Subo72
In the Brooder
Hello - subscribing in the hope of learning more and getting advice from those far more experienced than I!
We have had a little mini "flock" of hybrid hens, as pets and layers only, for about 18 months. We've been through the standard beginners errors (2nd hand coop with a mite infestation) and disasters (split vent and a very poorly chicken that we had to say goodbye to).
But things have settled down nicely and until 3 days ago we had just the 2 layers, Beyonce (a noisy, feisty black rock) and Patricia (a shy, nervous light sussex). They live in our garden, in a large roofless pen about 4m x 3m with a secure coop and 2 nesting boxes attached.
Sadly, wily Mr Fox struck very early one morning and killed poor Patty, who had ventured out. It's a long story, but although Beyonce did her best to alert us with her loudest crowing, we were too late. Pats was unmarked and still warm, but dead.
Worried about Beyonce being left alone, uncharacteristically anxious after the fox attack, we have hurriedly sourced her a new companion to replace Patty. I found a supplier who had some light sussex hens at point of lay, about 16 weeks old, so off I went today to collect her.
Really quite relaxed about all the drama, Barbara (I really must stop allowing my stepchildren to name our chickens, the speckled hen we lost was called Gary) was settling in rather well this afternoon, even venturing out for some food.
On the basis that we were only introducing her to one other chicken, and coming from a reputable breeder who only supplies vaccinated and mite free birds, we haven't "medically" quarantined her. The breeder warned that there could be some ructions and arguments at first, but as a pair rather than a flock they should settle down quickly.
And then, my horrible terrier - who is totally accustomed to the hens roaming free and studiously ignores them - developed a sudden keen interest in Babs, stuck her face in the open pen and caused Babs to rush up the ramp into the coop, bump her head, and knock a nobble off her comb which then bled profusely.
*Sigh* Poor dog management on my part, I never thought she would notice that it was a different white feathered thing. So...I now have not just a new hen that Beyonce might bully, but a new hen with an injured comb. I've cleaned her up as best I can and it stopped bleeding quickly, but I have nothing around to readily use as antiseptic (other than human stuff like savlon etc), and also my capacity to segregate her properly is limited. For now, Beyonce is free in the garden and Babs is confined to barracks - for tonight, I've already settled Babs into a small carrier with plenty of straw in a sheltered end of the inner secure pen, and I'll shut Beyonce in the coop overnight by herself. At least it's not cold here tonight.
So that's my introduction - hi everyone, I'm a rubbish chicken keeper, all advice gratefully received! Will it really be a month of trying to keep them separate, until Babs heals? What should I treat it with? Will Beyonce hurt Babs? What can I do to make it better?!
Thank you...
We have had a little mini "flock" of hybrid hens, as pets and layers only, for about 18 months. We've been through the standard beginners errors (2nd hand coop with a mite infestation) and disasters (split vent and a very poorly chicken that we had to say goodbye to).
But things have settled down nicely and until 3 days ago we had just the 2 layers, Beyonce (a noisy, feisty black rock) and Patricia (a shy, nervous light sussex). They live in our garden, in a large roofless pen about 4m x 3m with a secure coop and 2 nesting boxes attached.
Sadly, wily Mr Fox struck very early one morning and killed poor Patty, who had ventured out. It's a long story, but although Beyonce did her best to alert us with her loudest crowing, we were too late. Pats was unmarked and still warm, but dead.
Worried about Beyonce being left alone, uncharacteristically anxious after the fox attack, we have hurriedly sourced her a new companion to replace Patty. I found a supplier who had some light sussex hens at point of lay, about 16 weeks old, so off I went today to collect her.
Really quite relaxed about all the drama, Barbara (I really must stop allowing my stepchildren to name our chickens, the speckled hen we lost was called Gary) was settling in rather well this afternoon, even venturing out for some food.
On the basis that we were only introducing her to one other chicken, and coming from a reputable breeder who only supplies vaccinated and mite free birds, we haven't "medically" quarantined her. The breeder warned that there could be some ructions and arguments at first, but as a pair rather than a flock they should settle down quickly.
And then, my horrible terrier - who is totally accustomed to the hens roaming free and studiously ignores them - developed a sudden keen interest in Babs, stuck her face in the open pen and caused Babs to rush up the ramp into the coop, bump her head, and knock a nobble off her comb which then bled profusely.
*Sigh* Poor dog management on my part, I never thought she would notice that it was a different white feathered thing. So...I now have not just a new hen that Beyonce might bully, but a new hen with an injured comb. I've cleaned her up as best I can and it stopped bleeding quickly, but I have nothing around to readily use as antiseptic (other than human stuff like savlon etc), and also my capacity to segregate her properly is limited. For now, Beyonce is free in the garden and Babs is confined to barracks - for tonight, I've already settled Babs into a small carrier with plenty of straw in a sheltered end of the inner secure pen, and I'll shut Beyonce in the coop overnight by herself. At least it's not cold here tonight.
So that's my introduction - hi everyone, I'm a rubbish chicken keeper, all advice gratefully received! Will it really be a month of trying to keep them separate, until Babs heals? What should I treat it with? Will Beyonce hurt Babs? What can I do to make it better?!
Thank you...
From Yorkshire UK
