Introducing new chicken to grieving older chook

Elle Jay · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:36 pm

One of our two chookies died last night, hubby went down this morning to let the girls out (they free range in the backyard during the day) and Pancake was dead! [smilie=a_cry.gif]

The girls are only just over 2 years old, no clue as to why she died, she was fine yesterday. The only thing we had noticed was that she's had a bit of diarrhoea, but she looked quite healthy and was eating fine.

So hubby has arrived home a couple of hours ago with a new chicken already, as Book has been grieving quite vocally all morning! We got Pancake and Book at 10 weeks old and they have been inseparable ever since, so it's not surprising Book is a bit traumatised.

The new chicken is not quite 10 weeks old, white with black splodges, a Leghorn/New Hampshire cross. Book is a Gingerham. At present the new chickie is in the wire section of the chook run (it's quite a small run), with the ramp door closed so Book cannot get to her. Tonight we plan to put chickie in the old cat carrier we brought her home in, with food and water, inside the chook run. We put both chooks on the deck to see how Book reacted, but she tried to peck the chickie, so clearly we can't put them together yet as chickie is way too small to subject her to being pecked by an adult chook.

Just wondering if anyone has any advice to help Book accept the new chicken? We're still pretty new to the world of chooks, and Pancake and Book are the only chooks we've had and they were together when we got them, so we've never had to worry about pecking and not getting along. We would very much appreciate any advice!

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Sorry to hear about your poor Pancake. You are going the right way about introducing them to eachother. It is quite normal for the older chook to peck the new one, they need to organise the "pecking order" and that Book is the new leader. Give them a couple of days doing what you are doing then try to let them both out to free range together under supervision of course and give them a treat together such as a bit of bread or some sultanas. A bit of jostling is normal a bit of pecking is normal, holding a chook down and relentlessly beating it up until there is blood is not. You may have to step back and just watch, sometimes what we call "pecking" is just them saying hey I am the boss here got it? Then the smaller chook defers to the larger. Keep an eye on the smaller younger chicken though so that it is not being stressed by the experience. Another way to go about it is to get another young hen same age as the young 10 week one you have, let them bond in the cage, take out Book for a few days, put in the newbys then reintroduce Book the pecking order will be different, the others will be older ( a little) and will have established their territory and the pen as their home.

Goodluck.

Elle Jay · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2012 4:40 pm

Thanks for your reply Sebducks. I know they need to establish a pecking order, it's just that the new chicken (which has just been named "Pikelet"!) is so little I'm worried that even one or two pecks could really do her some damage. She is supposed to be 10 weeks old, but I'm not so sure, she is fully feathered though. Maybe we should have bought two chickens instead of one. Although we can't really take Book out of the chook house at night, as we have nowhere else safe to put her. Also, poor Book is pretty traumatised right now, so I wouldn't want to add to her stress by taking her away from her house. We will try letting them out in a few days as you suggest, supervised, and give them some treats together.

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Can you put up a pic of your new Pikelet? We might be able to see how old she really is. I hope you have great success with her.

Elle Jay · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:11 pm

Thanks Sebducks, I will try to get some photos tomorrow. Shouldn't be too hard, Pikelet is pretty docile; she went to sleep sitting on my knee today! We just went to check on the girls again, Book had been very agitated earlier with Pikelet in the cat cage inside the chook run, but Book has finally settled down to sleep in her nesting box (both she and Pancake always slept in their nesting boxes despite months of trying to teach them to roost!) and Pikelet looks quite settled in her straw bed in the cat carrier.

Elle Jay · **Posted:** Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:09 pm

Well, Pikelet has settled in well and is quite a calm, happy little chickie! Until today we have kept her separated from Book, but today we let Pikelet out to see how they would go. Book was rather aggressive and pecked Pikelet a few times, but hubby intervened so she didn't get hurt. Actually it looked quite funny, hubby sitting on a stool in the middle of the backyard, and every time Book chased Pikelet, she ran straight to him and took refuge under his chair! I think he is Pikelet's "Mummy chook"! We tried giving them some treats together, but Pikelet won't go near Book, she's too scared of her, so maybe it's a bit soon for that. Pikelet loved being out in the backyard, she picked at lots of bugs and made herself a lovely dustbath! I am slightly concerned because Pikelet seems to do a little sneeze every now and then, so I am hoping she isn't sick. The place where we got her vaccinates all their chicks at one day old for Mareks and Infectious Bronchitis. I would be grateful if anyone has any ideas as to what the sneezing could be. No other symptoms, and it's only occasionally. Sebducks, you asked if I could post a picture to see if she looks about 10 weeks old, I will try to post one here and also one of Book, our older chook. I have never posted a photo before though, so I don't know how I'll go!

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

She's a pretty little Pikelet isn't she. She may not ever be really accepted by Book, she is quite young still and would likely benefit from another chick her same age to bond with. Book does't look too lonely and the fact that there are other chooky noises in the yard will be good for her. In time as Pikelet grows up she may just ignore her thus letting her live in the same area. It is pretty normal for an older chook to peck and chase off the younger ones.

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Hi Elle Jay

Sorry to hear about one of your babies dying. I will be most upset when one of mine drops of the mortal coil as well.

I have never herd of a Gingerham & looking at your photo she looks a lot like one of my Isa Browns, which I have been told are bred mainly to pump out the eggs for about two year maybe 3 years max (3 years is rare) & then apparently they just drop dead, due to their little bodies just being completely worn out. Normally their aren't any warning signs either.

So I am thinking, by the look of Book, that a Gingerham must be a close relative of the Isa Browns, hence maybe the same genetic predisposition & lifespan of the Isa Browns. If this is the case, then you may be facing another death sooner rather than later, so you may want to be prepared for this possibility.

I love the look of Pikelet & believe that the Leghorns have a slightly longer lifespan of about 4 years & are known to be very good egg layers as well. I believe Sedbucks is right & think that maybe you should look at getting Pikelet a friend to bond with, because if Book does drop off the mortal coil then Piklet will fret if she is totally alone as they are very social creatures.

In relation to the sneezing issue: does she have a runny nose as well? I found hy giving my girls a little bit of Oxymav B in their water cleared up her sneezes in a day. Oxymav can be bought online without the need of a vet.

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

Snowcloud · **Joined:** Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:37 pm **Posts:** 4

I still think we need a video of MUMMY DAD and Pikelet seeking his protection for the militant possessive Book

It will be a time thing ..just like cats take time so do hens esp if one is such a junior compared to the old battle axe ...oops I mean long time resident :-D

Elle Jay · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:08 pm

Thanks Chicka-dee, I will try to get some Oxymav B. No, she doesn't have a runny "nose", just a little sneeze every now and then.

I don't have a video camera, but I got some sneaky photos yesterday of Pikelet seeking refuge with her "Mummydad"! When Book chased her, she managed to fly up onto Mummydad's legs, then she snuggled up for a snooze! Only trouble is, today Book had all that worked out, and made sure she kept herself between Pikelet and Mummydad - she's a wily old chookie!

AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Introducing new chicken to grieving older chook

Who is on the Forum