2018 Newbie Chat!

[Anna Ranieri]

I was out of town for a couple days, so much to catch up on! Welcome to everyone new! All your chicks are adorable.
Mine are growing so fast, 3 1/2 weeks old. So cute and so funny. Amber was always the skittish one, hated being held and ran away. But since I've been giving them some treats, I'm her best buddy. She runs up to my hand, jumps on my lap, too funny.
I have a question about my cochin bantam, all of mine are bantams. She is developing a lot slower than the others, took a long time to get wing feathers and she still has the least feathers of the 5. I've read that cochins are like that, has that been anyone's experience also? I have a couple pictures, first one is Pearl, she was my pale yellow chick, she now looks like she's first cousin to a bald eagle, haha. Second one is Amber, she's so goofy looking with her head feathers coming in.
View attachment 1534438 View attachment 1534439
That's Diamond the cochin next to her

I don't know the answer to your questions but oh my gosh these chicks are gorgeous!

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Why do you think they’ll attack Roo at night?
Chickens can’t see at night.
They don’t do any of that stuff.
If there’s still a little bit of light they will peck sometimes so having plenty of space for lower ranking birds to get away is important.
This is all normal behavior.
You only need to worry if Roo gets cornered or blood is drawn.
Is Jellybean chasing relentlessly or just pecking Roo away from food?
Constant human intervention can make it take longer also.
When integrating you actually need more space than for a flock that’s already used to each other.
With chickens it’s all about resources: food, water, treats.
Jellybean is the lowest on the pecking order and that’s usually the bird that harasses the new ones the most.
The lowest one doesn’t want to lose their place so they make sure the new ones always know that they’re higher.
One thing a lot of people have said is that younger, smaller birds are less of a threat to the resources.
But it sounds like you may not have that much space and that can cause more aggression.
Regardless, Roo needs places where she get get out of sight of anyone being aggressive.
It can be as simple as a few sheets of plywood leaned up against a wall or fence.
There should also be multiple feeders and waterers so the more dominant birds can’t guard them all.
I’m concerned about the ducks.
I don’t know a lot about them but I know the males can be very determined when they reach sexual maturity.
I’ve heard they’ll try to breed chickens if they don’t have enough females for each male.

I would try to put all the chickens together as much as possible until Roo is bigger.
My babies are over 2 months old now and they’re about half the size of the full grown pullets now.
They have plenty of space to get away, hide behind things and get out of sight but they still get pecked sometimes.
One of my Speckled Sussex is always right in there with the adults and earlier today Angus pecked her really hard.
She screamed loudly but just ran away a few feet and started eating mealworms again.
I guess just wait until Roo is older and bigger.

P.S. Meant to say, ducks breeding patterns are very much hereditary and both mine come from flocks with low hen/drake ratio, - the hens come from a flock of 2 hens/2 drakes, the drakes come from a much bigger flock and we don't know which out of the flock are the parents because the eggs were collected and manually hatched but they are from a very peaceful flock so I am hoping for the best and being cautious and vigilant at looking out for the worst

 

[CannedMonster]

I was out of town for a couple days, so much to catch up on! Welcome to everyone new! All your chicks are adorable.
Mine are growing so fast, 3 1/2 weeks old. So cute and so funny. Amber was always the skittish one, hated being held and ran away. But since I've been giving them some treats, I'm her best buddy. She runs up to my hand, jumps on my lap, too funny.
I have a question about my cochin bantam, all of mine are bantams. She is developing a lot slower than the others, took a long time to get wing feathers and she still has the least feathers of the 5. I've read that cochins are like that, has that been anyone's experience also? I have a couple pictures, first one is Pearl, she was my pale yellow chick, she now looks like she's first cousin to a bald eagle, haha. Second one is Amber, she's so goofy looking with her head feathers coming in.
View attachment 1534438 View attachment 1534439
That's Diamond the cochin next to her

All my Cochins feathered slower.
It took forever for them to get tails lol.
That chick does look like a bald eagle!
How funny.
I can’t wait to see what she looks like as an adult.

