Ok, I know most people have more than one or two chickens. But here's my situation. Any advice would be appreciated.
Recently I created a thread about Thelma and Louise. They had Bren together since they hatched and never with any other chickens. Louise died leaving poor Thelma alone. A kind lady gave me one of her older hens that she had transferred out to the big barn since she was two years old to make room for the younger group. Gertie and Thelma have their own sections until they have a chance to get acquainted. Several times now Gertie has gotten out or into Thelma's area. Gertie is not a nice girl. She immediately bullies my Thelma. That is not acceptable. So I keep them apart. I've had her for a week on Saturday. How long should it take for them to adjust? And can you teach a chicken manners?
Gertie does seem scared of my Golden Retriever, Rex. So I've kept him in the house even though they are fenced in where he can't get to them. Thelma was raised with him so she knows him well. I'm about ready to let Rex teach her some manners. He doesn't like it when anything threats his chickens. He did see Gertie come in and I suspect he knows she is new. If they were able to run the yard like my girls did previously, I'm sure Thelma would hang out with Rex for protection. She would sit at the sliding glass door in the backyard to be near him after Louise died. It was sweet and sad at the same time.
My question is how to proceed with these two so that no one gets hurt and they can learn to be friends. And poor Thelma has never fought back when Gertie pecked at her. That's simply not nice of Gertie.
Suggestions please.
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