I will be setting up my breeding pens this weekend, and my BBS pen birds will all be new to each other (mostly). I am leaving a 1 1/2 year old splash hen in the coop I will be using. She was hatched and raised in that coop. I will be adding two 2 year old hens to the splash's coop. These 2 hens were hatched and raised together, are strongly bonded and can be "mean girls". Then I have the 10 month old cockerel to add.
I'm wondering if there is a right order or wrong order to add these birds? I am concerned for the single splash hen going against the mean girls, but since its already her territory maybe she'll have the upper hand? Or should I integrate the cockerel to the splash hen first, so she'll have an ally against the 2 hens?? How about integrating all at the same time? The coop is big enough for me to section off a part for the 2 hens, a separate section for the cockerel, and still have room for the splash to have her space. Any suggestions??
I'm wondering if there is a right order or wrong order to add these birds? I am concerned for the single splash hen going against the mean girls, but since its already her territory maybe she'll have the upper hand? Or should I integrate the cockerel to the splash hen first, so she'll have an ally against the 2 hens?? How about integrating all at the same time? The coop is big enough for me to section off a part for the 2 hens, a separate section for the cockerel, and still have room for the splash to have her space. Any suggestions??
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