Yes, they can 'forget' each other and it can be a little rough at first.Would you still suggest an introduction period like you would do with new hens or chicks before letting them do this? And I'm too much of a beginner to know enough about their behavior, if they're separated for like a month after free ranging together for whatever reason, is that a long enough time where they essentially "forget" each other and you'd have to do the reintroduction process all over again or once they know each other they know each other? Id assume the former since you have to reinstroduce members if theyve been quarantined for treatments and whatnot so that may actually already answer that question
The birds choose to stay away from each other. I have had 3 birds out of 60+ in 10 years make a switch. 1 was a standard pullet that was hatched by the Silkies who traveled back after the week shut in in the standard coop. I have done this with a couple dozen. 1was a standard Cockerel after a predator took the head rooster. I would imagine this was similar to what might happen in the wild, and the other
Our setup is a little different, as the two runs share a fence. There is no way to avoid them meeting. In the past, once we've let the birds free range together a few times (watched) they were fine.Would you still suggest an introduction period like you would do with new hens or chicks before letting them do this? And I'm too much of a beginner to know enough about their behavior, if they're separated for like a month after free ranging together for whatever reason, is that a long enough time where they essentially "forget" each other and you'd have to do the reintroduction process all over again or once they know each other they know each other? Id assume the former since you have to reinstroduce members if theyve been quarantined for treatments and whatnot so that may actually already answer that question
Yeah in a sickness sense I think if one is getting treated for something both are going to be, but just wasn't sure if there were specific measures I had to take preventively with 2 but sounds like everyone's advice is to just act like theyre one flock just in 2 different coops. Thank you!!
Cool thank you for the info!
That makes sense! I'm still on the proverbial fence on whether I'm going to let mine free range at all and if I dont then luckily this won't be an issue. My neighbors on the land behind mine had a flock for years more than 4 years ago now that just kept getting obliterated and they just gave up on having chickens all together but they were free ranged every day all day and put in at night and predators would come take them while my neighbors were outside 10 feet away during the day. Where I live every predator you can think of is here and because it's so rural theyre just around and dont hide or be sneaky much. Fox, coyote, bear, weasel, raccoon, Hawks, Bobcats, Fischer cats, mountain lions(incredibly rare and it makes the news anytime theres a sighting so this one atleast is highly unlikely) etc. but other than the ML I've seen each of them on my property atleast once in the last 30 days day and night. My coop and run is fort knox secured up to the point of bear (theres literally nothing I'll be able to do to stop him but luckily all the bigger farms down the road from me are better pickings so I dont see him much) so I'm just tempted to just keep them in as much as I know they'd love to free range.
Awesome thank you! I figured as much but wanted to get the insight from everyone here since I'm still new
Ah, that's rough.
