Chook warfare!

chickenlady · « **on:** September 14, 2008, 21:39 »

Can all you very knowledgable and kind people please give me some help? Can you tell me how you go about introducing your new stock? what has worked for you? I have introduced new stock about 6 wks ago and it was horrid but they are well settled now, today has really worried me my 18 weekers cornered my 15 wk old blubelle and were really having a go :cry: I had to step in because she cut her nose, she and the blackrock then stayed in the coop for the rest of the day which really upset roastie who wanted to use the nest box but wouldn't go in. please help :cry:

SnooziSuzi · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2008, 21:40 »

Unfortunately, if you don't have a separate run that you can section them off into until they get used to each other you just have to let them go at it. It really will all settle down as they work out who is where in the big scheme of things!

chickenlady · « **Reply #2 on:** September 14, 2008, 21:44 »

thanks snoozisuzi, I could section of the end of the run (its 31') would this be best? I took the new girls out and put them back in the dog cage next to the run so they could all see one another! (roastie then went and used the nest box!)then tonight I put them in the coop after the other girls had gone to bed.

SnooziSuzi · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2008, 21:48 »

You'd need to have it so that they all could see each other continuously, so separate them with chook wire or similar.

Personally, I'd still go for the 'all in' method, because even if you section them off they'll still have to establish the pecking order when they are all put together anyway so in the long run you'll have harmony quicker by letting them get on with it I'm afraid :?

chickenlady · « **Reply #4 on:** September 14, 2008, 21:54 »

Ok! thankyou

Brambles · « **Reply #5 on:** September 15, 2008, 09:47 »

Oh how I sympathise. It is THE most awful time introducing new girls :cry: With my last girl, I too separated by chicken wire for 1 week so they could get used to each other, though I did sleep them altogether in the same house at night! Panic when let out in the mornings to separate the new girl. But in the end, they still have to sort out their own problems, and it does not take long....... it only feels like it! Much worse I think if you have a cockerel (I no longer have!) Hope your girls settle ok. Good luck.

Louise · « **Reply #6 on:** September 15, 2008, 16:38 »

i was a bit naughty with the introduction thing!
I shut my original girls out of the run and put the new girls in for the day, so they could get in the coop and they could see their new friends through the wire. Then at bed time i let the original girls back in and they all snuggled up together no problems. From then on they been together all the time no probs.
Probably not the right way to do it but it worked! :roll:

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #7 on:** September 15, 2008, 17:04 »

Don't separate them with chicken wire the old girls will try to peck the new ones through it and can damage their head gear on the wire. Poultry netting would be better or that orange builders stuff.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #8 on:** September 15, 2008, 17:04 »

oh... it's the netting that's orange - not the builders

chickenlady · « **Reply #9 on:** September 15, 2008, 21:02 »

thanks for all your replys! I didn't seperate them in the end. today was better, still the odd sqwabble and the new girls still stayed in the hen house, which really annoyed paxo who at 11am was desperate to use the nest box. so I let all the older girls out to free range and got the new girls into the run then stuffed paxo into the coop and within 10 mins she popped out an egg I then closed off the coop and small run and put the older girls back in with the new girls (are you keeping up?) the new girls kept their distance and there was no more attacks. at bed time all the olders girls went to bed and then!!! the new girls followed!!!! I just checked on them and they are all snuggled up together on the perches:D

SnooziSuzi · « **Reply #10 on:** September 15, 2008, 21:18 »

aw bless!

chickenlady · « **Reply #11 on:** September 15, 2008, 21:21 »

I have only been able to do all this because I booked the day off work!!! :shock: is that sad? I just couldn't not be there if they needed me :?

Brambles · « **Reply #12 on:** September 15, 2008, 23:49 »

Quote

Don't separate them with chicken wire the old girls will try to peck the new ones through it and can damage their head gear on the wire. Poultry netting would be better or that orange builders stuff.

Sorry :oops: ... my chicken wire is not the large holed wire, it is half inch by inch holes (I think that is the measurement!)

Warfare on the dreaded Mite Started by blossom1044 on The Hen House	4 Replies 1589 Views	June 16, 2008, 21:20 by treacleminer
Help new chook owner -is my chook ill or broody? Started by all chook up on The Hen House	11 Replies 4798 Views	August 13, 2007, 12:53 by slowef
Chook with bad leg?????? Started by rgp5454 on The Hen House	24 Replies 7889 Views	February 02, 2007, 19:38 by muntjac
Ill Chook Started by little brown hen on The Hen House	8 Replies 2160 Views	December 15, 2011, 16:00 by ANHBUC