 

[CannedMonster]

Thank you so very very much, this has enlightened me a great deal and you have given me some ideas on how I might get them through this.
On the whole my flocks are peaceful, these attacks are sporadic and don't seem to have any pattern.
Roo has plenty of space to hide when free ranging and in the actual run and sometimes she will hide but she is so insistent on following Lilah and tries to run under her but Lilah just continues foraging, so she leaves herself wide open for attacks.
There are numerous plant pots which only she is small enough to squeeze behind, there boxes and crates big enough for Roo to get in but too small for the others, there loads of hidey holes she could use but she won't leave Lilah, that is the biggest problem, she won't move from Lilah.
So far today hasn't been too bad neither hens have gone for Roo so far and its almost 2 pm here - earlier Lilah went into the nest box to lay another egg, Roo panicked b'cos (s)he couldn't find her, Roo was in the middle of the lawn bawling her eyes out but the others took no notice and eventually Roo came and hid under my chair. The birds have a favourite spot under my grandsons trampoline its about 8 foot or more, so plenty of space for them all, a couple of hours ago Roo was under there too and nobody bothered her, plus I haven't had to use the stick at all today so far so I am hoping this is a good sign, most of the time its like that but then Boom!.
I have given up on trying to get Pedro and Jellybean to roost, they are insistent about sleeping in the nesting compartment and a vet has advised me it won't do them any harm so I've given up. I poop pick everyday between complete clean outs and the two eggs Lilah has laid in there both are spotless, so I'm leaving the girls be.
I'm worried about in the hutch because, the hutch they sleep in is big enough for four chickens, a food dish and a water dish but it is a rabbit hutch so there isn't any hidey holes, there is room for Roo to run around with them all in there but that's it and because I don't let them out until 7:30 it is still getting light earlier than that, so I'm worried they might pick on her then. My reason for letting them out so late is because I can't risk noise pollution, given that I am battling to keep them after having a noise complaint etc but the noise is and has been between the unrestricted noise time which over here is 7 am to 9 pm, so might go in my favour but if I let them out earlier they will include that in the case against me. I wait till 7:30 am before letting them out because most my neighbours are up by them but not at 7 am - all my birds are fine with it, Lilah and Roo are accustomed to it now and the others have had it that way for months so is routine to them. I am just being careful.
As for the ducks, it is more Lilah and Jellybean they go for and it is the females not the males who go after them and it is mainly Midnight who does the most, but they never bite. I know so very little - I know the duck hens don't like when Lilah gets too close to their swimming pools and water trays, nor if she gets too close to their boys, sometimes Roo gets it because she is with Lilah and follows her around all the time. As for Jellybean she does tend to steal their treats and will do so straight out of the ducks mouths, she also gets moved on by them so they can sit/nap in the spot she is in and sometimes I've seen them push her even when shes done nothing, one time she was napping on her favourite upturned plant pot and one of the ducks just shoved her off - they can't get up on them, they don't use them at all, so I have no idea why other than thinking sometimes they do it just because they can. But the ducks never bite, that is the only saving grace I have is they never bite.
I have 2 kiddie pools for the ducks, I have a total of 8 water dispenses and 7 feeders (one broke and needs replacing - just waiting for payday on tue) - do you think I should have more?
I know about males trying to mate chickens as I have read about it but I also know it depends on the drakes, not all do it and I know of plenty of people who's drakes don't, so I am hoping about mine, however, mine are not at sexual maturity yet so I won't know how mine will be until next mating season which is spring.
It was our plan to extend before then and separate the two flocks into a run each and is the whole reason I got Lilah and Roo in the first place so I could have 2 flocks of 4 - with this complaint having been about us having the run as well as having the birds, we dare not add anything else, the situation is too delicate for us to take such a risk.
I have talked with many in the duck forums on here and I have had some brilliant advice and ideas/solutions from the duck experts on BYC ( so thankful for all you knowledgeable people, you especially, ) and through all the advice/ideas and help etc, we have been able to devise a plan should we have problems with the drakes during mating season - we will do like we did with Lilah and Roo - ducks locked in the run while chickens free range, swap over after a decent time, - chickens in run, ducks free ranging - then swap again and keep rotating through out the day so they all get a fare share of free ranging and b'cos they sleep separately and can't get to each other night time won't be a problem thank goodness.
In the case of the two duck hens not being enough for the boys, our original plan was to get two more hens for them but can't do that now because of the complaint and we can't risk anything jeopardising our case. but if it happens that the duck hens are being over mated, we have decided we will give the girls respite by letting them out with the chickens, boys in the run etc and control how much time the drakes get with the ducks and at night we will sleep the boys in here with us until mating season over and they have completed their molt which is when they turn back into nice guys.
On the whole mine are a peaceful flock, I gave them a treat of bananas about an hour ago they have eaten them and are now napping under the trampoline, including Lilah and Roo, no one is after anyone all is peaceful.
I am going to note down each attack, where they are when it happens, what time, how often, whats happening, exactly who is there and what is around them, to see if I can make any sense of it, b'cos no two days are alike, yesterday I had to use the stick numerous times and today not once which is great but is also confusing
You and your advice means tons to me, you help me loads and help me to find a light through a dark tunnel, as always you have given me great advice and helping me to see things clearer, thank you wholeheartedly

