Green Living Australia .com .au

[Dayla]

Hi all,
I have a problem. I have recently introduced 2 new hens (point of lay) to our coop where 2 slightly older hens have been for a few months.
I kept them separate for nearly 2 days, they could see each other all this time. But now they are in together the older ones just keep attacking the younger ones.
We have separated them again and again but it keeps going on.
They are all isabrowns.

Does anyone have any light they can shed on this?
Will they get on over time or do I have to keep them separated forever?
Should I just let them be and sort it out themselves?
Do I need to kill the boss one?

The older hens are sad creatures, I bought them from a produce store in Croydon. Their beaks were chopped badly, I picked the best ones from the 10 or so. Since then they have lost their neck feathers and have been like this for several months, new ones seem to be coming through but are taking ages.
I can't tell whether they are feather eating but they do get into some 'head banging'.
They peck at sheet metal incessantly for periods through out the day.
I have seen young ones doing this in a large hatchery in Macclesfield some years ago. They were so bored they all, hundreds of them, just pecked at the walls, making a huge racket.
I fear my older birds are demented!

[Feegles]

Hi Dayla.. just wanted to know if you finally got info on your chooks.

I am free to help you with info if need be.

I also recommend www.backyardpoultry.com.au

BEST site, so many good folk there with knowledge

[Dayla]

Hi Feegles,
thanks for the responce, I had forgotten that I had asked this question.
The chooks all get along reasonably well now, no disasters.
I realise now I should not have separated them the way I did. The territory of the older ones had been breached and they were angry.
Should have put the newbies into a cage inside the olders territory for a few days first, maybe a week or 2.

What I did was to introduce the least aggressive one into the newbies area and after initial few pecks they got on. Some 2 weeks later I let the mean one in, she pecked a bit and we watched anxiously but it is okay and the newbies have found their place and it is to back off when the oldy gets cross.

So all well there for now although I saw one of them mate with another the other day, just a glimpse so couldn't make out which one but I think they need a Man.
Unfortunately they're not allowed where I live.
So virgins they must remain.

I shall check out the site you sent.

[Feegles]

Isas are a sod of a breed, seriously. Think of them as being designed to eat and lay and then die.. thats it. They are higly strung and agressive is how many folks desribe them. Truely I do know of a few that I can count on one hand that are*ok* but they are a breed I would give a miss too.

They need a slightly higher protein feed than regular chooks becuase they burn off so much of themselves in high laying. So regular seed mix and some bonesaw dust from the butcher would be great. pLUS ALL THE OTHER GOODIES i AM SURE YOU FEED THEM. Keep up the calcium as well in the form of yoghurt or cheese as well as shell grit.

They seem to need more mental stimulation too .. funny birds they are. Do you free range them during the day? If not, or even if you do.. try hanging a few heads of broccoli about 10cms above chicken head height on string and watch them have a ball. Keeps them entertained. also boil up some spaghetti to just cooked and let them at it. Watermelons keep them busy too.

The mating thing is typical of all chooks. One will be more dominat than the rest and take over the male role if one isnt around.


Good luck with them

[Dayla]

Oh I think Isa browns are nice.
They are the friendliest birds I have had, much less flighty than black ones. Sure they do burn out quick and that is sad. But they are bred to lay and then die just as you say.

I had black Australorps that had genetic problems too.

I feed mine plenty of shell grit and I dry in the oven all their old egg shells, crushem up so they are unrecognizable as eggs and give them back.

I have recently been feeding them the red hen chook food and they have devoured it like nothing else.
Their feathers have improved out of sight.
They are quite waste full of some of the mix, but I rake it up and throw it onto the vegie garden. All the wheat germinates and then I feed it back to them, so nothing is lost.

I also give them sprouted wheat every night and they reward me with an egg a day each.

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1259/daylaschookhouse.jpg

They have a run also, it changes 3 times a year when I let them into other areas. They are wonderful for getting rid of the pests from the veg beds.

Do you have many chooks?
seeya