Introducing a new chicken

[AGeese]

Thanks so much @AGeese, sorry for such a slow reply, Christmas holidays and whatnot! Hope you had/are having a great break!



Even though I prefer to use natural methods where possible for prevention, I certainly am not against clinical medications when necessary!



I have Corid and Permethrin already, however I will get my hands on some Ivermectin. Even if I don't use it, I definitely want to have it in my kit for an emergency! The stress and worry of waiting when you are sad they are unwell is horrible...

Hi there, no worries at all. Hope your Christmas was a good one for you and your littles! My break is just around the corner thankfully.

Just a note on meds, if you ever have to dispose of them for any reason, perhaps expiration, and particularlly for antibiotics, parasitics, do not flush them, and dispose of them in a way that's either recommended or where they won't release into the environment.

I also take the IPM approach, which is what I picked up from horitculture training (integrated pest management if you're interested in learning about it)

Keep us updated

 

[silkiemama002]

@Mrs. K - An update on the integration! Betty (new girl) went into the coop for her first full night on Christmas Eve; I put her on the lower floor, while the main flock slept upstairs. In the morning, the lil rooster lad had a minor scuffle with her but nothing more than a bit of intimidation and light pecking... everyone else was fine. The second night she went in on the top floor with no problems!

Since then, I am not sure if she is just becoming more confident, or if her personality is changing due to hormones, but she has put the fear of god into the original flock and is picking on them all. One is absolutely terrified of her and won't be anywhere near her full stop.

It could be just trying to establish her place in the flock, but I've got concerns her behaviour might be because she isn't in fact a pullet.

Betty has started pecking the others - hard - sometimes right on the spine. She has challenged the roo by running at him, as well as the others too, and steals food from them while they are eating. She has particularly scared my fave little gal Jacqui, and follows/stalks her all the time, and has grabbed her by the butt feathers a handful of times, which is what my roo does to Betty (I believe his is a mating attempt) Two of them won't even eat near her, and Jacqui keeps running to me for protection from her. This morning Jacqui wouldn't even come out of the coop and ran back inside as soon as I brought her out, only to have Betty stalk up to her her in the coop (Betty has NEVER gone in the coop on her own) Jacqui shrieked and panicked, flapping around terrified and ran out. Jacqui normally challenges the roo so it is sad to see her so afraid! I have seen no major fighting etc to cause such extreme fear and I watch them all day every day.

I know this could all be just dominance and pecking order adjustments, but I have had a niggling feeling I cannot shake that she is not a pullet - I have had this feeling since the day we got her. It was a gut feel at first, and I didnt like the look of her tail... but then a few days after we got her she had really dramatic comb and wattle development; we're talking nothing to HUGE in a matter of a week. Her crest is round, and no sign of streamers, so kinda confusing...

I posted pics on some facebook groups, and was told by a breeder "she is a girl full stop" (quote) and hens can have big wattles and comb due to mixing in breeding... which I know is true, but from what I understand it is rare or at least very uncommon. Anyway since the breeder is more experienced than I am it put doubt in my mind, but my concerns never left so I am sending in some DNA samples today.

I am attaching some photos that show the dramatic wattle and comb development as well as her tail. Photo one is a couple of days after we got her, then the rest are dated from there if you open the pics up. Note she has had a trim around the eyes in the last two comb pics so those pics might look a bit weird in crest shape.

I'd appreciate any insight you have into either her gender, or whether or not this behaviour is normal pecking order stuff... Thanks so much, and good luck with the article!!

 

[Mrs. K]

I do know these kinds of birds can be difficult to identify the gender. And I will admit, several years ago, I did not realize I had a cockerel until WAY late in the game. I thought he was a pullet until all of a sudden, very obviously a roo.

What I will tell you, is I don't think this bird is going to work in the flock for whatever reason. You cannot just wish them to all be nice. Sometimes you just get a bird that does not work with those birds in that set up.

I always solve for peace in the flock. Give it another week...if it is not better, send that bird down the road.

Mrs K

 

[silkiemama002]

I do know these kinds of birds can be difficult to identify the gender. And I will admit, several years ago, I did not realize I had a cockerel until WAY late in the game. I thought he was a pullet until all of a sudden, very obviously a roo.

What I will tell you, is I don't think this bird is going to work in the flock for whatever reason. You cannot just wish them to all be nice. Sometimes you just get a bird that does not work with those birds in that set up.

I always solve for peace in the flock. Give it another week...if it is not better, send that bird down the road.

Mrs K

Thanks @Mrs. K, I'm having exactly those thoughts. I am happy to see if it is just transitional, but if it isn't she's 100% out. It's horrible seeing the peace disturbed!

I have posted off the DNA samples now, and paid for the 48 hour express service (as well as put them in express post!) So I will update either way. I am assuming early next week given NYD bank holiday and the weekend... At least she will be easier to rehome if she is a pullet and doesn't fix her behaviour!

Appreciate your response, as always! Happy New Year!

 

[silkiemama002]

Hi there, no worries at all. Hope your Christmas was a good one for you and your littles! My break is just around the corner thankfully.

Just a note on meds, if you ever have to dispose of them for any reason, perhaps expiration, and particularlly for antibiotics, parasitics, do not flush them, and dispose of them in a way that's either recommended or where they won't release into the environment.

I also take the IPM approach, which is what I picked up from horitculture training (integrated pest management if you're interested in learning about it)

Keep us updated

Thanks so much @AGeese and yes, I always dispose of correctly... I'd hate to think of anything being harmed by my poor disposal.

I'll take a look at IPM - thanks for the tip!

