New hen trying to roost in apple tree!

[kathyd]

Help! I introduced a new hen yesterday (about 15 weeks), and she's doing OK insofar as the others aren't attacking her, but some of them do chase her away from things. Like the coop at bedtime.. So last night she flew into an apple tree and we had to lift her down and put her into the coop, after which everything was fine. Tonight she didn't wait to be chased, she was straight into the tree (quite high up - needed a ladder tonight!!).

Not sure how to deal with this - she obviously can't stay in a tree all night, and I guess we could poke her down with a broom if she got too high to reach, but I don't really want her to grow up thinking this is normal...

The 3 older hens are quite tolerant and leave her alone, and are happy enough for her to peck around close to them. The problem is with 2 of the younger ones - the cockerel and his sister (definitely dodgy relationship brewing here). The hen seems to be displaying 'boss hen' behaviour, but why is the cockerel being so unpleasant? Sometimes he's fine with her, at other times he chases her miles away. The little sister just does the submissive thing so she's OK, but the new hen hasn't / won't / why should she?

I'm probably going to go get another hen the same as the new one tomorrow from the same place (should have got 2 in the beginning I guess, but you live and learn), and I'm hoping this will help. But if not? Any suggestions please?

NB: I've only had all 6 hens just over 3 weeks - they came from different places and have settled in OK together although stayed as 2 distinct groups.

Thanks
Kathy

[Suechooks]

I think you've answered yourr own question really. Its always better to add at least 2 together so they've got a buddy and it shares out the perceived bullying. Each time you add a new bird you disrupt the dynamics of the flock and its usually the lower order birds who cause the most problem. I always put new birds in a separate coop and run in sight of the others for 2 reasons - quarantine so you know they're not going to pass on any illnesses to your current flock and secondly to let them get used to each other before mixing them together.

[Glutton4...]

Roosting in trees is natural for Chooks.

I'd suggest perhaps putting some of that lightweight plastic netting over the run/under the tree. Clip a wing, so she can't fly. Remove the lower branches of the tree, so she can't reach.

If you let one do it, others will follow - they're like kids, they all learn the bad habit from the one awkward one, not the other way round!

Good luck!

[Cranford Steve]

All my chickens roost in the tree at night. I built a lovely coop for them, but they prefer the tree. I got them down the first few times and put them in the coop but as soon as dusk rolled round they were all in a line waiting to get into the tree. I just leave them now. They do use the coop when its cold in the day or raining, but every night without fail they always roost in the tree. I think they will be safer up there as the tree is at the back of the run an I always close the run when they are roosting. I wouldnt worry to much its just nature natural instinct.

[kathyd]

That's reassuring Cranford Steve, thanks . Although I'd prefer to know that she can get into the coop if she wants to, especially with the cold weather coming on. Also I wouldn't know whether to lock the coop up for the ones inside, or leave it open for the ones in the tree 'just in case', if they weren't all doing the same thing! My OH had a nice simple idea yesterday - 'we'll just move them from under the trees..'. Typical male logic . But it would seem a shame to move them because they love it under the trees. Anyway, we're picking up a buddy for her this morning, and I'm going to see if I can find a way to prevent Ms Flyer from getting into the tree, maybe by netting it in some way as Glutton4 suggested. Fingers crossed..

[VirginVegGrower]

Having a coop under a tree is not advised by the experts as wild bird population can bring disease to any area under a tree. I have just Lost two of my gorgeous hens and I don't know what to. Possibly something from wild bird population. We are surrounded by trees/woodland. Please, I would hate for this to happen to your's - it is devastating. Suechooks idea of separate coop/run sounds eminently sensible to me and the advice is always more than one introduction.
Best of luck.

[nellie-m]

Years ago I visited a breeder, and I still remember the sight of all his young cockerels getting up into the damson tree to roost. He said they always did that, every evening, and every evening he had to get his hosepipe to get them down again. This argument never failed... it was quite funny to watch how the boys hurried to get down and into the coop, but you can imagine the names they called us

Another old breeder I knew even let his banties stay in the trees overnight all summer. it seemed to work fine there (maybe he just didn't care much if the odd one was missing?) only the birds would go berserk the first nights he locked them in when the nights got too cold, because they weren't used to staying indoors.

I'd be too worried about birds of prey in the early morning to let mine roost in trees - although it does look nice, and very fitting.

[kathyd]

Hi VVG - I take your point, and I've roughed up a somewhat flimsy but hopefully only very temporary run which I can open or close to give the newbies a break or let them mingle, depending on how things are going. They'll all have to share a coop though because I've only got the one. Re-the trees, I'm curious how wild birds can bring disease under trees more than in the open? Our wild birds go everywhere, not just in the trees, so I don't understand why the problem is worse with trees - does anyone give an explanation along with their advice?

