BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Managing Your Flock › Introduction of my roo and 3 pullets into flock I chickened out!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Introduction of my roo and 3 pullets into flock I chickened out!

post #1 of 7
8/7/12 at 6:07am
Thread Starter 

I have a beautiful white wynadotte roo and 3 pullets about 3 months old seperated by a wire dog cage in my large outdoor run from my established flock of year old and 4 year old pullets. This morning went out and decided today is the day my orphington pullet ran out and was doing great mingling with the other hens untill the roo saw she was out free ranging on the other side of the fence. He was not happy with her and started to get upset i quickly grabbed her and threw her back in the enclosure, I think I am more nervous than they are!!! Do I just let them do what they will do and not interfere?? I am having a tough time I am so protective of the young flock..time to cut the apron strings..advice??

Two BO, one SLW, one EE, two NH, one Dom one big white orpington roo   -three laboradors, two beautiful, active boys (human type) 4 bovan browns

Reply

Two BO, one SLW, one EE, two NH, one Dom one big white orpington roo   -three laboradors, two beautiful, active boys (human type) 4 bovan browns

Reply

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens!!
Why Join BackYard Chickens?
The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101
post #2 of 7
8/7/12 at 7:14am

It's always easier when the introduced chickens are fully feathered out and mature. It's also easier when you can let them into a large area to free-range so that there's room to run away and not get cornered. You can break up aggression simply by walking between he challengers. Even better is to distract everyone with a few chunks of watermelon. I have more hints here: http://hencam.com/faq/introducing-new-hens/

But, I don't keep roosters, so maybe someone with a roo will chime in.

Terry Golson

Reply

Terry Golson

Reply
post #3 of 7
8/8/12 at 8:25am
Thread Starter 

Thank You for your reply I like the idea of putting them together at night when they are sleeping. Never thought of that!

Two BO, one SLW, one EE, two NH, one Dom one big white orpington roo   -three laboradors, two beautiful, active boys (human type) 4 bovan browns

Reply

Two BO, one SLW, one EE, two NH, one Dom one big white orpington roo   -three laboradors, two beautiful, active boys (human type) 4 bovan browns

Reply
post #4 of 7
8/8/12 at 8:29am

If you put them together while sleeping, plan to be sitting coop-side first thing in the morning. I have tried that twice now, and nobody was the least bit fooled.

Brand new to urban chicken keeping in 2012. Currently mother hen to Beyonce (Silkie mix), Lucille Bawk (RIR), Bernadette Peepers (BR), and finally, an EE named Goldie Hen. 

Reply

Brand new to urban chicken keeping in 2012. Currently mother hen to Beyonce (Silkie mix), Lucille Bawk (RIR), Bernadette Peepers (BR), and finally, an EE named Goldie Hen. 

Reply
post #5 of 7
8/8/12 at 8:43am
Thread Starter 

ok thank you very much appreciate the advice

Two BO, one SLW, one EE, two NH, one Dom one big white orpington roo   -three laboradors, two beautiful, active boys (human type) 4 bovan browns

Reply

Two BO, one SLW, one EE, two NH, one Dom one big white orpington roo   -three laboradors, two beautiful, active boys (human type) 4 bovan browns

Reply
post #6 of 7
8/8/12 at 11:42am

Mine were mixed together purely by accident and I realized I had nothing to worry about!  My son didn't fix the separation fence correctly and the next morning I woke up and looked outside and the fence was down!  I did panic and ran out there, but everybody was just hanging around together like it was nothing.  Crazy!  Fence has been down ever since with no troubles.  I might add that they were side by side for a couple of months before this happened, so they "knew" each other just had not been together.

Reply
Reply
post #7 of 7
8/8/12 at 5:35pm

No matter when you mix them, there will be some scuffles as they establish their pecking order. Yep, someone might even get a bloody comb. Unless it's so brutal you don't think one will survive, I'd just let them sort it out. Your only other option is to always keep them separated.

Chickens off and on for 25+ years and still learning.

Reply

Chickens off and on for 25+ years and still learning.

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Managing Your Flock

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens!!
Why Join BackYard Chickens?
The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Managing Your Flock › Introduction of my roo and 3 pullets into flock I chickened out!