Madam was a Mister

[Phattaff]

Hi all

Looks like i'm not the only one how found out that one of their hens was a he, we had our doubts but on Saturday he gave a couple of try out crows and on Sunday he was really trying to go for it (though he was'nt really that loud). Took him back to where we got him from and they were happy to replace him, thing is i said the misses that if we only got one it may get picked on by the other three girls but if we got two it might not be so bad as the bullying would be shared out between the pair of them, she fell for it so not only did i come back with a replacement maran but i also a rhode lsland red which "she picked".
Only problem is that both me new girls are getting a bit bullied at the moment, how long is it normally before they sort themselves out?????

All the best
Phattaff

[Nicos]

Good planning Batman!
No idea....but you could always go and get another couple for them to bully...and then another couple for them......

[janeyo]

glad I am not the only one with chicken with gender problems and coming out of the closet!

Ours sorted themselves out with the ranks after about 10 days once we'd got rid of th cockeral. They all know their place now, and the 2 new brown ones are defo at the bottom!

I find it helps to put down multiple bowls and snack piles so they all get a fairchance of getting the good stuff

[Phattaff]

Cheers Janeyo

I did that this morning after noticing the two new ones were getting chased away from the food hope they sort themselves out soon feel a bit sorry for the newcommers

[matthew2riches]

Give them a few weeks to settle in. You'll get squabbles and pecking but that's fine as long as they aren't drawing blood. After a month you'd never think they were ever apart.

[RedThorn]

as Matthew says, no blood, no problem. If it starts getting too bad, get some anti peck spray. Another option is to make a temporary pen where they can see each other but cannot get to each other, then start letting them mingle a little in the evenings before bed, slowly extending this time. Personally, I mix them at night, letting them sleep together then just keep and eye out for bad bullying, otherwise I let them sort out their own pecking order

Good plan, on 2 fronts, 1 more girls(always a bonus and am jealous over the marran ) and secondly 2 are easier to integrate than 1

[Hans Mum]

when i adopted lynda's girls, there was a bit of ruffled feathers & squaring up to each other, but nothing major, now you wouldnt know they hadnt been together all their lives.

[Phattaff]

Cheers all

I will keep an eye on them but as we both work i only get to see them in the morning and they have taken themselves to bed by the time i get home, i will put some pics up of the new girls by the weekend.

All the best
Phattaff

[elizajay]

They'll be fine if they are brave enough to go to bed with the others.

[lynda66]

when i adopted lynda's girls, there was a bit of ruffled feathers & squaring up to each other, but nothing major, now you wouldnt know they hadnt been together all their lives.

glad they sorted out quickly, mine were used to having random chickens in with them, so it was all old hat to them i guess, .... glad they settled though