Happy New Year and enjoy your upcoming break!

 

[AGeese]

@Mrs. K - An update on the integration! Betty (new girl) went into the coop for her first full night on Christmas Eve; I put her on the lower floor, while the main flock slept upstairs. In the morning, the lil rooster lad had a minor scuffle with her but nothing more than a bit of intimidation and light pecking... everyone else was fine. The second night she went in on the top floor with no problems!

Since then, I am not sure if she is just becoming more confident, or if her personality is changing due to hormones, but she has put the fear of god into the original flock and is picking on them all. One is absolutely terrified of her and won't be anywhere near her full stop.

It could be just trying to establish her place in the flock, but I've got concerns her behaviour might be because she isn't in fact a pullet.

Betty has started pecking the others - hard - sometimes right on the spine. She has challenged the roo by running at him, as well as the others too, and steals food from them while they are eating. She has particularly scared my fave little gal Jacqui, and follows/stalks her all the time, and has grabbed her by the butt feathers a handful of times, which is what my roo does to Betty (I believe his is a mating attempt) Two of them won't even eat near her, and Jacqui keeps running to me for protection from her. This morning Jacqui wouldn't even come out of the coop and ran back inside as soon as I brought her out, only to have Betty stalk up to her her in the coop (Betty has NEVER gone in the coop on her own) Jacqui shrieked and panicked, flapping around terrified and ran out. Jacqui normally challenges the roo so it is sad to see her so afraid! I have seen no major fighting etc to cause such extreme fear and I watch them all day every day.

I know this could all be just dominance and pecking order adjustments, but I have had a niggling feeling I cannot shake that she is not a pullet - I have had this feeling since the day we got her. It was a gut feel at first, and I didnt like the look of her tail... but then a few days after we got her she had really dramatic comb and wattle development; we're talking nothing to HUGE in a matter of a week. Her crest is round, and no sign of streamers, so kinda confusing...

I posted pics on some facebook groups, and was told by a breeder "she is a girl full stop" (quote) and hens can have big wattles and comb due to mixing in breeding... which I know is true, but from what I understand it is rare or at least very uncommon. Anyway since the breeder is more experienced than I am it put doubt in my mind, but my concerns never left so I am sending in some DNA samples today.

I am attaching some photos that show the dramatic wattle and comb development as well as her tail. Photo one is a couple of days after we got her, then the rest are dated from there if you open the pics up. Note she has had a trim around the eyes in the last two comb pics so those pics might look a bit weird in crest shape.

I'd appreciate any insight you have into either her gender, or whether or not this behaviour is normal pecking order stuff... Thanks so much, and good luck with the article!!

Didn't have time to read this earlier, so giving you my thoughts now. I have considered myself on whether my now hens were cockrells when they were young. They all turned out to be hens in the end.

I've had severe bullying show up early in the chick stages practically day 3 when I got them. I had to isolate the culprit, and you may too if for no other reason than to protect the victims.

However I think separation is worth a shot before throwing in the towel. If you can pen her/he up next to the others try that for a couple weeks and see if it changes their tune. Give the others a chance to grow and restore their confidence, restricting her/his while in sight of each other.

That's one beast of a silkie!

 

[silkiemama002]

Hi @Mrs. K and @AGeese!

I just wanted to update to say that we decided to rehome Betty. She really wasn't getting any better and Mrs. K's comments about some birds just not getting along was ringing in my ears.

We found another pullet who is just gorgeous and has been an exceptional addition. She was accepted almost immediately... I would even go as far as to say welcomed!

She was from a hatchery, fully vaccinated and appeared to be in great health so we didn't do quarantine, just 24 hours when she got home for her to rest and for us to observe her.

It took just two days before she was able to sleep in the coop with them with no hesitation from my birds, or even a remote concern from me! They just gelled right away... It was kinda mindblowing and the relief I feel is crazy! Perhaps they were just so relieved that it wasn't Betty that they welcomed her with open arms (or wings LOL)

I know it was 100% the right thing to do to rehome Betty seeing the difference in this dynamic.

Just wanted to say thank you for all your help and provide a small update in case anyone finds this thread in the future and wonders an outcome!

(PS: the DNA said Betty WAS a pullet )

 

[Mrs. K]

The thing is, I really don't like discord, I don't like to watch it, and it destroys my enjoyment of the flock. I am not a big believer in training chickens, and after all, no one lives in the coop. So even if they stop when you are there, it is reasonable to suppose they will start right up when you leave.

Some birds do work together, and some do not. Always solve for peace in the flock.

MRs K

 

[silkiemama002]

The thing is, I really don't like discord, I don't like to watch it, and it destroys my enjoyment of the flock. I am not a big believer in training chickens, and after all, no one lives in the coop. So even if they stop when you are there, it is reasonable to suppose they will start right up when you leave.

Some birds do work together, and some do not. Always solve for peace in the flock.

MRs K

Yes it was very hard to watch! And as my first integration I wasn’t sure whether it was typical or not… now I think seeing the new girl I’m either very lucky she just had the personality that would gel, or this is more typical than the previous girl. She is very timid whereas Betty most certainly was NOT, which I suppose helps.

I feel sad that I wasn’t experienced enough to know with Betty and put a stop to it sooner for the better of both my current birds and for her. However, we live and learn I suppose!

I sit with my flock all day long and have a camera inside the coop for when they’re alone, it has a motion detect and records clips when something is going on, and I haven’t seen a single scuffle so far either in or outside with the new girl! I’m kind of amazed to be honest

Anyway, the most important thing is that the flock is peaceful again, and so am I