New Hen Hiding In Nesting Box

[j9pestel]

Hi Everyone; We purchased some new Buff Orpington hens yesterday. They were the second batch of new hens in the last 3 weeks. They are all in with the old flock. Since there are now 4 new ones, and 5 "old" ones, the old ones aren't messing with the new ones much. Anyway... One of the Buff Orpingtons is sitting in a nesting box. I thought she was laying, but she's been there for about 2 or 3 hours now, so I think she is hiding. Should I remove her from the nest, or will that confuse her when she needs to lay an egg? Thanks in advance for all your advice.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hi Everyone; We purchased some new Buff Orpington hens yesterday. They were the second batch of new hens in the last 3 weeks. They are all in with the old flock…

So you aren’t doing any kind of separation-integration process when you introduce new birds?

 

[j9pestel]

Correct. We are not.

 

[j9pestel]

I just went out to the coop/run and removed her from the nest. I was right, she was not laying an egg. I checked to make sure there are no fights going on. The 4 new ones are all sitting peacefully on top of the nesting boxes, and the 5 "old" ones are going about their business as usual. I'll admit that when I added the first 2 new ones 3 weeks ago and it was 5 against 2, there was a lot of ruckeus. But with the addition of the 2 yesterday, bringing the new ones to 4, the original 5 seemed to have backed off and peace prevails. Maybe it helps that the 2 new ones are Buff Orpingtons and the original 5 are 4 ISA Browns and 1 Barred Plymouth Rock, so the Orpingtons are much larger than all the other hens in the flock.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think that flocks kind of get used to it, if you add birds. More so than a flock that is just one age, and never had a new bird in 5 years.

I would be surprised if she is broody...BUT - BO often will go broody. But a new place, should discourage that.

If you have the time, you might just keep an eye on her, and pull her out of the nest if you find her there.

If she is laying like a pancake, and when you get close to her, swells up like a beach ball, and would like to take your arm off at the elbow, well that is broody.

More than likely she is just shy. Do make sure there are multiple feed bowls, placed so a bird eating at one, can't see who is eating at another.

Mrs K

 

[j9pestel]

I think that flocks kind of get used to it, if you add birds. More so than a flock that is just one age, and never had a new bird in 5 years.

I would be surprised if she is broody...BUT - BO often will go broody. But a new place, should discourage that.

If you have the time, you might just keep an eye on her, and pull her out of the nest if you find her there.

If she is laying like a pancake, and when you get close to her, swells up like a beach ball, and would like to take your arm off at the elbow, well that is broody.

More than likely she is just shy. Do make sure there are multiple feed bowls, placed so a bird eating at one, can't see who is eating at another.

Mrs K

Thank you so much. That was pretty much what I thought. The first time I reached in, she did peck at me, but I think that was because I startled her. When I took her out, she was fine. I try to pet them every chance I get to try and reassure them nobody is going to hurt them. I'll take your advice on the feed bowls though. Right now there is only 1, but tomorrow, there will be more.

 

[nuthatched]

See but no touch integration is really the easiest way, after a 1 month quarantine to be sure she's healthy. She's scared out of her mind.