pest free) or into the wooden house and create another problem for myself with red mite. I'm going to let the new ones out into the garden in a minute to have a look around and watch them in case they make a dash for the fence! As I'm not going away now I'll attempt to catch them tonight and put them into the house with the others. I will also spray them all with lavender first. Fingers crossed!

They do have a dustbath, but it's mainly sand at the moment as I haven't got any dry soil to top it up with. When I did have dry soil, I did put lot os Diatom in it and they had a great time dust bathing. Don't know where to get dry soil from though.

 

[Marigold]

Don't know where to get dry soil from though.

Have you got a half-used, dried-out bag of multipurpose or John Innes compost hanging around anywhere, or any potted planters, or pots of tomatoes, which are past their best and are likely to be fairly dry when the roots are banged off? If you were really devoted to the chickens (as obviously you are, having cancelled your weekend!) you can always spread out the soil in shallow baking trays and bake it in the oven for half an hour, stirring it halfway to distribute the heat. It dries out quite fast like this, (and it gives an interesting flavour to the gravy roast next time you use the tins.)
I did this last week with some damp sand, to make a dustbath for my new quail babies. I put it in the cage when it was still warm, and they had a lovely time rolling around and having hot baths!

I don't know if you ever have bonfires, but if you do, it's worth sieving the ash and saving it to add to dustbaths. Obviously, make sure it's actually out first, or you'll get roast chicken!

 

[Sue]

Funnily enough, when I read your post I had just returned from the garden centre with 3 bags of multipurpose compost!!!! I had already considered using this, but was worried about things they added to it may be poisonous to the hens if they ate it. It just says on the bag 'added nutrients to help the plants become established and feed them'. Not sure what these 'nutrients' would be. Anyone on this forum know anything about the 'science bits'?

 

[foxy]

I remember last year rushing out in a panic having spied what I thought was a dead chicken in a old tomato grow-bag..owing to the fact she had both legs up in the air..no she was having a "luxury" bath!!!

 

[Bertie & The Chooks]

Funnily enough, when I read your post I had just returned from the garden centre with 3 bags of multipurpose compost!!!! I had already considered using this, but was worried about things they added to it may be poisonous to the hens if they ate it. It just says on the bag 'added nutrients to help the plants become established and feed them'. Not sure what these 'nutrients' would be. Anyone on this forum know anything about the 'science bits'?

as long as it's not Miracle Grow added to it or Cacao/Cocoa mulch it should be ok. Chickens are actually fairly good about not eating things they shouldn't.

 

[Marigold]

Funnily enough, when I read your post I had just returned from the garden centre with 3 bags of multipurpose compost!!!! I had already considered using this, but was worried about things they added to it may be poisonous to the hens if they ate it.'?

Well, it hasn't ever affected mine, I've always used multipurpose as about 1/3 of the mixture (the other parts are sand and some woodash plus the diatom of course.) I don't think they add that much fertiliser, you do have to supplement it after a week or two, don''t you?

 

[Sue]

If it is Miracle Grow will I end up with giant chickens????!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tygrysek75]

For the dusting i had used children play sand(from B&Q) and if I had to burn something afterwood all ashes go there too .It seems to work really well for them .I had pu everything inside old tyre from my car and keeps most of the sand in place

 

[Bertie & The Chooks]

For the dusting i had used children play sand(from B&Q) and if I had to burn something afterwood all ashes go there too .It seems to work really well for them .I had pu everything inside old tyre from my car and keeps most of the sand in place

are all those plants still alive in your run? :shock: