gpeters3
Chirping
Older hens will kill them. I raised several from eggs and even one of the sisters of the brood hen trapped a baby in the corner and pecked its brains out. I lost 2 that way. Now I have perches at all heights for lesser ones to hop up on to get away. I want to add some chicks in the spring but the only way I've been successful is by separating them until they can outrun the bigger ones and also fly well enough to get up on a perch. I believe keeping them in the coop separated by a cage so the hens can get used to their presence is the best way to do that but i'd like to hear opinions on that strategy.
I have a few pics of my flock and the new ones I just got from TSC. I now have 9 or 10 breeds, not sure what a couple of them are. Just bought Ausrolorp, black sex link, Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Americauna (I think, supposed to lay colored eggs, maybe Aurcauna?) and I have grown hens, Isa red, Barred Rock, a black one I don't know the breed and two others I'm not sure of. If I can get some embedded I'll add some pics I just took:
If they all survive I'm going to have to build a bigger coop and add a run. I was ranging them but I lost too many that way so they have to stay locked up. It's a shame but I almost cried when my favorite Isa red disappeared.