Building a Chicken Coop and Introducing New Chickens
Posted on May 15, 2009 under building a chicken coop |This story illustrates the problems that can arise in introducing new chickens and the importance of observing your chickens closely:
1 week ago I got 3 black Orpington bantam pullets (4 months old and put the newcomers in with my Porcelain D’Uccle hen. They all have become comfortable with each other except for 1 of the Orpington birds. We have been building a chicken coop, so they all went in together in the new swanky quarters.
I have not seen her being picked on but she does not eat while the Porcelains are eating, she constantly looks at the ground and now she spends time hiding in a little hut in their hen house. She seems to be quite healthy as they all do.
She may be feeling stressed. Moving from one environment to another is stressful. With a little time, most chickens adjust to a new environment. She could be homesick, so it should pass.
Another possibility could be that she’s just shy. Chickens have distinct personalities just like people and other animals. The way she holds her head down and stays away from the others leads me to believe she could also be naturally
shy. If that’s the case, she’ll probably stay that way - that’s fine as long as she is healthy.
I’ll report back on her progress.