Okay... here I am at the well again, with another question.
We had a hen who got hurt (we think a dog, possibly a coyote) and we took the hen and put her in a cage in the garage for a month to heal her up. We just put her back with the rest of the flock, and they are not socializing well. I have at least one rooster in the bunch (one big barred rock) and he acts like he wants to fight her. But even the other chickens are being a bit on the mean side. How long does the establishment of the pecking order take? This "new" chicken hides in the coop and does not come out.
Is it possible to integrate this chicken back in? How do you add new chickens to your flock? I wanted to get some new chicks next year as well, but now I don't know if I can get them to mix without fighting.
Any ideas?
Thanks...
-f-
NM, here's a great website for any and all info you might be looking for. I'm sure if you can't get an answer here, the people at BYC can answer your questions. ;D
http://www.backyardchickens.com/
I was going to suggest frying but Mad Dog's suggestion may be better for you.
Don't do that. The chickens do not know her. A month is a long time. You have to introduce to the flock as you would a new chicken.
Place her in a cage with the flock but safe from the flock, after a few day to a week or two you can let her loose. They will be some pecking order issues, but they will know her.
Quote from: ScottA on September 05, 2008, 05:28:32 PM
I was going to suggest frying but Mad Dog's suggestion may be better for you.
rofl rofl I thought of that as well, but figured I'd offer something constructive. ;)
Well, actually, frying is not out of the question... I don't need that bully rooster and was considering roasting him this weekend. But I will try the cage idea first.
Thanks for the idea!
We added chicks with two old hens - let them grow a few weeks to have a chance then added with the hens - watched them a bit - chased the hens a couple times then thingss slowly lightened up.
Stinks approach would probably be about the best you can do--- she knows how chickens think, so I would take her advice.
Hmmm... weirdness today. Got our first two eggs. Then my youngest went back out to check the box and found another egg, but only the yolk... no shell!
-f-
Shooter, another method that also works sometimes is to put the hen in a cage with each member of the flock one on one for a few hours (just the two birds at a time.) That way, the pecking order is established one bird at a time and she doesn't have to fight them all off at once... seems like by the time she's been with each of them for a personal discussion, she knows just where she fits in the scheme of things when she goes back.
If you found just the yolk of an egg, it might be that you have a hen who pecks eggs... sometimes happens. Better find her soon or she'll ruin most of your eggs. You might also try giving them some extra calcium in their diets (sometimes a deficiency makes them peck the eggs.)
A yolk no shell. Do you have a pullet that hasn't laid yet? Cause sometimes the first eggs a chicken lays are either yolk, or so thin that they break if you touch them. You can give them some oyster shells, that helps the shell to become harder.
Quote from: StinkerBell on September 06, 2008, 10:41:40 PM
A yolk no shell. Do you have a pullet that hasn't laid yet? Cause sometimes the first eggs a chicken lays are either yolk, or so thin that they break if you touch them. You can give them some oyster shells, that helps the shell to become harder.
That's true, Stink... hadn't even thought of that.
yup.. only two are laying right now with shells, and a mystery hen that just laid her first egg, all yolk. No shell crumbs anywhere around. I am going to change their feed to layer, and see if I can get some calcium in there too. We have 7 or 8 others that we think are hens that are not producing yet (they are all just a bit over 5 months old).
The rooster has to go. He is fun to listen to, but he is already hell on the hens.
Thanks for the advice... we are learning as we go. these chickens are actually my youngest daughter's, and she is beside herself with anticipation of the next egg ::) We call her the "Chicken Whisperer". The chickens follow her around but are spooked by the rest of us.
-f-
;D I bet they'll be laying just fine in no time if they're getting enough calcium. Are you feeding them food scraps from the kitchen, too? They like that, except for uncooked potatoes. I have one of those "Chicken Whisperers" too. Used to think she got along better with chickens than other kids.
I think Chickens are great pets. I love the loyalty I get when they follow me around or come when I call.
Our chickens are getting pretty big... eating lots - can't believe how expensive the feed is getting! Guess I used to be a chicken whisperer when I was little - we had at least a 100 chickens in Ohio - I would collect the eggs everyday - my mom was afraid to reach under the chickens sitting on their nests as they would peck her, but they let me with no problem :) they even let me carry them around & swing on the swingset with them heh
When we 1st got chickens up here a few years ago, I'd go into the pen with them, they'd jump up on my shoulders - one liked the shine in my eyes & decided to peck me - took a chunk out of my cornea :o hurt like the dickens for a few days - I just flushed it with sterile saline several times a day & wore a patch - when it had healed, my vision was a little better... [noidea'