still having problems integrating...

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lynne

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Thanks for all the advice given last week evryone, on how to bring in new birds for my lonely girl after the fox got my other two. Im still having problems though :o(
Despite keeping them until dark, and slipping them into coop at night, in the morning, my existing bird was charging at them and frightening them, keeping them trapped in the coop, away from food and water. I have put her into a large puppy crate in the run, (and into a smaller one in the coop at night), so she is with them, but cant get to them. this morning, two of the three , the light sussex, and the speckaldy, are out in the run, eating and drinking. My problem is with the bluebelle. first day, we thought she was ill, barely standing, head drooping, and was going to take her back to farm yesterday - but she perked up, and now seems healthier, but is TOTALLY bullied by the other two she came with!! They wont let her out of the coop at all, she is terrified of them, and Im worried she isnt getting enough to eat and drink. The Sussex seems to be the worst, though, oddly, the speckaldy also put HER in her place whilst I was watching! I know they need to establish an order, and Im ok with that, but really worried about the bluebelle not eating or drinking, and she really wont stand up for herself at all, just runs and hides back in coop. When I bought them, the farm assured me that they were all raised as a flock initially, and had only recently been separated in to different breeds, so would get on!
So what do i do? farm is closed until wednesday.. do I take her back? I have run out of wire pens I can put her in, cant put her in with my existing bird, obviously, so just dont know what to do for the best?
Thanks Marigold for the tip of vinegar at night - I hope to do this in a couple of days, as the other two seem to be less afraid of my existing bird, now eating alongside her in her cage without her or them seeming too bothered. Mind you, they arent yet as tame as her, so quite how Im going to get it onthem, I dont know!!
 
The Bluebell will be attacked when she goes back now as well Lynne so she's going to have to rough it wherever she is. Ours was a shy creature too and spent a lot of time in the coop. Didn't come out until the others had moved away from the feeder or when they were all let out. Took a year before she found herself. How would the Bluebell do with your one remaining? Helps to have two feeders and drinkers.
 
It's always difficult to integrate one bird, whether she's already resident or a newcomer, and in your case, you seem to have two 'singletons' the original one and the Bluebelle. I think the breeder's advice was wrong, as even a few days in another flock would have de-integrated the bluebelle from her previous companions - chickens forget really fast and if one is separated for more than a couple of days ther's always trouble when she goes back in, especially if the numbers are small. Bluebelles are well known for being quite shy compared with other hybrids, so that isn't helping her either.
Do you really want four birds? Since the other 3 seem to be getting on OK now you might consider taking the Bluebelle back and just having the 3 for now. If and when one of these dies, you could then get two more, guaranteed from the same pen, and keep them separate from the others but together in a fenced-off area where they can see the older birds. This will quarantine them, and during this time together they will become best friends and will always go round together after that, giving each other support, so integration will be much easier.
If you either persevere with the bluebelle, or swap her for another single bird, you will have the continuing problems of trying to integrate what is in effect a single bird with social problems. Alternatively, you might send her back and get two more, of a different breed, if you have room for them and want 5 hens.

For the time being, although it's not good practice as a general rule, you could try scattering food on the floor of the run as well as providing more than one feeder, as all the hens will then rush to feed together and the bluebell has more chance of getting her share. Also you could give her 'time out' for half an hour a couple of times a day, where she can feed and drink and have a little rest on her own.
 
Problem is, there are always chickens that don't quite fit and find it hard to establish themselves. But Marigold is right, after only a few days seperation, it's like starting all over again in a new flock. Even if the seller would take her back, she would have problems fitting in back there. You need to supply extra feeders and drinkers, even if it's old crocks, scattered around and in the coop if necessary as they can go downhill very quickly if they don't eat or drink. You need to make sure she is safe from the otheres as if she is that meek and they corner her, they can do a lot of damage.
 
Thanks for the advice. I put her in a small wire pen inside the run, still keeping the original bird in the bigger wire pen in the run. (I have coop cups so both had their own food and water) At night, put the original bird in the small pen in the coop, and the bluebelle into the coop with the other two. This morning all the three came out, and she did go to the water bowl and seemed to be ok with the others, had a wander around the run, but then took herself back into the house. Watching, she has gone in and out, but always stays near the entrance, so will put a cup of water there for her to access.
I have been scattering food around the run, as that seemed to give them all something to distract them. The new birds dont seem to know there is food in the holder! There didnt seem to be the bullying that there was before, though as soon as the sussex went near her, she disappeared back into the house again... but is now coming in and out, so that is encouraging. Ive left the original girl in the bigger crate, as she still seems likely to have a go at the others if they get too near, when they back off. I think you are definitely right Marigold, about bluebelles being shy, and her behaviour does seem to attract the others to 'have a go'. I have left the small pen in the run, in case I need to use it again, and am looking for a sprayer I can put some vinegar in tonight, so when they are in thehouse can put some on them, and try that idea, too. The new birds wont let me near them at the moment, so think would have a problem trying to smear it on!! Im hoping all will settle down, given time? With hindsight, would probably have been better taking 3 from the same pen at the farm,but they assured me it would be fine after a "few scuffles".....sigh... and I would still have had the problem of my original bird being dominant anyway.
 
All this for your original bird and she doesn't appreciate it yet Lynne! Does your Bluebell make a 'Poop Poop' noise rather than a 'Book Book' ? We use Lavender spray. Little bit of lavender oil in water and very well shaken (as it doesn't mix) sprayed on them from behind with a perfume sprayer (Boots). Guess you could use anything stinky really, the important thing is that they all smell the same so the outsiders are less obvious -which probably won't have much effect in your case Lynne but still worth a try.
 
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