- Nov 20, 2012
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Hi all, I'm new here and having issues with a new adoptee in my flock. I have a total of 10 hens of all different breeds/origins. Last week (5 days ago) I introduced a new hen (she's skittish and submissive) to the rest of the girls. Trouble is that they don't seem to want to accept her, and today she laid a soft egg- I presume out of stress. The bullying isn't horrible, and there hasn't been any blood or bald spots. But it's obviously it's been enough to stress her out. When any of the girls start to bully her, she immediately becomes submissive and crouches down under them. The bullying wouldn't normally worry me too much, but the soft egg has me a bit panicked that she's more stressed than she can deal with. I've never had a hen lay a soft egg before, so maybe it's worrying me more than it should.
Also of note: she laid a normal egg yesterday and the day before.
Should I allow more time for them to establish order, or should I separate her from them immediately?
Here she is just before laying the soft egg:
She's in the bottom right nesting box as my barred rock bullies her:
Also of note: she laid a normal egg yesterday and the day before.
Should I allow more time for them to establish order, or should I separate her from them immediately?
Here she is just before laying the soft egg:
She's in the bottom right nesting box as my barred rock bullies her:
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