**Urgent Help Needed**

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PogonaVitticeps

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Right, where to start?....


Well, I have a bantam rooster and a normal hen. I hatched them both from eggs. I hatched the hen first and a couple of months later I got a bantam. I hatched him and she kind of mothered him. I am giving the rooster away to my mums friends son, because he bullies my hen. I know it's just because he wants to breed with her and I need more hens, BUT I would rather have 2 hens.

I was wondering what would be the best option, getting a young baby hen or getting an adult hen. But does size matter? Eg, the bigger hen will bully the smaller....

Help :(

What can I do!! I'm from Belfast, N.I and was wondering if anyone has any hens for sale.

Oh, and what breed of chicken is all what with a grey/black feathered neck. :S lol


Thanks guys, I will appreciate all help given

Thanks, Chloe :)


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Hi Chloe. White with grey/black neck (and tail) is a light sussex. Prolific layers but some posts indicate they can be a bit feisty so chose carefully a quiet one from the back of the flock.
Get a hen of the same age I would say as she may bully the little chick who can't stand up for itself -and it may not be sexed anyway. But if she is on her own for any length of time she will probably welcome anything. Chickens need company. Yes, they will have a little tiff to establish who is in charge. Don't be tempted to introduce more than one as the newcomers will bully the original.
 
Okay thanks a lot. You've put my mind at rest :D

So will they kind of fight at the start? I would love a plymouth rock. Are they fiesty?

Will the fighting stop once they know who is in charge? I don't want my baby getting hurt:( lol


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Hi Chloe, nice to welcome you on here.

How old is the hen you are keeping? Has she laid any eggs yet? If she's still below egglaying age (probably less than 20-23 weeks) she won't be so dominant as an older, mature bird. As Chris says she'll welcome some company, it's not good to keep just one on her own, as you've realised.
You might consider waiting until the cockerel goes to his new home, so you don't have any problems with integrating him with a new hen when he's going anyway. Then, ASAP after he goes, get your new one. Then make a separate area in your run, perhaps by screening off part of it with some netting or mesh and making a temporary place for the new one to sleep, under cover or waterproof. A box would do, it doesn't have to have a perch for the short time she'll be using it. Put separate feeder and drinker in there and keep your new hen there for a couple of weeks. this will be 'quarantine' for her, - in that time you can observe her to see if she had brought any infections or infestations with her, and deal with them before she goes in with your hen. Also, they'll see each other through the mesh, get to know each other, and actual introductions will be easier.
Mayber ask again when you are ready to actually put them in togather, as there are ways of doing this which might help to reduce any squabbles, though these are normal and not usually harmful if you do it right. If you can get a point-of-lay (POL) hybrid, she'll be about 16 weeks to 20 weeks, probably won't lay until next Spring at this time of year, but will grow on steadily until then and won't be too dominant when you introduce her. Try Googling 'chickens for sale, N. Ireland' to find local breeders. Good luck, and let us know how you get on!
 
Thanks. Yes she's laid lots of eggs. I think she's about 2

Do I have to do the whole quarantine thing? I'm at school all day and things. And I have about 60 other pets lol. From chickens to mice to snakes to lizards and LOL

My mums friends son (who's taking the rooster) said he might swap me one. But I'm not sure

I'll go and search for some chickens for sale around the same age and size

Thanks everyone :)


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You did well to hatch and rear them both, but as you did this yourself, you must know exactly how old she is?
No you don't have to do the whole quarantine thing, but it doesn't actually take up any time once you've set it up and it will possibly prevent problems that may arise if your new bird is incubating an illness, or has infestations such as redmites or lice, that you should take time to look out for, and treat if you find them. Also, as I said, it's best to let the new hen settle in a bit rather than just bunging her in together with the other one, which may produce avoidable fighting. I'm sure you'll want to do the best for your new hen.
Keeping poultry does take up a lot of time and effort, as you know, especially in winter when the days are short and the drinkers keep getting frozen, and maybe this isn't the best time to be taking on a new bird. As you have so many other animals to look after, would it perhaps be worth thinking about rehoming your hen as well as the cockerel, and then seeing how you felt about getting some more at a future time when you have less responsibilities, rather than taking on yet more? If you do decide to get another, you could do more research to be sure you know what you want, as there are so many possibilities and different breeds. Lots of people on here could help you choose, though we've all got different ideas about what is best!
When my daughter was at school, she had loads of pets, just like you, and I well remember how hard it was to get all round them every day as well as going to school and having a life etc! Good luck and let us know how it goes.
 
I wouldnt even let the thought cross my mind of re homing my wee baby :) I love her too much. How would I spot red mites or lice? Yes she is deff 2 years it seems like they've flown in lol


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Hi Chloe, there's a link to the Diseases and Disorders section of the forum at http://poultrykeeper.com/poultry-diseases-and-disorders.html about redmite lice etc. (Click on External at the end of the line of areas affected.)
If you want to go on keeping chickens, when the cockerel has gone would you have room for 2 more? Introducing just one bird, to a mature hen who had never been part of a bigger flock, would most probably be quite difficult. Maybe bantams if space is tight?
 
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