Lonely cream legbar

Heffalump

Songster
Aug 18, 2018
232
154
148
Northern Ireland
Previously my flock consisted of 7 red laying hens and a rooster, but keen to try out some different breeds I got a Cream Legbar and two Plymouth Rock hens 2 days ago.

The two Plymouth Rock hens have settled in pretty well. They come out of the coop into the run and when I let them out to free range they stuck together but seemed happy enough.

The CL is very withdrawn. The first few hours I got her home she just huddled in a corner of the run and didn't really move. All of yesterday and today she's stayed in the coop, sometimes on a perch, sometimes a nest box. I put her own food and water in there when I realised she wasn't coming out. Even when the other hens left the run completely to free range today she didn't budge. She is eating and drinking the water I put in the coop for her.

Now the other hens are in for the night they're all huddled together at one end of the perch and CL is all by herself at the other end.

We've added to our flock a few times in the past (just more red laying hens to up egg production) and after a bit of pecking and squabbling they've all become a big happy flock. This is the first time I've seen a hen look so sad and alone. Is there anything I can do to help her? I sprayed them all the first day I got them so they all smell the same but it doesn't really seem to have helped.
 
Previously my flock consisted of 7 red laying hens and a rooster, but keen to try out some different breeds I got a Cream Legbar and two Plymouth Rock hens 2 days ago.

The two Plymouth Rock hens have settled in pretty well. They come out of the coop into the run and when I let them out to free range they stuck together but seemed happy enough.

The CL is very withdrawn. The first few hours I got her home she just huddled in a corner of the run and didn't really move. All of yesterday and today she's stayed in the coop, sometimes on a perch, sometimes a nest box. I put her own food and water in there when I realised she wasn't coming out. Even when the other hens left the run completely to free range today she didn't budge. She is eating and drinking the water I put in the coop for her.

Now the other hens are in for the night they're all huddled together at one end of the perch and CL is all by herself at the other end.

We've added to our flock a few times in the past (just more red laying hens to up egg production) and after a bit of pecking and squabbling they've all become a big happy flock. This is the first time I've seen a hen look so sad and alone. Is there anything I can do to help her? I sprayed them all the first day I got them so they all smell the same but it doesn't really seem to have helped.
You might want to pick out one of your very nicest hens and put the two of them together in your run with some scattered treats to scratch at, if it’s big enough for getting acquainted without the new one feeling trapped.
 
How long has it been? Sometimes this take more time than we're comfortable with but that doesn't mean they won't find their own order and rhythms. Meanwhile, it's good to hear that she's not being picked on.

My own CL ruled the roost for a long time despite the fact that she was my smallest chicken.

I hope time will take care of it.
 
How long has it been? Sometimes this take more time than we're comfortable with but that doesn't mean they won't find their own order and rhythms. Meanwhile, it's good to hear that she's not being picked on.

My own CL ruled the roost for a long time despite the fact that she was my smallest chicken.

I hope time will take care of it.
You might want to pick out one of your very nicest hens and put the two of them together in your run with some scattered treats to scratch at, if it’s big enough for getting acquainted without the new one feeling trapped.

Thanks, I will give that a go tomorrow.
 
How long has it been? Sometimes this take more time than we're comfortable with but that doesn't mean they won't find their own order and rhythms. Meanwhile, it's good to hear that she's not being picked on.

My own CL ruled the roost for a long time despite the fact that she was my smallest chicken.

I hope time will take care of it.

It's been about 2.5 days since we got her. I'm hopeful it'll get better, it just pulls at my heartstrings seeing her left out and alone.
 
It's been about 2.5 days since we got her. I'm hopeful it'll get better, it just pulls at my heartstrings seeing her left out and alone.
2.5 days isn’t a long time. It’s taken me longer than that to reintroduce an original flock member after being in the house recovering from an injury.
Sometimes a dogcrate/“look-don’t-touch-method helps too. That way she can observe from a close distance but be safe from harm, and the others can observe her and get used to her presence as well!
 
Totally as staceyj says! Hard as it may be to see them not getting along or being picked on it's something that just has to work itself out. And it's good to understand it can take months.

If your CL isn't bleeding you're already ahead of the game and the prospects are very good.

I recommend lots of tea and good books. Check in on them again in a couple weeks. Repeat as necessary.
 
I sprayed them all the first day I got them so they all smell the same but it doesn't really seem to have helped.
Say Whaaaat?!
What did you spray them with?
Thinks chickens go by sight rather than smell.

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better.
Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
 
How old is that Cream Legbar? Is she laying yet? Same questions for the Rocks. That behavior sounds absolutely normal if the Cream Legbar is still an immature pullet and the Rocks are mature enough to lay eggs.
 

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