Well I’m glad you are finding me helpful.
I’ve been going through raising chicks and integrating so much in the last 6 months it feels like it’s been going on even longer.
I’ve made mistakes and want to help others avoid them if possible.
A rabbit hutch is a poor coop for 4 chickens.
I’m sorry and I truly don’t want to make you feel bad because I know that’s all you have right now but each chicken needs a minimum of space in order to avoid aggression issues.
Thankfully you have a temporary situation that works for now but seeing as how you are having a legal battle just to keep them I guess building anything would be silly until you find out whether you can even keep them.
In the event that it turns out that you can keep them, you’ll want to address space needs for everyone, especially in winter when they may spend a lot more time in their coop out of the snow.
I wouldn’t waste your time tracking any pecking or things like that.
They are always going to do that.
Forever.
It’s just the way they are.
As I mentioned, it’s only an issue if it’s relentless, and the targeted bird is being cornered or a lot of blood is drawn.
A few feathers pulled is a fact of life but I’d say you shouldn’t be seeing that every day.
About hiding places:
It’s important that the lower ranking birds are not going to get cornered in the hiding place!
When I say hiding places I mean where they can get out of sight without being trapped by another bird chasing them.
So by example, if you lean a sheet of wood or a pallet against a wall or fence, it leaves both sides open so they don’t get trapped.
Here is a pallet leaned up against our shed on the left.

Here’s a sheet of plywood leaned against the back fence.

I put these here for the bantams and the babies.
The babies will outgrow them but by that time they can usually defend themselves just fine.
And be aware that you can adjust the angle so that only Roo can fit behind there.
She will have to learn about these spots on her own though.
I don’t think you need more waterers or feeders. Seven is plenty lol.
It sounds like they’re doing fine.
Take a while to watch them and if they’re generally relaxed throughout the day then you really don’t have a serious problem.
They’re always going to have little spats throughout the day but they’ll be very short.
Just relax and enjoy them.
You’re doing better than you realize!
Keep us updated on the legal fight.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

These three chicks are heart wrenchingly cute. The little brown Olive Egger is the leader of the pack, very vocal too. It runs up to my hand every time I put it in the brooder. We’re calling the little one we saved Lazarus. I found it outside the brooder this morning exploring (it must have escaped through the holes). It wasn’t upset, just having a fun adventure I guess.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

These three chicks are heart wrenchingly cute. The little brown Olive Egger is the leader of the pack, very vocal too. It runs up to my hand every time I put it in the brooder. We’re calling the little one we saved Lazarus. I found it outside the brooder this morning exploring (it must have escaped through the holes). It wasn’t upset, just having a fun adventure I guess. View attachment 1534791View attachment 1534793 View attachment 1534794

Lazarus sure is a trouble maker!! XD

 

[BBZZZZTT]

Growing corn makes for some wonderful autumn coop decor!!
At this rate my coop will be decorated for all the seasons instead of my house! XD

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Well I’m glad you are finding me helpful.
I’ve been going through raising chicks and integrating so much in the last 6 months it feels like it’s been going on even longer.
I’ve made mistakes and want to help others avoid them if possible.
A rabbit hutch is a poor coop for 4 chickens.
I’m sorry and I truly don’t want to make you feel bad because I know that’s all you have right now but each chicken needs a minimum of space in order to avoid aggression issues.
Thankfully you have a temporary situation that works for now but seeing as how you are having a legal battle just to keep them I guess building anything would be silly until you find out whether you can even keep them.
In the event that it turns out that you can keep them, you’ll want to address space needs for everyone, especially in winter when they may spend a lot more time in their coop out of the snow.
I wouldn’t waste your time tracking any pecking or things like that.
They are always going to do that.
Forever.
It’s just the way they are.
As I mentioned, it’s only an issue if it’s relentless, and the targeted bird is being cornered or a lot of blood is drawn.
A few feathers pulled is a fact of life but I’d say you shouldn’t be seeing that every day.
About hiding places:
It’s important that the lower ranking birds are not going to get cornered in the hiding place!
When I say hiding places I mean where they can get out of sight without being trapped by another bird chasing them.
So by example, if you lean a sheet of wood or a pallet against a wall or fence, it leaves both sides open so they don’t get trapped.
Here is a pallet leaned up against our shed on the left.
View attachment 1534776

Here’s a sheet of plywood leaned against the back fence.
View attachment 1534771 View attachment 1534772

I put these here for the bantams and the babies.
The babies will outgrow them but by that time they can usually defend themselves just fine.
And be aware that you can adjust the angle so that only Roo can fit behind there.
She will have to learn about these spots on her own though.
I don’t think you need more waterers or feeders. Seven is plenty lol.
It sounds like they’re doing fine.
Take a while to watch them and if they’re generally relaxed throughout the day then you really don’t have a serious problem.
They’re always going to have little spats throughout the day but they’ll be very short.
Just relax and enjoy them.
You’re doing better than you realize!
Keep us updated on the legal fight.

Thank you so much!
I see what you mean about the pallets and wood, - thinking about it, there was one instance when Midnight (our eldest duck hen) went for Roo and Roo went behind a plant pot and the only way out would have been back the way she went in had I have not picked her up, and Midnight was still there, so I'll put some out in several places around the garden tomorrow (its night time here now)
I feel better at what you've said about having spats - that is what they are, they are generally relaxed through out the day and these spats don't last long at all - we had a couple of minor instances, Lilah chased Pedro a couple of times and Midnight shoved Lilah from one of the water trays but no fighting or pecking occurred, so relatively easy day today.
I know the hutch isn't ideal but at the end of this month we will be ordering the ducks their own house because the boys are unable to stand without bending their necks and is too cramped for them now they have grown.
The hutch is 3ft 8in high 4ft 11in wide and 2ft deep - I don't have pictures of our actual hutch but these are pictures of the same hutch which I have copied off the net

we took out the stairs on ours and we have a floor standing roost - the solid door compartment is the nest area ducks are currently on bottom, chickens on top - if needs be we will keep Lilah and Roo in here with us until we get the new house for the ducks but during the day Lilah already goes in it of her own accord and uses the nest box too but it depends on how big Roo gets over the next couple of weeks. Our plan is to knock out the middle floor and replace with roosts at different heights but keep the nesting area as it is - cover the bottom mesh with plywood leaving only the top mesh for ventilation and to put a nest box on the bottom too (in case the girls want to carry on sleeping in the nest area) Do you think this would work?
The only drawback is the there will be way less run space with the ducks having their own house but I dare not extend because it will go against us in our case as we are already in breech of the covenant by having the run in the first place. Typically we get very little snow and mild winters here, we do get frosts and cold winds though and have got materials ready to help insulate the hutch over that period of time and we intend to continue free ranging the birds everyday all day throughout the winter too.
What do you think?

 

[Anna Ranieri]

These three chicks are heart wrenchingly cute. The little brown Olive Egger is the leader of the pack, very vocal too. It runs up to my hand every time I put it in the brooder. We’re calling the little one we saved Lazarus. I found it outside the brooder this morning exploring (it must have escaped through the holes). It wasn’t upset, just having a fun adventure I guess. View attachment 1534791View attachment 1534793 View attachment 1534794

Absolutely beautiful, the lil darlings

 

[Cbarr00]

Momma brought the babies out to explore for the first time!

And we are getting wing feathers in!