Stressed out

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FeatherstoneFrm

FeatherstoneFrm

Songster
Aug 1, 2014
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Appling, GA
I adopted this pretty Easter egger Saturday. I am told she is about 2 years old, very sweet and docile. Her owner recently passed away and a neighbor took the small flock to find them homes. She is understandably stressed and I'm sure confused by all of this. I introduced her to my small flock slowly and while some of them chase her, she has made a friend of the lowest in the order of the 24 week old group and gets to pick on the 11 week old group. The top rooster protects her from the subordinate roo.
I'm wondering how long it might take for her to settle in to her place in the group and start laying again and will laying be the indicator that she is comfortable in her new flock?
She is eating, drinking and scratching just fine but keeps to herself.

I know it has only been a couple of days and I'm not expecting it to happen overnight, just curious what expect.
IMG_20180826_152226_013.jpg
 
I added a grown hen to my flock earlier this year in April. She was placed in a dog crate with food and water inside of my coop for a couple days. Then, I let her out of the crate once all the hens left the coop, and closed her in the coop for 3-4 hrs so she could check out her new dogs. Then, next day, I did the same thing but with the addition of a couple of my hens still in the coop with her.

By about 6th day, I let her out with everyone free ranging. She had lots of room to escape anyone who didn't take kindly to her. She adjusted quickly. Now, a few months later, she is completely adjusted. She is about middle to lower middle of the pecking order.
Rebecca (the newcomer) never stopped laying eggs at this time. Honestly she might have skipped a couple days... but only after she had been with my flock for a few days.
I think there are already some eggs in the works so to speak once a hen is put under stress or change. If she has never laid an egg for you, it's possible she has been under significant stress for an extended period of time. I'd just give her time and hopefully she will be fitting in fine. Keep an eye on her with the flock. A little pecking and squabbling is normal as long as it doesn't draw blood. Do you have blukote on hand just in case?
 
Is there anyway you could make a pen within the pen so they can see each other yet be safe. Just putting her straight away in with the others Makes her a target. I separate mine at least 10 days minimum.
 
chickens really said:
It can take weeks, months and sometimes it never works. As long as she isn't getting beaten she will find her way into the flock or not?..
Click to expand...
They pick on her some but I haven't seen any damage to her comb or feathers so far. They do let her roost with them so that's a good sign.
One night she went up 1st and when 1 of the hens went up and tried to peck at her to move her down, she move toward the hen instead of away so Hazel finally gave up and let her stay.
I hope she will make her place in time.
 
FeatherstoneFrm said:
They pick on her some but I haven't seen any damage to her comb or feathers so far. They do let her roost with them so that's a good sign.
One night she went up 1st and when 1 of the hens went up and tried to peck at her to move her down, she move toward the hen instead of away so Hazel finally gave up and let her stay.
I hope she will make her place in time.
Click to expand...
Sounds good to me..Don't put human emotions on the Chickens. Definitely they will figure it out.
 

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