Recent content by clinkski

Right now I don't think the little ones are eating if the hens are in the coop so I've been letting them free-range all day - the hens keep them away. That way I know they can go in the coop for food.

I am having a bit of trouble with my flock integration. I have 4 one year old hens (1 BR & 3 golden comets) and got 3 five week old RIR's in July. They were separated in the the main coop for 8 weeks and started free ranging and open in the coop at 13 weeks. I know that was fairly young but...

Love your coop with the branches! Yes, I have 2 feeders & waterers and the little ones have their own perch in the area that had been totally blocked off. 1 of my golden comets is the bully & chases them, the other 2 jmostly just yell at them. My barred rock is a sweetie. My newbies are...

I've read on previous posts to take out the trouble maker so that's what we did. Didn't have a choice about waiting to integrate - the little girls are almost as big as my golden comets and too big for their separate area.

I am in the process of integrating my 4 one year olds with my 3 thirteen week olds. We put the one hen who was causing the most trouble in jail yesterday afternoon. How long should we keep her alone before we put her back? We are leaving on vacation Saturday so I don't have too much time to...

Phew - thanks!

My girls are a little over one year and I figure they will begin their molt soon. Yesterday I noticed that one is losing her fluffy bottom feathers by her vent and on her butt. Is this normal or should I check for mites? My others are fine and shedding an occasional feather or two. Advice?

Thanks for the info. I was going to try to add them at 10 weeks but can wait until 12 weeks. If I do wait, we will be home for 2 weeks before we leave for vacation - that should be enogh time for them to all settle in, correct? I just don't want the abaysitter to find an ugly scene.

I think I am going to try to intergrate the 3 remaining chicks with the big girls the end of August and then keep the injured chick in the separated room in the coop with her own food and water. The reason being that we are going on vacation for 2 weeks in September and I hate to leave her with...

One of my 5 week old chicks escaped from the crate and was severly pecked by my year old hens. She is making an amazing recovery but I'd like to get her back with the other 5 week old peeps as soon as possible. We have been applying neosporin and the back of head is healing really well. Do I...

My 5 week old chick escaped and was brutally attacked by the year old hen(s) last Thursday. She was basically scalped and even has a small hole in her head. We have been applying neosproin on her skull twice a day. She is having an amazing recovery and both of her eyes have now opened...

I lost 5 chickens to bears - an attack this past fallhe nabbed 3 and then this spring he nabbed another 2.

Thanks all - 10 weeks sounds good. Right now I have the chicks in a dog crate inside the coop and the hens are making quite a fuss though it maybe more that they lost some space rather than the chicks themselves. This weekend we are going to be able to extend the coop and screen off the...

I have *4* 1 year old hens and *4* 5 week old chicks arrived today. I have read a ton of info on intergrating flocks but I can't find much info on integrating with such a big age difference. So, what is your experience? Do I really need to wait and maintain 2 coops until the chicks are 14-16...

I flew from VT to FL last December and brought 2 dozen with me in my small bag. No problems at all and the bag tucked nicely under the seat in front of me.