Hi all
We have 3 Wynadottes, that are not yet laying, probably sometime after xmas, mid January hopefully.
Anyway we have been given a stray bird someone found that no one has claimed, it looks like a Shaver and its beak looks like its been cut at some stage in the distant past, so i am guessing its a rescue one.
It is laying, 2 eggs in 2 days so far, it is also a lot bigger than the Wynadottes, (and extremely friendly) What is the best way to introduce it to the others.
Currently it is in a 6ft by 6ft by 6ft avairy while the Wynadottes are in a chook tractor with a small run, I am due to move the chook tractor tomorrow and was planning on sitting it next to the avairy, so they can see each other, how long before i let them in together.
I cannot let them freerange in the backyard owing to the number of roaming dogs around, so they will be in the tractor run until i can build something bigger
Hmmm I don't seem to be able to add images as they keep timing out
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Hi, I read that you keep them close but separate, then introduce the lowest ranked bird to the new comer, then the next lowest ranked bird, etc.
Hi Nigel
We introduced three new ones last season. It didn't take too long before they were accepted by the existing birds. I think the trick may be to make sure that the new introduced birds have their own separate roosting spot as they won't be allowed in to the existing hens sleeping quarters. I put a small chook tractor in the existing run for the new ones
Cheers Guys, added it in with the others, and the pecking order has been established with her as the head hen, and one of the Wynadottes seems to be her hench-hen, if that makes sense
'Hench-hen'-love it! Glad it's all worked out.
I think putting them next to each other for a few days, before combining them is a good idea. Then at least they are familiar. Shavers can be bossy with other chooks (mine is), so she'll probably stick up for herself. I agree with Daniel, the pecking order will work itself out.
Hi Nigel, whenever I got a new chook I introduced it to the flock in the morning and they have a good barny through the day and a bit of pecking and feather pulling for the first week or so, just untill the pecking order is reestablished. Worked ok so far. I looks worse than it is when they start beating each other up. Just like a marriage really, a few arguments and a bit of biting and you soon learn your place the arrangment :)