- Apr 19, 2009
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I introduced a young hen to my original two and the duck recently and they keep away from her and she keeps away from them. I'm just wondering how long this kind of behaviour will last and will she ever be accepted?
There's no terrible aggression unless she eats something I've thrown for them. She usually gets a severe chase by the boss who sometimes jumps on her and chases her about. The duck takes the occasional pop at her and my most friendly one is moulting so I'm not really too worried about her behaviour, but in general she stays away but goes a bit mental if she chooses to chase her (as in, she'll do a few laps rather than calling it a day once the newbie has fled).
At the moment the new bird is sleeping in a small basket upturned with a roof on it that we used to integrate her at first. I used the 'meet & greet' method I found on this site: http://jackshenhouse.com/VSChickIntroducingNewBirdsToFlock.htm
As it stands they're fine. I'm just worried that the colder months are coming and this new one is still in a crummy little box and won't go to the feeder which is in the shed where the two original girls and duck sleep.
There's no terrible aggression unless she eats something I've thrown for them. She usually gets a severe chase by the boss who sometimes jumps on her and chases her about. The duck takes the occasional pop at her and my most friendly one is moulting so I'm not really too worried about her behaviour, but in general she stays away but goes a bit mental if she chooses to chase her (as in, she'll do a few laps rather than calling it a day once the newbie has fled).
At the moment the new bird is sleeping in a small basket upturned with a roof on it that we used to integrate her at first. I used the 'meet & greet' method I found on this site: http://jackshenhouse.com/VSChickIntroducingNewBirdsToFlock.htm
As it stands they're fine. I'm just worried that the colder months are coming and this new one is still in a crummy little box and won't go to the feeder which is in the shed where the two original girls and duck sleep.