| Sat, Oct 1 2011 02:06pm BST 1 |
Jockrock
2 Posts
|
Hi everyone,
I currently have 4 Black Rock hens, about 16 months old. I have a
friend looking to give me a couple of hens as she now has too many.
The new ones would be about a year old and I believe are pretty
standard brown layers (not sure of the exact breed).
Does anyone have any advice as to tactics for introducing the new
ones to my flock as I am worried about them being bullied, pecked,
hurt etc. by my existing birds? Or is this unavoidable?
I had thought to keep the new ones in a mesh cage within the
henhouse for a couple of days to allow them to be "accepted" whilst
keeping them safe.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks.
|
|
| Sat, Oct 1 2011 08:16pm BST 2 |
weeley
92 Posts
|
Hi Jockrock
I do exactly what you suggest - I put a small run within the
large run. The newbies are safe in there, and I often keep them
in there for a week or two, with a little rabbit hutch for
shelter, and their own food and water. Then, when the groups are
ignoring one another (to start with, they'll often communicate
through the wire), I let them all out to free range in the garden
for a couple of hours before dusk. This means they're all very
excited about getting a scratch in the flower beds, and tend to
accept one another very easily. Then I let them all go to bed
under their own steam. Usually, they all head into the big house,
but occasionally the newbies go back into the hutch. If so, I
leave them in there a bit longer and try again a few days or a
week later. It's more work, but i've never had a bad case of
bullying so I think it's worth it, though they still have the odd
peck at one another of course. Let me what you do and how it
works? Cheers. Weeley
|
|
| Sun, Oct 2 2011 05:45pm BST 3 |
Jockrock
2 Posts
|
Hi Weeley,
Many thanks for taking the trouble to reply.
I will give it a go and let you know how I get on.
Cheers.
Jockrock
|
|
| Mon, Oct 10 2011 10:06pm BST 4 |
Woodenart
31 Posts
|
I agree with the above info,put the new birds seperate where they
can see the existing birds but with no contact,then introduce after
a week or so.There will always be a pecking order so dont be
discouraged by the odd squabble,just keep an eye on them.Hope they
end up one happy family.
|
|
| Tue, Oct 11 2011 09:40am BST 5 |
Kaeta44
27 Posts
|
I agree with Weeley and Woodenart - it's how I've introduced new
chickens to my little flock. There will inevitably be squabbles
while they sort out who comes where in the pecking order, but after
that, peace will return. Sometimes a chicken will decide she wants
promotion, and there'll be a bit of squabbling again, but it's
nothing to worry about.
http://muckycluckers.blogspot.com
|
|
| Thu, Oct 13 2011 01:57pm BST 6 |
daniellesdogs
93 Posts
|
i was told put them in at night but found might get fue little
squabble in morn but if their coop very dark sould be ok till you
let them out. then i spread loads of food about in a large area to
destract them
|
|
| Sat, Oct 15 2011 11:05pm BST 7 |
Woodenart
31 Posts
|
Agreed, once they are all in the coop for the evening they will
settle with no bother as they will be in a dosile state.But
bullying will occur once sun rises and granted,with a large area
the bullied can escape and do their own thing as long as they can
keep their distance.If you can babysit and referee what goes on
then thats fine if it works for you then well done.
www.woodenart.org.uk |
|
| Sun, Oct 16 2011 01:06pm BST 8 |
daniellesdogs
93 Posts
|
my rooster seems to sort all the sqabbling so dont have to much
trouble.
when i have broodies with chicks my zeolus watches out for them (i
havent told him hes not the daddy)
|
|
