Help! 5 months old pullet laid her first egg + introducing new hen

[blackmulberry]

Hi everyone! My sweet 5 months old Sol laid her first egg this week. She was having a strange behavior like she was checking on the entire backyard and I felt her butt got bigger. One day I found that Auri (the cockerel) came to my room and he made VERY strange sounds while making himself comfortable on my blankets! It was like he was searching some kind of cave and he made very cute sounds. My pullet and my another cockerel were observing him and I, mylself was like "what he heck is happening?" When I took him from my bed he was very upset. Last sunday I found my pullet making strange noises and she went to my bed herself and stayed there as you can see in the photo! I don't know what is more bizarre: my pullet thinking she can lay an egg on my bed, my cockerel watching it like a father waiting for his baby to be born or ME who couldn't do anything for some minutes 'cause I really thought the egg was coming!

I prepared her a basket in the garden with a very soft blancket and I discovered after she laid her egg there. The egg was perfect, as you can see! But she abandoned the egg which I couldn't understand! She's not laying everyday. Is it that she doesn't like the places in the backyard?

Also, Auri, my cockerel is tormenting her a lot. She's much smaller than him even though they're the same age. I decided to get another pullet this saturday. It's a brahma. The seller said she's well prepared for the cockerel. However, I don't know how I should introduce them. She's older than Sol. Will she hurt Sol? What should I do? I'm getting her since I have two cockerels and one pullet. My younger cockerel's pride hit the rock bottom, by the way. I perceived he won't even eat with Auri (red cockerel). I had a feeling he thinks like "Oh, I can't eat with the leader and his concubine."
Like he's some sort of subordinate.

Another question! I read I should start giving her eggshell. I broke the eggshell with my hands and put it on the airfrier for 5min. I offered her, but she pecked for some moments and ignored it after. Am I doing it wrong?!

Greetings from Brazil!

 

[FrostRanger]

Unless a hen is broody they don't care one bit about their eggs after they laid them. Second, you're going to need a lot more than 2 females for 2 males. The typically recommended ratio is 10 females for every male but I really wouldn't have a rooster at all with fewer than 6 if it can be helped.
Auri was showing good cockerel behavior by finding a nest site for Sol. A good rooster will help a hen find a suitable nest site and encourage her to lay there. As for the calcium, I'd actually feed her oyster shells on the side. Just feeding back eggshells isn't enough to replenish the calcium she's using to lay eggs. She'll eat the calcium as needed

 

[FrostRanger]

Also, to introduce new birds, have them so the can see each other but not touch for at least a week. However, before you start doing any introductions, quarantine the new pullet as far away from your existing birds as possible for a month. This is very important to make sure she isn't ill. People have lost their whole flock from not quarantining even if the bird seemed healthy when they got it

 

[blackmulberry]

Thank you for your answer! Well, I'd say I got a big problem! We have a small backyard, not a big one, and I don't know how I could separate them... I can limit her space for some time in the backyard using mesh, but they will see each other so it won't be far... She'll need as much sunlight as my small flock too.
And also, I don't have space for more than 3 hens. Will they really get hurt so?

 

[FrostRanger]

Thank you for your answer! Well, I'd say I got a big problem! We have a small backyard, not a big one, and I don't know how I could separate them... I can limit her space for some time in the backyard using mesh, but they will see each other so it won't be far... She'll need as much sunlight as my small flock too.
And also, I don't have space for more than 3 hens. Will they really get hurt so?

If you have a wire dog crate, that will work for quarantining and integration purposes

And yes, males can seriously injure or even kill a female by overmating them. I'd rehome one or preferably both cockerels if you can only have 3 hens. You can certainly try keeping one cockerel but chances are still quite good that the girls will be overmated

 

[blackmulberry]

If you have a wire dog crate, that will work for quarantining and integration purposes

And yes, males can seriously injure or even kill a female by overmating them. I'd rehome one or preferably both cockerels if you can only have 3 hens. You can certainly try keeping one cockerel but chances are still quite good that the girls will be overmated

I don't really know what to do. I love them a lot since they're like pets for me. Should I separate the males from the females? Or it would only get them stressed?

 

[FrostRanger]

You can keep them separated if that's what you wish. That will work too. Just make sure to have a plan b in case the boys start fighting each other. Not saying they will, but it's possible they will at some point

 

[Mrs. K]

Chickens really have different rules than most pets. Being raised together has almost no influence on them. Hormones are coming into play and they are powerful. Hormones often break up best friends forever.

Separating the two roosters from the pullet is a very good idea. However, re-homing the roosters is a better idea. You do not seem to have much experience with chickens, and darling roosters can become very aggressive.

If you want pets - I really think you should have a hen only flock. Especially if you have a small outdoor space. Personally, I would not let them in the house or on my bed, but others do not feel like me.

Mrs K

 

[blackmulberry]

You can keep them separated if that's what you wish. That will work too. Just make sure to have a plan b in case the boys start fighting each other. Not saying they will, but it's possible they will at some point

I feel more relieved!! I think I'd be too anxious to leave such good chickens to someone else who could mistreat them...

Auri was getting a bit violent, but I somehow managed his behavior. He's only stressed when it's about time to get in the coop... Apart that, he's calls the others for food, specially Sol, ALL the time. He also let Ébano, the small cockerel, take some treats from him beak too. Ébano loves sitting on my lap (as on my profile photo) and Sol loves jumping on my shoulder. My mother loves her.

It'd be too hurtfull for me to give up on them. They came to my house because I got serious depression and I'm getting better and better too them thanks too.

Side effects: speaking about chicken all the time!

 

[blackmulberry]

Chickens really have different rules than most pets. Being raised together has almost no influence on them. Hormones are coming into play and they are powerful. Hormones often break up best friends forever.

Separating the two roosters from the pullet is a very good idea. However, re-homing the roosters is a better idea. You do not seem to have much experience with chickens, and darling roosters can become very aggressive.

If you want pets - I really think you should have a hen only flock. Especially if you have a small outdoor space. Personally, I would not let them in the house or on my bed, but others do not feel like me.

Mrs K

Hello, Mrs K! Thank you for your answer! You're right! I don't have much experience with chickens. It's all first for me, but as I said before, I have dilema. I tried to rehome Auri, but it didn't work. Me and my mother were heartbreak. He was also following me like crazy, I felt like abandoning a dog... So we took him back.

As for Ébano, it was my dream to have an Ayam Cemani since 2020. And for Sol, she's the funniest and cutest. Auri is such a gentlemen with her too. As I said, I got myself a big problem! I wished someone had told me first I should have taken only males or only females.