Recent content by galefrances
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The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
I'm not sure how helpful my observations can be due to my inexperience, but I had two SLW a few years ago with my first flock. I got them from My Pet Chicken. I've always had good experiences with them. Anyway, they were good size birds, beautiful too. At that time I didn't free range so they...- galefrances
- Post #38,760
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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What age is good to introduce little ones to older hens
Ok, thanks, that's helpful.- galefrances
- Post #16
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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What age is good to introduce little ones to older hens
Would you integrate differently if there is a 1 1/2 yr. old rooster in a small flock of 4 hens? I'm concerned about my roo trying to mate the pullets.- galefrances
- Post #14
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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Help ? :(
It can take several weeks and sometimes not at all for a chicken to be accepted. Not only do you need to separate them with wire, but once you do allow them to be together you should provide plenty of places for them to hide such as a board up against a corner. You may need a separate feeder and...- galefrances
- Post #5
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
That's good news! I love your idea of the footrest....such a simple yet creative solution.- galefrances
- Post #38,656
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
@leahsmom I don't know how helpful anything I could say will be, but here goes... I integrated my pullets and cockeral in stages. They went out into the main coop at 4 weeks In a large brooder, so basically it was a look don't touch get to know one another. That was about a week and a half...- galefrances
- Post #38,635
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
I don't know what's going on but my text isn't showing up with my quote, just my pic. I was quoting Leah's mom and her fencing suggestion. I'm going to use this in my run to separate the new chicks from the flock. I've got a large brooder on the floor of the coop and I'm going to put a pop...- galefrances
- Post #38,624
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
[CONTENTEMBED=/t/729605/the-natural-chicken-keeping-thread-ots-welcome/38590#post_17170520 layout=inline] <a data-huddler-embed="href" href="/u/151836/galefrances" style="display:inline-block;">@galefrances</a> Wonderful to hear! I know <a data-huddler-embed="href"...- galefrances
- Post #38,623
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
Just thought I'd pop in and give an update on my roo and maran hen that were attacked, oh about two weeks ago now. To be honest I've had so much going on the last couple weeks my head is in a fog so I might be off in the timing. So....I walked into the outer coop today and I see my roo standing...- galefrances
- Post #38,599
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry that happened to your roo and your poor little chick. I have to say every time I go out there I prepare myself for finding him dead. You certainly did everything you could of to help him through whatever it was. And I know he felt your love and caring. Thank you for...- galefrances
- Post #38,544
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
I certainly can relate. I always watch my flock from the kitchen. (That's where I usually am.) I caught the tail end of the attack and was able to chase the fox away before he finished my roo off. The hens had scattered. Most came home on their own but it was hours before we found the maran...- galefrances
- Post #38,543
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
Thank you, that's very encouraging. And very good suggestions. They've always liked watermelon and grapes when I've given it to them during hot spells. You know there's one positive thing that's come out of all this. My younger hens and roo would never come up to me no matter what goodies I...- galefrances
- Post #38,542
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
Thank you for saying that. I haven't let the remaining three hens out yet, I think they're too few and it's too soon after the attack, but I will free range again. I feel the same way you do.- galefrances
- Post #38,541
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
That's what I'm afraid of. I'll give it the two weeks as oldhenlikesdogs suggested and then I'll do what needs to be done. Sooner if I feel he's suffering. I definitely don't want that. I have a secure coop and run with buried 1/4 inch hardware cloth that I too had to fight my DH for. But when...- galefrances
- Post #38,534
- Forum: Managing Your Flock
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The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
(Oldhenlikesdogs) "I personally give mine a week to see if they show improvement, than wait another to be sure. Only you can tell if he appears to be suffering or just healing. If he's no better in two weeks I would cull knowing I gave him a chance. As far as your hen, I think she will drink...- galefrances
- Post #38,533
- Forum: Managing Your Flock