Introducing a new friend

BonnieA · **Joined:** Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 13

I have decided it is time to get Margaret a friend as she is well into her recovery from broodiness. I have wormed and sprayed her
and have feed her up with all the good stuff. How do I go about this so both Margaret and her new friend dont get stressed out :?:

spud · **Joined:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:50 pm **Posts:** 2

When I put a new hen in the coop I move all the chooks out to a new spot with the new hen or hens then move all of them back at the same time

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

Okay BonnieA

I have a few questions first before answering your question...
1) is Margaret better now? Your other post want that long ago. Didn't she lose her feathers?
2) do you have a spare pen to keep the new chook?
3) how old is Margaret?
4) how old is the new chook?

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

BonnieA · **Joined:** Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 13

Hi Chicka-Dee to answer your questions Margaret is looking a lot better than she did her feathers are growing back, she has about a third of a tail
ive given her sardines twice which i think has made her feathers shine her crown is not pail anymore but still not bright red and her face bits are now red .
She was bought by my friend at point of lay about 9 months ago and i was going to get her 2 pullets as friends so she could be the boss after all she has been thriugh I thought that was the least i could do. I have read that she cant return to normal untill she has friends as chickens need a pecking order and to be social. I dont know I think she is lonely but i don't want to get her friends and then her make them ill.

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

Hi Bonnie

That's good to hear that Margaret is now on the mend. woohoo4

So she's about 15months old. I would try & get some Pullets that haven't layed but are at the point of lay.

I understand your anxiety about making her ill again by introducing her to newbies. She will be the boss being the older one but maybe if you are a little anxious then you may want to get one friend at a time. It is hard getting new chooks into the mix because you have to put them in quarantine first and then go through the waiting process and then go through a gradual introduction process, when all you want to do is just put them together!

When I introduced my oldest girl (shes 2) to my pullets (they were 6months) it took weeks. I had my 2year old in quarantine for 1 month & then I brought her out so the others could see her but not be with her for the first week (which was technically week 5) then I let them free range together for the second week(wk 6) & then on the third week I penned them all together during the day but not sleeping together, then at the end of the forth week I let them establish he last type of pecking order which was who gets the top roost.

So this all took two months. It is a slow process, so be patient. Oh & to be clear I bought my 2year old last, hence why I had to put her in quarantine.

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

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