Need help with Appenzeller Spitzhauben

azygous said:

The video was very helpful. It appears the problem with this chick, that has you pulling your hair out with concern, is that she is very high strung. This is an issue with breed temperament and there really isn't anything you can do to stop it or make it better. She has to be able to learn that another docile chicken placed in her cage isn't going to hurt her.

I'm guessing you snatch the visiting chicken out of the cage the minute you see the younger chick freaking out. Try leaving them together for a few hours. If you stick around to observe, stay as far away as you can so you aren't interacting. Let the two of them have time to get to know each other. If all goes well, let them sleep together. The more exposure the small chick has to this older one, the greater the chances the two will bond.

If you can achieve a bond like that, it will grease the way for her being accepted into the flock.

You need to try to relax and let things work themselves out and try not to intervene unless it looks like the chick is getting hurt.

Four weeks is too young for her to free range. She won't be old enough to free range, not that she will even want to, for another month at least.

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Bantambird said:

Yes! Well put.

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Bantambird said:

Yes! Well put.

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azygous said:

The video was very helpful. It appears the problem with this chick, that has you pulling your hair out with concern, is that she is very high strung. This is an issue with breed temperament and there really isn't anything you can do to stop it or make it better. She has to be able to learn that another docile chicken placed in her cage isn't going to hurt her.

I'm guessing you snatch the visiting chicken out of the cage the minute you see the younger chick freaking out. Try leaving them together for a few hours. If you stick around to observe, stay as far away as you can so you aren't interacting. Let the two of them have time to get to know each other. If all goes well, let them sleep together. The more exposure the small chick has to this older one, the greater the chances the two will bond.

If you can achieve a bond like that, it will grease the way for her being accepted into the flock.

You need to try to relax and let things work themselves out and try not to intervene unless it looks like the chick is getting hurt.

Four weeks is too young for her to free range. She won't be old enough to free range, not that she will even want to, for another month at least.

Click to expand...

azygous said:

Great! Success! Now, leave them together for good. Do not separate them from here on. They have formed a bond that will serve them both well in days to come when they're coping with the pecking order. But keep them in their cage together apart from the flock, but still in proximity, so they have time to reinforce their bond before starting to mingle with the rest.

I'd wait until the younger chick is at least eight weeks old before letting them start to mingle.

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