I don't expect them to ever enjoy being handles as many of the chickens in my flock don't like being handled and they have been spoiled rotten their entire lives. I try to avoid picking up my birds unless I have too anyways. My flock does get pet frequently though, as some seem to enjoy that and they all eat out of my hand. My goal right now is to just get them healthy and acclimated into the flock. Then my goal will be to get them to stay with the flock. I am not worried about them being friendly to humans quite yet.
Yesterday, after I put them outside, I ran into town to do a few errands with my mom. It started raining while we were still in town. I was so worried about them getting cold. When I got home, my rooster was perched over their cage acting as a roof, but I don't know if he knew that. He was soaked and the new girls were damp as well. I brought them inside and then cooked them three eggs with cheese, milk, and turkey mixed in for extra protein. They loved that! Daryl got an egg and some bread for keeping them semi-dry, even though I don't know if he did that on purpose or not.
You could always just put a board or piece of plastic over and around their kennel area to keep them dry if it rained while you were away until they are integrated. At this point and actually from the beginning it is pointless to keep them separated, your chickens were exposed to any and everything they had and vice-versa the moment they stepped on your property and dropped a poop. And you know how often chicken poop. Plus your chickens free range so they are exposed to everything in the environment.
The frothy poop is a sign of worms and I would treat the new girls and your original flock for worms because they have now been exposed.
I personally don't use chemical wormers but I do used diatomacous earth (food grade) to worm my chickens. I mix in 1cup per 5gallons of food and I also throw a cup in their dirt bath too, it help to stop lice infestation. Just don't breath a lot in.
I commend that you have taken in these little ladies. Thank you for being so kind and helping them out... caring for and loving life enough to do so.
My concern is this ... the next time the people who dropped these girls off get more girls who aren't laying they will do the same thing. The next girls may not be so lucky to finding a loving home. Or you may end up finding chickens wet,hungry and abused in your yard. As you said you really don't have the space for these girls and at 2.5 feet you don't. I am not recommending that you get rid of them.
What I am recommending is that, if you can find out who dropped these poor hapless souls off... I would send animal welfare after them. Both because the animal welfare office needs to be aware of them and their practices and possibly to check on the welfare of the birds still in their care, if you can call it that.
To me this is the equivalent of dropping 2 puppies or dogs on the side of the road or a batch of kittens. People can be so cruel.
I hope these girls comeback after their hard molt and provide you with many eggs. My girls didn't produce not one egg when they had a hard molt instead of tossing them away I increased their protein and provided a heat source for them. Jeez... mine are now laying well and even better than before. And RSL'S don't stop laying until they are very old. Yes they slow down but don't quit almost til the very end.
I wish you the very best with all your girls.
so make worming an urgent procedure.... Keep us posted!
