We lost one of our hens (henny Penny) a couple of weeks ago so we just had Henny Jenny. She was clearly very lonely so we went yesterday to get a another pair of hens to keep her company. We were advised to segregate them til it got dark and then let them all in to the bedroom at night time. When we got home Henny Jenny was out in the garden so we put the new hens in an enclosed part of the run, but left the main run open to Henny Jenny was free to get back in. As it got dark she still hadn't gone in(most unlike her), so I had to put her in and shut the run up, so she was able to see the new ones but not touch them. But she stayed down the opposite end of the run anyway.
At night I opened up the bedroom to let them all in. Henny Jenny just stayed out in the run. I checked several times before i went to bed and she didn't move, just slept out in the run as far away as possible .
Early this morning I heard squawking and I have been keeping an eye on things, and at the moment, everytime the new hens venture out in the run Henny Jenny is attacking them and chasing them back in.
Is there anything I can do, or do i just need to sit tight til they get accustomed to each other?
I am not letting them in the garden yet, in case the new ones get lost and want them to get to know each other, but I am now wondering if I should let Henny Jenny out at least?
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introducing new pair of hens to existing one is not going well...HELP!
18 replies
mabel1973 · 01/09/2008 09:23
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sarah293 ·
20/03/2010 13:27
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sarah293 ·
20/03/2010 19:24
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czechpie ·
08/04/2017 08:26
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