- Jan 18, 2015
- 9
- 0
- 7
Needed some urgent advice,
Basically I hve had a lone cockerel for about a year and recently got two egg laying hens about 3 weeks ago. Introduced them straight away and they have formed a very united group until I got two new polish breed hens which are quite small in size as compared to the other three.
Its been nearly a week now and the new ones are not showing any signs of getting along with the others including the rooster. The hens have been attacking the new ones which is understandable because of the pecking order. However, the rooster chases them all the time and attacks them violently most of the time. One thing I have noticed is the new ones dont like the rooster near them and run away whenever he approaches.
I am not able to understand why they run away from him and as a result they are terrified and although free range in the yard; they hide all day long and hardly eat n drink which is a concern. One of them had been a regular egg layer at the previous place and has only laid once in a week.
I wanted some advice on the fact that I was planning to get the rooster the new ones had been with at the previous place? will this help? will they still recognise him because its only been a week they've been away?
I dont want to give them new ones back as they are v cute.
Pls help
Thanks