I was hoping I would be posting this evening about our beautiful new addition to the hen house, Daphne, a Light Sussex.
Instead, it's more of a plea for help! We have 2 Rhode Island Reds, about 3/4 years old, Bella and Sylvie. Lovely girls, they follow Andy about the garden and let him feed them from his hands. We saw the Light Sussex hens and explained about our existing girls as we were worried about a new addition perhaps being bullied. The people in the shop had Bluebells as well as Light Sussex hens and told us that the Bluebells could well be bullied, but Light Sussex are a hardy breed and it shouldn't be a problem.
We brought Daphne home, very excited to slowly introduce her to her new hen mates...
She had a scratch and peck around the garden, seemed quite content to amble about.
Meanwhile Bella and Sylvie, who were still in their coop, were not happy at all! Andy let them out, and though they were chattering away, all the chickens seemed happy enough to scratch about
Then, almost in tandem, they ruffled up their feathers and attacked each other. Both Rhode Islands have been chattering away as though complaining, and I just don't think we should consider putting them all together in the same coop despite what the shop said, I'd be so worried that one gets hurt!
Andy's putting something together as I write for Daphne to sleep in tonight, but any advice would be very appreciated.
Thank you
xxx
Instead, it's more of a plea for help! We have 2 Rhode Island Reds, about 3/4 years old, Bella and Sylvie. Lovely girls, they follow Andy about the garden and let him feed them from his hands. We saw the Light Sussex hens and explained about our existing girls as we were worried about a new addition perhaps being bullied. The people in the shop had Bluebells as well as Light Sussex hens and told us that the Bluebells could well be bullied, but Light Sussex are a hardy breed and it shouldn't be a problem.
We brought Daphne home, very excited to slowly introduce her to her new hen mates...
She had a scratch and peck around the garden, seemed quite content to amble about.
Meanwhile Bella and Sylvie, who were still in their coop, were not happy at all! Andy let them out, and though they were chattering away, all the chickens seemed happy enough to scratch about
Then, almost in tandem, they ruffled up their feathers and attacked each other. Both Rhode Islands have been chattering away as though complaining, and I just don't think we should consider putting them all together in the same coop despite what the shop said, I'd be so worried that one gets hurt!
Andy's putting something together as I write for Daphne to sleep in tonight, but any advice would be very appreciated.
Thank you
xxx
Oh! dear...I know nothing at all about hens so can't help...but I found this interesting to read :-)
ReplyDeleteAmanda
Thanks Amanda :) Hopefully they'll get on a bit better each day...
DeleteNice chicken. wow you have them at your home. Thanks for stopping by my blog and following me:) Nice pic by the way lol
ReplyDeleteThank you x
DeleteHi Cheryl, I know nothing about chickens so can't help you but maybe google could? We're always googling something in our house, my daughter calls it the brain she never had! It must be lovely to have chickens though xxx
ReplyDeleteWe're big google fans too :) x
DeleteHope they settle down soon. They do usually work out a pecking order and there's not much you can do about it really! xx
ReplyDeleteThis happened to us and its horrible to watch. We had to put up with unhappy hens for about 3 weeks. Now they are all best of friends. They did stop laying for about six weeks but we believe the new ones brought in a bug or somehing. I'm afraid you just need to let nature take its course until they have sorted out who is boss. Hang on in there sister xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you, it's good to hear that someone else got over it! x
ReplyDelete