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Hey all, I'm back!

I ended up/decided to keep the hen I found while I was on my run. She's a juvenile (her adult markings are starting to come in and does not appear to be full grown). I've been calling her Bubbi.

I also acquired another, full grown approximately 2 years old. I am not sure if I will be able to keep the second hen (Bertha) as she is picking on Bubbi and it is evident that Bubbi is afraid of her.

Is there a "normal/usual" adjustment period when introducing hens? I thought it might be a good situation for them as they were both on their own and from my understanding, chickens do well in groups rather than on their own. I don't think Bubbi likes her new situation, though, and if this is not going to work out I will need to find new placement for Bertha.

Any ideas? Bertha does not chase or full out attack Bubbi, but more so when they are rising in the morning, getting to roost, and if there is any "treat" type food out. I was hoping to get a companion, not just another chicken to care for. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. I believe, after looking at photos and descriptions in the "breeds" section that they may both be Redcaps. Bertha looks to definitely be Redcap, and Bubbi is starting to show similar/same markings. If they are the same breed, then Bubbi is younger than I had thought, as she is much smaller than Bertha.

Jet
 
Pecking is unfortunately one of the sad parts of having chickens. I had a buff orp that was so horrible at picking at the pullets I have, I placed her. Treat time is the worst. Now that my pullets are actually bigger than the barred rock hen I already have, they are still reminded who the boss is. Helen my barred rock is much better than the orp was though. During treat time Helen gets the best treats and the younger pullets Ruth and Jedi, will steal food. All Helen has to do is cluck at them and if they forget, she will go after them to remind them of their position. I have found that it takes about 2 weeks of adjustment time. Just putting hens together thinking they will get along doesn't work.

If you want to get a hen more the age of your found pullet, you can always look for a pullet from here or CL. There is someone on CL now that has a bunch of pullet leghorns. I was going to get one but then decided to see if I get any of my incubating eggs to hatch and maybe I will get a hen from the group. This is my first hatch and I was going to place all the chicks if they hatch but I think I might raise them up a bit to get more experience. The eggs were a test batch only (trader joe eggs) so have no idea how they will do.

Ruth and Jedi came together are almost always together BUT they have gotten into some drag out fights lately. So raising two together isn't so peaceful either. Helen steps in when she gets tired of the bickering. Ruth has lost a good deal of her neck feathers over it. Post pics of your two so we can see them :)

Barb
 
These are the girls, I guess I will give it a little more time and see how they both settle in. I got Bertha off of CL, actually. At the time it was the only ad up. I was tempted to want some of your chicks when you posted up but I don't actually want to raise them from chicks.

Bertha is on the left, Bubbi on the trash can.

400
 
Those are nice looking gals!. I would say to give it more time. Remember there will always be a leader and a follower. I know we as humans want things to be equal, that just doesnt work for chickens. Training and raising dogs for 30 years has taught me that. Its hard to watch them get beat up but they will get it. Trying to intervene doesn't really work unless your standing right there. My buff orp thought about challenging me. Didn't go too well.

The one good thing about having an older hen with a younger one (at least for me) Helen shows the younger hens where to look for treats, has showed them how to scratch well, will be the first to check out a situation (the younger hens stay back until they know its safe) will on occasion share her tasty treats and brings peace to the house. That all comes with a price to stay in line or be pecked. Ive spent a lot of time watching them. It's a good union and one humans could learn to do more of.

If any of my chicks hatch, your welcome to come and see them. They will be leghorns. Not sure they are the breed for me but I wasnt planning on keeping them. I might keep a hen if I hatch one just to see her grow and see what the temperament is really like of the bird. I prefer quiet chickens. Ive heard that leghorns are not.

You can always adopt a chicken from the shelter. Just be sure to say this is your first one as there is that 3 chicken limit. Don't want to be visited by AC.

Barb
 
Thanks for all the info, I'll be keeping an eye on them and see how things go. I'll give them time to adjust and see if Bubbi gets more settled with the new member. She didn't even want to enter the coop area with Bertha already inside. I just don't want her to continue to feel/be stressed or afraid.

Right now they are both in the prefab area, but Bubbi wont leave the coop because Bertha is down below.

I got some other pictures which show the markings a little better.


Bubbi



Bertha



Here is their current set up (we kind of put things together in a hurry, I needed to get Bubbi out of my bathroom!)

This is the prefab we bought and put together. It is inside an old shed we weren't using.


We built this run for them as a temp situation to keep them safe from the dogs but still give some strutting room.


And this is the prefab in its new location inside the shed



We'll be converting the shed into a large coop and storage area recycling some of the prefab parts into the new/bigger design. The prefab is rated for 4 hens, but is definitely small for even these two, I think that may also be part of the issue.
 
I forget about size because I had two hens in a dog x pen for awhile then did a cheap run of sorts out of pvc 7x13. I thought about it after I posted with regards to being able to get away from the meany hens which is what my pullets did with the orp hen. In a smaller situation I think it would be harder to escape. Maybe if you had a 3rd hen pecking would be shared :)

Does Bertha lay for you?
 
Lots going on then with the two hens. Time will reveal what comes next. 2 yo old for a hen is getting up there. Hopefully the last owner was truthful and she is not on the down side from laying. As someone else from here suggested, people in Vegas are not always truthful when it comes to age and whether hens are still laying. My buff orp I was told laid lots of brown eggs. That was a bit of a stretch. I guess if you count 3 a week as lots from 0, then the statement was right.
 
Yeah, I take everything with a grain of salt, so to say. Especially off craigslist - although that is where I found my husband, so I've had some decent luck :)
 

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