Sorry so long in advance!!
You may have seen some of my recent posts while I have been accumulating all kinds of knowledge from this great site!
I live on 1/2 an acre, and had a problem with crawfish in my yard. My husband's a landscaper, and fixed our drainage problem, but our water table is so high, we kept having either the holes or the little castles all over the yard. So, after some further research, we got a pair of Buff Orpingtons, born on Easter. In the meantime, it's been so dry, that with the addition of the last couple yards of sand to the yard, we believe the crawfish problem is solved, now we're just addicted to the idea of keeping chickens!
We turned a pallet box into their coop-it's been 102 during the day, and if we're lucky, maybe 70's at night-and have a run that is detachable with it. The coop is 4 x4, and the run is 3 1/2 x 7 1/2, but about to be 38.5 sq feet. During the day, I open the setup up, and then the girls are free to go wherever they want in the yard. All 1/2 acre, fenced with a privacy fence.
But...1 BO is bigger and does not like people, at all. Plus she's constantly jumping the other & pecking at her. The other will come up to me, lets me pick her up. And as I've been reading, I would love to have more chickens...Of course!
If I were to rehome the meaner BO, and just let the sweet one hang with a few Silkies or a Cochin (or 2), would that be a problem? Has anyone done this, having 1 Big bird and the rest smaller - will it inevitably cause pecking order problems?? I've read to keep them in view of each other, slowly integrate, then when I do, at night, even rubbing the smaller ones on the bigger. Or since the smaller BO gets picked on now, should I assume she will continue to be the omega chicken?
This is really long! I apologize, just wanted to let you know everything - advice, thoughts - ideas are welcome. Building a bigger coop in September is already being considered - the one we have now only cost us the wire and latches. I about to figure out how to post pictures.
THANK YOU!
You may have seen some of my recent posts while I have been accumulating all kinds of knowledge from this great site!
I live on 1/2 an acre, and had a problem with crawfish in my yard. My husband's a landscaper, and fixed our drainage problem, but our water table is so high, we kept having either the holes or the little castles all over the yard. So, after some further research, we got a pair of Buff Orpingtons, born on Easter. In the meantime, it's been so dry, that with the addition of the last couple yards of sand to the yard, we believe the crawfish problem is solved, now we're just addicted to the idea of keeping chickens!
We turned a pallet box into their coop-it's been 102 during the day, and if we're lucky, maybe 70's at night-and have a run that is detachable with it. The coop is 4 x4, and the run is 3 1/2 x 7 1/2, but about to be 38.5 sq feet. During the day, I open the setup up, and then the girls are free to go wherever they want in the yard. All 1/2 acre, fenced with a privacy fence.
But...1 BO is bigger and does not like people, at all. Plus she's constantly jumping the other & pecking at her. The other will come up to me, lets me pick her up. And as I've been reading, I would love to have more chickens...Of course!
If I were to rehome the meaner BO, and just let the sweet one hang with a few Silkies or a Cochin (or 2), would that be a problem? Has anyone done this, having 1 Big bird and the rest smaller - will it inevitably cause pecking order problems?? I've read to keep them in view of each other, slowly integrate, then when I do, at night, even rubbing the smaller ones on the bigger. Or since the smaller BO gets picked on now, should I assume she will continue to be the omega chicken?
This is really long! I apologize, just wanted to let you know everything - advice, thoughts - ideas are welcome. Building a bigger coop in September is already being considered - the one we have now only cost us the wire and latches. I about to figure out how to post pictures.
THANK YOU!
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