We got our first 6 chickens 2 o3months ago. They were several weeks old at the time. 3 rhode islands, 2 delewares, and 1 americauna. The americ was w a group of 3 of them that were bullied by a lot of the others. We only got the 1 at the time tho. They all transitioned nicely into our coop. About a week or so later we brought home the other 2 americaunas (my son works at the place we got them. He said they were just sticking their heads in the ground or standing in a corner). We thought they transitioned ok after about 3 days (initially they stayed in the hen house all day until we closed it up one day to make them go out. Or they stayed like naughty children w their noses in the corner). They started around w the other chickens, eating, drinking, scratching in the dirt. Well, after about 3 weeks or so, we opened the gate to let them start free ranging. (We would do this in the later afternoon initially). One of the bullied americaunas disappeared one day and we dont know (but suspect) what happened. For the most part everyone seems to get along. We have discovered we have 2 roosters and 5 hens. The other americauna (of the 2 we got later) seems a bit picked on. Chased sometimes, she flies on top of railings to look down on the rest, even on top of the hen house and pen, and I had to get her down! Is there usually 1 that seems a bit picked on? What if anything can we do about it?
Our other issue (not really a true issue I dont think) is we also have 3 chicks about 4-6 weeks younger. They are kept separate and we are currently keeping them in a dog crate at night and they free range during the day. We are building a chicken tractor for these guys until we can move them w the others. We have 4 acres and up until about a week ago, the 2 groups hadnt crossed paths. The chicks stayed close to the porch and front yard. The othersnear their pen and the back. They have since ventured arou d front. We have caught them surrounding the crate a couple times w the chicks inside (when they wandered home for food and water). The bigger group has also discovered the food and water. Should we be worried about the bigger group attacking the chicks? The rir rooster will run at them. The chicks are pretty good at running under a vehicle, onto the porch, or some other place. Also, bc of the 2 groups and the 1 bullied americauna, would it make sense to move the americ to the chicks group later (when all the same size) and just keep 2 groups of chickens?
Our other issue (not really a true issue I dont think) is we also have 3 chicks about 4-6 weeks younger. They are kept separate and we are currently keeping them in a dog crate at night and they free range during the day. We are building a chicken tractor for these guys until we can move them w the others. We have 4 acres and up until about a week ago, the 2 groups hadnt crossed paths. The chicks stayed close to the porch and front yard. The othersnear their pen and the back. They have since ventured arou d front. We have caught them surrounding the crate a couple times w the chicks inside (when they wandered home for food and water). The bigger group has also discovered the food and water. Should we be worried about the bigger group attacking the chicks? The rir rooster will run at them. The chicks are pretty good at running under a vehicle, onto the porch, or some other place. Also, bc of the 2 groups and the 1 bullied americauna, would it make sense to move the americ to the chicks group later (when all the same size) and just keep 2 groups of chickens?
