Settling in new chickens

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NigelW

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Settling in new chickens
« on: July 07, 2010, 22:11 »
We had 2 chickens (hybrids) in the garden for a few months and ten days ago got another 2 chickens (a Black Rock and a Light Sussex).  One of the original hens is not settling at all with the new ones and is particularly attacking the Black Rock. We tried separating the run in two so they were in sight of each other and have tried introducing them on a number of occasions but with the same result - she just goes for the Black Rock. We now have one of the original hens and the two new ones happily together but are still having to keep one of the originals separated.  Any advise?

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nicky d

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Re: Settling in new chickens
« Reply #1 on: July 08, 2010, 09:30 »
im afraid thats wot happens when you introduce new hens to a flock even if its just two.   A pecking order needs to be established.   Its all too easy to separate them when you see bullying going on but you are really best just letting them get on with it, the longer you keep separating them off the longer it will take for them all to settle down,  In the case of really bad pecking you can separate by taking that particular hen away for a couple of days out of sight, this will take her out of the pecking order and then when you reintroduce she should be at the bottom of the flock.   Hens can be really really nasty and its not pleasant to watch at all but since you have put them together i would just leave them to it, it usually takes a couple of weeks for peace to return, your doing them no favours by separating them all the time as you do want them to be one big happy family.     Oh and just another thing, it would probably be wise just to add another wee feeder and drinker away from your other one so the new girls can get access to food and water.    Good luck.  nickyx
4 girlies,  Nessa, Pamela, Stacey and Tina

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Jeanette

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Re: Settling in new chickens
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2010, 13:17 »
Also if there is room i would put a couple of buckets in (on there side) so that the girls can escape into when they are being bullied.


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