[treacleminer]

& you'll probably still find them queueing up, legs crossed, for just one of the boxes

[3Bluebelles]

 We are on our sixth week and they are still separated

Thanks HENrietta,

6 WEEKS!!! The breeder we bought them from said it's extremely unusual for them not to get on straight away, and even if there is a bit of trouble, it will only be for a couple of days! I am glad we have our separate areas and 2 houses, otherwise I wouldn't be able to sleep!

Jacky

[desandchez]

hi
dont know if this works but i read somewhere that you put all the girls to bed together and just put a dab of perfume on all of them, next morning they all get on (it would certainly make the house smell nicer)

[shiatsusu]

They are a worry aren't they our girls- but you are doing all the right things- keep going! 

[3Bluebelles]

I have managed to get some pictures of the 3 new girls. I think they are a Speckled Hen, a Magpie and a Rhode Rock.

Jacky.

[shiatsusu]

They're very pretty ladies 

[North Devon Dumpling]

Interesting reading these posts about introducing more hens, we have been considering it due to increased demand for eggs from friends and neighbours.  The lady who supplies our hens has told us, just collect the new ones at dusk, put them on the perch next to the original hens and all will be fine....however, reading these posts not entirely convinced.  Our current hens have an all weather enclosed run which is separate from the open run and house (posh eh!) so we could separate the new ones and the old ones by building a house to go wtih the all weather run, but its a big job.  Not sure how to proceed.

Also our hens don't have a cockerel, we weren't sure when we started a year ago if we wanted one, but we do now, are we likely to have similar problems introducing a cockerel to an existing flock or is this not so much of a problem?

Thanks. 

[wadz81]

I know what you're going through, we have had just over a week of it now the old girls don't let the new girls out but things are quieter now and we were told it would only take a couple of days lol! I think they tell you that so you buy them! Very stressful but hopefully in the long run it will be worth it they are such lovely creatures! Kim :blink:

[smiler43]

Hi everyone,  I'm also having a problem.  My son bought me a gorgeous Gold Laced Wyandotte for mothers day.  I hadn't a clue about it, a great big surprise when I went to open up.  We thought the same, just plonk them on the perch at night and hey presto harmony the next day NOT!!!!  They attacked her straight away I was mortified!  We haven't seperated them, just letting them get on with it.  They are pecking her but no blood drawn, she's very timid.  When they are out free ranging it's fine as she's got more space and keeps a distance.  They are getting closer to each other, just sometimes they come over to have a peck, if they catch her.  It is upsetting that they can't leave her alone, she spends most of the time in the shed until they are let out.  Why is it that they can all stay very close in the shed at night and be so aweful in the day!!  So stressful keeping chickens!!  I'm just hoping that they will eventually get on but I wasn't thinking 6 weeks!!!!

[shiatsusu]

It's horrible  Poor girly  Naughty others  We were also told adding a new one would be fine but ended up with separation by day for two weeks and now (another month or two on) they have sorted themselves out and our new girl is fine, gets pecked at by the boss but not in a bad way and they all dust bathe together. I sympathise- it is v upsetting. Hope they all settle down.
ps Dumpling- not sure about cockerels as we don't have one but I would imagine the hens would defer to him and he would take charge.