txbelle413
In the Brooder
Let me start by saying, I've only had chickens less than a year, so I'm still learning.
I started with one RIR hen, Henrietta, that was in a coop by herself. She was given to me because she was being mean to my friend's kids and she just didn't want her anymore. She will charge at me sometimes when I go into the coop or will run at the food as soon as I put it out. She also slept in her nesting box every night. Not long after I got her, I decided to get 3 more pullets. These new girls have been in their own coop and get along very well. Fast forward to last week when my new baby chicks outgrew their brooder and needed an outside coop. So, since all 4 hens are the same size I decided to put Henrietta in with the other hens. I did research on how to integrate, and basically got the general response "just put her in there and they will figure it out because they will have to make a new pecking order." So, here is where the fun starts and I need advice.
First, one of the girls, Agnes, decided that day that she wanted to start being broody. The way the nesting boxes are set up, I can't keep her out of it and collected the eggs ever morning like always. I've been meaning to make a new nesting box area that is enclosed and whatnot but life has been rather hectic lately. She refuses to get out of the nesting box for anything and is starting to poop in it. Out of the 6 boxes available this is the favorite by all 3 of them, so now nobody is laying.
Second, after watching the hens for a while post integration, everything seemed fine, they just kind of avoided each other. The next morning I go to check on them and my favorite chicken, Blanche has blood on her feet and they look skinned. My husband and I washed her feet off and sprayed some Bactine on them and held her until they dried. She now has decided that she wants to sit in the box next to Agnes and will not come down for anything.
Dottie, the other of the 3 hens original to this coop has always been top of the pecking order, but not mean. Today while petting Henrietta in an attempt to make her more submissive, Dottie came and pecked at my hand. I feel totally lost here, and I want to keep from my birds hurting each other or making bad habits.
Aside from building different nesting boxes and removing Henrietta from the coop. What can I do? This makes me so sad. Please help.
I started with one RIR hen, Henrietta, that was in a coop by herself. She was given to me because she was being mean to my friend's kids and she just didn't want her anymore. She will charge at me sometimes when I go into the coop or will run at the food as soon as I put it out. She also slept in her nesting box every night. Not long after I got her, I decided to get 3 more pullets. These new girls have been in their own coop and get along very well. Fast forward to last week when my new baby chicks outgrew their brooder and needed an outside coop. So, since all 4 hens are the same size I decided to put Henrietta in with the other hens. I did research on how to integrate, and basically got the general response "just put her in there and they will figure it out because they will have to make a new pecking order." So, here is where the fun starts and I need advice.
First, one of the girls, Agnes, decided that day that she wanted to start being broody. The way the nesting boxes are set up, I can't keep her out of it and collected the eggs ever morning like always. I've been meaning to make a new nesting box area that is enclosed and whatnot but life has been rather hectic lately. She refuses to get out of the nesting box for anything and is starting to poop in it. Out of the 6 boxes available this is the favorite by all 3 of them, so now nobody is laying.
Second, after watching the hens for a while post integration, everything seemed fine, they just kind of avoided each other. The next morning I go to check on them and my favorite chicken, Blanche has blood on her feet and they look skinned. My husband and I washed her feet off and sprayed some Bactine on them and held her until they dried. She now has decided that she wants to sit in the box next to Agnes and will not come down for anything.
Dottie, the other of the 3 hens original to this coop has always been top of the pecking order, but not mean. Today while petting Henrietta in an attempt to make her more submissive, Dottie came and pecked at my hand. I feel totally lost here, and I want to keep from my birds hurting each other or making bad habits.
Aside from building different nesting boxes and removing Henrietta from the coop. What can I do? This makes me so sad. Please help.
