Bullying Hens

Ok.....

I have just added (2 weeks ago) 4 new hens to 2 Black Rocks that have been spared their lives (they're still laying).

They won't feed together unless they are very hungary (they're better than they were).  They won't drink together and if I throw some maize or corn on the floor.  The Black Rocks won't let them have any unless the new ones sneak up to a corner.

I went down to the pens tonight (pitch black) and noticed that they wern't even sleeping in the house.  They were all huddled up in a pile during a very windy night!!!?!?!?!

I picked them up and put them in the house and I hope they remain there for the night.

I am now worried when they start laying...  Are they going to know what a nesting box is let alone get to use it.

I have never had this happen before.  What do I do?  They are due to lay in the next 2 weeks!!! 

Do you have one run & two houses?  Sorry, I'm a bit confused. 

I've just introduced two new ones to my three and have sought advice on here so I may be able to pass it on.

Is it poultry law to just have one coup per garden then??!!!   

I was just going to advise that we split the pen in two during the day so they can look at each other but they all sleep in the same coup.  We tried to just put them together and they attacked one of the new girls.  I've taken advice from here and have been told me way need to do this for about six weeks. 

Just been down the allotment in pitch black again and guess what........

They were asleep outside again :-(

So I have put them in the house on a perch right next to the others.  Nothing happened and they just sat and went quiet again.

Just noticed tonight...  Cockerel sleeps on the floor

when we got our ex-batts last summer, the originals refused to sleep in the house - they would be up on the shelf huddled up and  the other 2 would have the whole house to themselves!
we would just lift them up and put them in.
i know that's not advice, it's more a "i'm with you mate"....
they did stop it when it got really cold, but last night jessica was up there again (dunno why...)