Introducing new girls

[janetv14]

I have 7 laying red sexlinks, 3 years old, and just acquired a friends almost a year old Rhode island reds. I introduced them 2 at a time, and they seem to be doing ok. Not chummy, but not fighting. My coop is quite large, with nesting boxes a few feet off the ground, and partially hidden from the floor of the coop. I don’t think the new girls have found the nesting boxes, so not laying now. Also they don’t know how to roost up on the bars at night, and are sleeping on top of the feeders. Any suggestione would be appreciated.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Manually put the new birds on the roost after dark, to show them where to go.

They're not laying right now because moving is stressful. Expect a delay of 1-2 weeks or more before they're ready to start laying again.

 

[aart]

Also they don’t know how to roost up on the bars at night,

Is there room for them on the roost?
Sometimes a separate roosts helps with newbies.
Why are nests 'hidden' from floor?
Pics would help here.

 

[janetv14]

Is there room for them on the roost?
Sometimes a separate roosts helps with newbies.
Why are nests 'hidden' from floor?
Pics would help here.

I tried to put them on the roosting bars at night, next night they are back on top the feeders.
nesting boxes are available, but they don’t seem to know how to use them.

 

[Mrs. K]

Remove the feeder, or make it impossible to roost there by putting something on there, like milk jugs filled with water, something they can't roost on.

Then put them on the roost if they are not there. If there is scuffling, as in the old girls are pecking them, take a sheet of cardboard, tape to ceiling, so that while on the roost they are out of the reach of the older girls.

Or just block off the feeders, and eventually they will get up on the roosts.

Mrs K