Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Axe Victim on March 21, 2008, 15:09

Title: Introducing new hens.
Post by: Axe Victim on March 21, 2008, 15:09

Following the demise of one of our chooks we are left with a very senior (but fine looking) rhodie who bosses the garden and sees off the spaniel. We are thinking of getting a couple of Black Rocks to go in with her. Is there a tried and tested method of introducing new, much younger buddies so they don't get their arses kicked...or pecked, more likely.

 :D

Title: Introducing new hens.
Post by: Aunt Sally on March 21, 2008, 15:49

HI AV, nice to see you again  :D

Introducing two birds to one original is not to difficult as the old girl will be out numbered.  

I'd make new small pen for her to use in the day time and put the new girls in the original run.  Make sure they are close together and can see each other all the time.  You can probably put them all together to roost after dark and separate in the morning.  

You will be able to tell how they are settling in  :D

Title: Introducing new hens.
Post by: Axe Victim on March 22, 2008, 13:51

Thank you for those reassuring words. We started with a trio (many years ago) and the pecking order was fierce, so we decided that two was probably the max for our run (6 x 4...but let out into the garden most days). We're hoping that the two Rocks will settle OK and, eventually when 'Dynamite' the rhodie passes on, we will be back to two.

Nice to be back!

 :D

Title: Introducing new hens.
Post by: Aunt Sally on March 22, 2008, 14:06

I'd say two medium sized birds is about right for that size run AV.  It's about the same as mine and two is max I would have  :lol: