2018 Newbie Chat!

[Anna Ranieri]

The faverolle started molting and has been for a while now. Not sure if the up and down really not consistent temps have anything to do with it? I feel they may be picking on her. I sprayed blue kote on the area and today I noticed another area on her head. She is the sweetest bird. I'm thinking of making her a indoor girl with field trips outside. I think that she can and will acclimate well to this kind of setting because she will get lots of one on one from me. The plan is to move the bigger ones outside soon and then the babies will have a nice big area to grow before they go out there. I'm thinking that I may put the faverolle with them, because I don't think she would hurt them, she is not like the other girls and I feel bad for her.

Thoughts?

Personally I think it would be worth a trial period and see how it works out. My only apprehension based solely on my own experiences is that those in the lowest rank tend to be far more aggressive to any under them, especially younger chickens so you'd need to keep a close eye on her in case she turns on them - that said though, you know your birds better than anyone so you are probably right about them being safe with her - she might even adopt them -

 

[CannedMonster]

Nest Box Wars!!!

Here we have two boxes each with two girls in them lol.

In the back are Bootsie (White) and Itsy (dark).
And in the forward box we have Poppy and Minnie.
Also, Mitzi was walking around on the floor yelling because she couldn’t fit herself in there either.

And then we have THREE girls trying to fit in one of my covered kitty litter boxes lmao

This is Agatha, Elsie and Ivy

And they make such a racket!
Yelling and stomping around because they want to lay in an occupied box.
It’s just too funny.
I even picked up Ivy and put her in the other covered box on the deck and she just didn’t want that one.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Nest Box Wars!!!

Here we have two boxes each with two girls in them lol.
View attachment 1703806
In the back are Bootsie (White) and Itsy (dark).
And in the forward box we have Poppy and Minnie.
Also, Mitzi was walking around on the floor yelling because she couldn’t fit herself in there either.
View attachment 1703809

And then we have THREE girls trying to fit in one of my covered kitty litter boxes lmao
View attachment 1703814

This is Agatha, Elsie and Ivy
View attachment 1703816

And they make such a racket!
Yelling and stomping around because they want to lay in an occupied box.
It’s just too funny.
I even picked up Ivy and put her in the other covered box on the deck and she just didn’t want that one.

So funny I wonder what it is about chickens all wanting the same box - at least its entertaining

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I am totally flummoxed by the behaviour of my flock, I have no idea who is head hen or if there even is one!
Pedro is submissive to Lilah only, and wouldn't dare even think about challenging her in any way at all.
Jellybean is submissive to both Lilah and Pedro and she also wouldn't dare even think about challenging Lilah nor Pedro for that matter.
Roo is submissive to Pedro and Jellybean and she too wouldn't dare even think about challenging either of them, but yet Lilah is submissive to Roo and wouldn't dare challenge Roo
Lilah has always been lenient on Roo, allowing Roo to steal food from her very mouth, always when Roo wanted something of Lilah's i.e. treat or Lilah's chosen dirt bathing spot, Lilah would step aside and let her have it, however, Roo has now taken that too far and will peck Lilah hard. Poor Lilah barely gets a minute to herself, Roo is constantly shoving Lilah around, and sticks to Lilah like glue, Poor Lilah can't even eat anything without Roo sticking her big head in the way and the uses her body to shove Lilah out the way. A few days ago the four were dirt bathing, Pedro and Jellybean chased Roo off for a bit to begin with but they soon settled down and got on with bathing, we noticed Roo moving closer and closer to Lilah until she was practically laying on top of Lilah and then Roo turned on Lilah and pecked Lilah hard in the face, Lilah didn't retaliate and moved over but Roo moved too and kept it up until Lilah had enough and walked off. Now Roo's attacks on Lilah are becoming more frequent and more violent too, what started as just one peck has turned into Roo repeatedly pecking Lilah and to the point that Lilah cries out in pain.
This evening, due to the high winds I had the girls in the run for their last hour or so before bed, I sat in with them as it was after dark. Pedro and Jellybean were eating off one of the veg trays at front of run, Lilah pecks them out of the way and takes over that tray, they both go off to another and Roo was standing near me, she saw Lilah eating so went over, shoved Lilah out the way then stood in the middle of the tray so Lilah couldn't get any, Lilah moved away and started eating out of one of the grit mix bowls, Roo came over and took over that too (this is what Roo does constantly throughout the day also).
Shortly after, Jellybean had finished where she was, went over to one of the other veg trays, she got pecked by Lilah and so moved away. Pedro went over, she got pecked by Lilah too so she also moved away, both went onto other things to eat instead. After some time, Jellybean chases Roo who runs over near to me, after a short while Roo runs over to Lilah who is at the front of the run, pushes Lilah out the way yet again, Jellybean attacks Roo, Lilah rushes over and grabs Jellybean off of Roo and pecks Jellybean to get her away from Roo, Roo resumes eating but after shoving Lilah out the way yet again, stands full on the tray so Lilah can't get any so Lilah then comes to eat off the veg tray near me further at the back of the run. Pedro and Jellybean lunge at Roo, chasing her away from both front veg trays so Roo comes over to Lilah, repeatedly pecks Lilah violently and takes over her tray and it ends up with Roo shoving and pecking Lilah away, Lilah then goes after Pedro and Jellybean, Pedro goes after Jellybean too and the Jellybean goes after Roo, jumps on Roo's back and violently pecks Roo on the back of the head, neck and comb repeatedly, me not wanting to cause problems by intervening, coughed which caused Jellybean to pause momentarily but long enough for Roo to get away.
Shortly after, Lilah decides to go to bed, Jellybean attacks Roo and Pedro seeing Lilah gone joins in and both pecking, kicking and scratching at Roo at which I did intervene as it was way too much but I did it by averting their attention so hopefully won't cause a set back. It is the first time the two have ganged up on her and attacked her together, usually is one or the other and is mostly Jellybean, although violent the attacks usually only last a few seconds and as long as Roo does as she's told they leave her alone. I am not sure of this but it seems the worse Roo is getting toward Lilah, the worse Jellybean and Pedro are getting toward Roo.
I am at my whits end and don't know what to do, any suggestions?

 

[llombardo]

So first I want to say whenever I do a project, if it should take an hour it takes me four. It's pathetic. As I was cleaning the chicken room and putting together the bigger area for the bsbies, the two older girls were kicking the younger girls butts. Dorothy got the worst of it. She was crying. The light brahma sounds like she is saying is ow ow ow--no joke. They back off the three but are full blown chasing Dorothy. The two older girls are mercilessly pecking the younger ones while Prince is mating with them. I'm yelling at them and chasing them away.Finally I couldn't take it and took Dorothy out. I ran to the store looking for something for her to go in and I ended up at Goid will, got a playpen for 4.99. I put her next to them but I need her to heal and have some peace. It's a good thing I have a big room because there are chickens everywhere. I finally got the air purifier running.

I may have to rethink how I'm going to seperate all of these chickens. Instead of putting Duke by himself, I may put Prince with the two older girls(the original 3) and let Duke have the other 12 or 11 if I keep Dorothy inside. I will have to watch them more.

Here are some pictures of the babies and the one of Dorothy in her play pen. The babies were running everywhere then flying and then lights out...lol

 

[CannedMonster]

I am totally flummoxed by the behaviour of my flock, I have no idea who is head hen or if there even is one!
Pedro is submissive to Lilah only, and wouldn't dare even think about challenging her in any way at all.
Jellybean is submissive to both Lilah and Pedro and she also wouldn't dare even think about challenging Lilah nor Pedro for that matter.
Roo is submissive to Pedro and Jellybean and she too wouldn't dare even think about challenging either of them, but yet Lilah is submissive to Roo and wouldn't dare challenge Roo
Lilah has always been lenient on Roo, allowing Roo to steal food from her very mouth, always when Roo wanted something of Lilah's i.e. treat or Lilah's chosen dirt bathing spot, Lilah would step aside and let her have it, however, Roo has now taken that too far and will peck Lilah hard. Poor Lilah barely gets a minute to herself, Roo is constantly shoving Lilah around, and sticks to Lilah like glue, Poor Lilah can't even eat anything without Roo sticking her big head in the way and the uses her body to shove Lilah out the way. A few days ago the four were dirt bathing, Pedro and Jellybean chased Roo off for a bit to begin with but they soon settled down and got on with bathing, we noticed Roo moving closer and closer to Lilah until she was practically laying on top of Lilah and then Roo turned on Lilah and pecked Lilah hard in the face, Lilah didn't retaliate and moved over but Roo moved too and kept it up until Lilah had enough and walked off. Now Roo's attacks on Lilah are becoming more frequent and more violent too, what started as just one peck has turned into Roo repeatedly pecking Lilah and to the point that Lilah cries out in pain.
This evening, due to the high winds I had the girls in the run for their last hour or so before bed, I sat in with them as it was after dark. Pedro and Jellybean were eating off one of the veg trays at front of run, Lilah pecks them out of the way and takes over that tray, they both go off to another and Roo was standing near me, she saw Lilah eating so went over, shoved Lilah out the way then stood in the middle of the tray so Lilah couldn't get any, Lilah moved away and started eating out of one of the grit mix bowls, Roo came over and took over that too (this is what Roo does constantly throughout the day also).
Shortly after, Jellybean had finished where she was, went over to one of the other veg trays, she got pecked by Lilah and so moved away. Pedro went over, she got pecked by Lilah too so she also moved away, both went onto other things to eat instead. After some time, Jellybean chases Roo who runs over near to me, after a short while Roo runs over to Lilah who is at the front of the run, pushes Lilah out the way yet again, Jellybean attacks Roo, Lilah rushes over and grabs Jellybean off of Roo and pecks Jellybean to get her away from Roo, Roo resumes eating but after shoving Lilah out the way yet again, stands full on the tray so Lilah can't get any so Lilah then comes to eat off the veg tray near me further at the back of the run. Pedro and Jellybean lunge at Roo, chasing her away from both front veg trays so Roo comes over to Lilah, repeatedly pecks Lilah violently and takes over her tray and it ends up with Roo shoving and pecking Lilah away, Lilah then goes after Pedro and Jellybean, Pedro goes after Jellybean too and the Jellybean goes after Roo, jumps on Roo's back and violently pecks Roo on the back of the head, neck and comb repeatedly, me not wanting to cause problems by intervening, coughed which caused Jellybean to pause momentarily but long enough for Roo to get away.
Shortly after, Lilah decides to go to bed, Jellybean attacks Roo and Pedro seeing Lilah gone joins in and both pecking, kicking and scratching at Roo at which I did intervene as it was way too much but I did it by averting their attention so hopefully won't cause a set back. It is the first time the two have ganged up on her and attacked her together, usually is one or the other and is mostly Jellybean, although violent the attacks usually only last a few seconds and as long as Roo does as she's told they leave her alone. I am not sure of this but it seems the worse Roo is getting toward Lilah, the worse Jellybean and Pedro are getting toward Roo.
I am at my whits end and don't know what to do, any suggestions?

Seems like the removal of the ducks may have caused a reshuffling of the pecking order.
I’m not sure why they’re so mean to each other.
Mine really don’t get that bad but I have roosters that get in there and break up fights.
Are they flaring their hackle feathers at each other and trying to kick and bite?
Roo is going to try to get as high in the pecking order as she can.
Didn’t you say that you had two of them in the house for a period of time?

 

[CannedMonster]

I went to Tractor Supply today.
I needed to get a bag of feed and some other things.
I had no intention of getting any more chicks.
Nope.
No more.
Everything they had was straight run anyway...except...
There were just two little black sex link pullets left.
Just two!
In that big bin all by themselves.
I wonder...
Would they let me buy just two?
The minimum is supposedly four.
I asked the employee; he said yes I could just buy the two!

So now I have two black sex links added to the other five in the rabbit hutch for a total of seven LF chicks and five bantams.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Seems like the removal of the ducks may have caused a reshuffling of the pecking order.
I’m not sure why they’re so mean to each other.
Mine really don’t get that bad but I have roosters that get in there and break up fights.
Are they flaring their hackle feathers at each other and trying to kick and bite?
Roo is going to try to get as high in the pecking order as she can.
Didn’t you say that you had two of them in the house for a period of time?

I think you are right about the ducks gone and I don't know why they are mean to each other either but I can't help thinking there is jealousy involved.
They are not flaring their hackle feathers at all, Jellybean mostly sneaks up on Roo although Roo has gotten wise to it and often runs away. Lilah has kicked and bitten Pedro before but its rare, Pedro has kicked at Roo and pecks her too on the back of the neck but tends not to prolong it once she's got her message across she walks off from Roo. Jellybean kicks at Roo daily, she bites her, pecks her and scratches her with her claws, she hammers down on Roo's neck, head and face with her beak. Often Lilah will break up the fights she will pull the girls off Roo and sees them off by pecking them sharply but then Roo goes and steals whatever Lilah is eating and pecks poor Lilah!
It seems the ducks going has confused everyone
On this pick taken last weekend, if you look you can just about see how Roo is starting to lay on Lilah, shortly after this was taken, Roo pecked Lilah in the face, Lilah moves away but Roo moves too and ends up almost laying completely over Lilah, she pecks Lilah again and so Lilah gets up and walks away and misses out on having her dirt bath.

I don't understand why Lilah is being submissive to Roo, nor do I understand why Lilah doesn't give Roo what for like she gives the others, unless its the mother in her and she still sees Roo as her daughter - who knows
I love Roo very much but I really believe if we only had the other three we'd have no problems at all, giving her up is not an option though.
I did have Pedro and Jellybean in the house, Pedro for 5 days, Jellybean 7 days, no changes on the pecking order then, no one forgot anyone and both strolled back in as though they had never left. The attacks calmed down somewhat but when we took the ducks the attacks escalated again.
Roo is ruining the only friendship she has which is with Lilah, Pedro and Jellybean won't ever be friends with Roo - Lilah, Pedro and Jellybean get on relatively well together, put Roo in the mix and it all goes to pot and I need a solution to this which doesn't involve re-homing any of them.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I went to Tractor Supply today.
I needed to get a bag of feed and some other things.
I had no intention of getting any more chicks.
Nope.
No more.
Everything they had was straight run anyway...except...
There were just two little black sex link pullets left.
Just two!
In that big bin all by themselves.
I wonder...
Would they let me buy just two?
The minimum is supposedly four.
I asked the employee; he said yes I could just buy the two!

So now I have two black sex links added to the other five in the rabbit hutch for a total of seven LF chicks and five bantams.

Is this what is known as "Chicken math"?

 

[Anna Ranieri]

So first I want to say whenever I do a project, if it should take an hour it takes me four. It's pathetic. As I was cleaning the chicken room and putting together the bigger area for the bsbies, the two older girls were kicking the younger girls butts. Dorothy got the worst of it. She was crying. The light brahma sounds like she is saying is ow ow ow--no joke. They back off the three but are full blown chasing Dorothy. The two older girls are mercilessly pecking the younger ones while Prince is mating with them. I'm yelling at them and chasing them away.Finally I couldn't take it and took Dorothy out. I ran to the store looking for something for her to go in and I ended up at Goid will, got a playpen for 4.99. I put her next to them but I need her to heal and have some peace. It's a good thing I have a big room because there are chickens everywhere. I finally got the air purifier running.

I may have to rethink how I'm going to seperate all of these chickens. Instead of putting Duke by himself, I may put Prince with the two older girls(the original 3) and let Duke have the other 12 or 11 if I keep Dorothy inside. I will have to watch them more.

Here are some pictures of the babies and the one of Dorothy in her play pen. The babies were running everywhere then flying and then lights out...lol

View attachment 1704163 View attachment 1704165 View attachment 1704166 View attachment 1704167 View attachment 1704169 View attachment 1704170 View attachment 1704172 View attachment 1704173 View attachment 1704174 View attachment 1704175 View attachment 1704176 View attachment 1704177 View attachment 1704179 View attachment 1704180 View attachment 1704182 View attachment 1704183 View attachment 1704184

Awwww poor little Dorothy, hope she heals well and soon, poor little love
Lovely pics btw, chicks are so cute, especially those with the playdoh hair!