I love the stories about other people's birds roosting in trees - it does seem a shame we can't safely let them . Our two (yes, we've got the 2nd one now and she's just as bad) looked really cute snuggled down together on a branch tonight, although we won't find it so cute if they're still doing it in the depths of winter I don't suppose... We got them down fine, and put them in the coop together with the others, and everyone settled down without a fuss.

I'm so sorry you've lost some birds VVG - I'm dreading the day when I lose mine through natural or other causes... they become part of the family really quickly don't they? Even my OH muttered grudgingly today 'you can get quite addicted to watching the social interactions of the group can't you?' - he's right, I can lose hours without even realising it! I'm loving having them already, and my little 'family' is complete for now because the coop is full, and if I do get more later on I'll remember to buy more than one at a time - what a hardship .

[walldanzig]

I had a turkey once who wouldnt come out of the tree. He got bigger and bigger and more difficult to get out. Christmas that year was nearly postponed.

[VirginVegGrower]

Hi VVG - I take your point, and I've roughed up a somewhat flimsy but hopefully only very temporary run which I can open or close to give the newbies a break or let them mingle, depending on how things are going. They'll all have to share a coop though because I've only got the one. Re-the trees, I'm curious how wild birds can bring disease under trees more than in the open? Our wild birds go everywhere, not just in the trees, so I don't understand why the problem is worse with trees - does anyone give an explanation along with their advice?

I love the stories about other people's birds roosting in trees - it does seem a shame we can't safely let them. Our two (yes, we've got the 2nd one now and she's just as bad) looked really cute snuggled down together on a branch tonight, although we won't find it so cute if they're still doing it in the depths of winter I don't suppose... We got them down fine, and put them in the coop together with the others, and everyone settled down without a fuss.

I'm so sorry you've lost some birds VVG - I'm dreading the day when I lose mine through natural or other causes... they become part of the family really quickly don't they? Even my OH muttered grudgingly today 'you can get quite addicted to watching the social interactions of the group can't you?' - he's right, I can lose hours without even realising it! I'm loving having them already, and my little 'family' is complete for now because the coop is full, and if I do get more later on I'll remember to buy more than one at a time - what a hardship.

Not seen answers as to why you shouldn't have overhanging tree branches where your birds are but I assume it's because the wild birds poop from them. Just watch pigeons in trees!
It's been dreadful losing two, one was bad enough! I know we gave them great time here but I wish with all my heart they had had longer...I still pine for them both. Seeing the Madeline and Rosemary look a likies today at Omlet just free ranging anywhere and everywhere made me tempted to smuggle a few
I didn't!
I have wanted my own hens since I was eight or nine, now forty three. My mother's mantra was always "the fox will have them!" So I never did. Until now when the grandchildren could break the news.
I feel as though they have always been here and now can't imagine life without them. I can see how easy it is to have a large flock. But I am tying my hands
Have just seen your location - I will send Mr VVG and his run woodworking skills. We can sip wine, admire hens, eat cheez whilst he works!
Enjoy them!

[VirginVegGrower]

Why don't you put her in the coop first at night then the others will accept she's part and parcel of the coop before they go in? Would that work better?

[kathyd]

Hi VVG - wine? cheese? gossip?? sounds fab! are you serious? where abouts are you? south derbyshire doesn't sound very close to central brittany

Re-putting her in the coop first - we now have 2 of them, and they're both beginning to integrate themselves much better. I chose a nice calm one, and she's also more confident (and slightly larger) than her sister, and won't be messed around as much. So although she runs off when chased, she just turns round and comes right back again, which is just how it should be . I've managed to capture them both for the past 2 nights before they've made it into the trees - first night they were sat on the nesting box and jumped off and ran over to me. I tried pushing them up the little ramp but Bossy Boots and bro were guarding the entrance and I had to pop them in the side door again instead. Last night I did manage to get to them a few minutes earlier and encourage them to go up the ramp on their own, and be the first in. I checked later and everyone was cuddled up together in the corner with big Dotty hen (the maran) in the middle gurgling away to them, and the smaller newbie with her head all buried amongst someone's feathers - couldn't even see her at first she was so well hidden! Most of them don't seem to use the perches, they sit on the floor or use the nest box - I'm sure I should discourage this but I can't see the point, and they all seem happy so... So you're right, first in is the way forward when we can manage it. Newbies are happily roaming the run this morning, running off when chased but not so far, and they bounce back. We're now working on trying to get them all to eat together, but this is harder cos newbies flee when someone runs over to their bit of grain - but we're getting there!

[RichmondHens]

[QUOTE=kathyd;909701]Hi VVG - wine? cheese? gossip?? sounds fab! are you serious? where abouts are you? south derbyshire doesn't sound very close to central brittany

I think some Grapes get together for what they call Grapestock? We should do one for Rule the Roosters, we could call it Chicken Stock!

[kathyd]

Lol RichmondHens, I love it

[VirginVegGrower]

I am loving this idea - will put tents up in my chilly garden, supply cheese and wine Francais - then you can all watch my paranoia over two remaining hens and have a good laugh