I have a 14-15 week old RIR pullet that needs to be added into an existing "flock" of 12-13 week olds....11 pullets, 1 cockerel, cochins, leghorns, jersey giants, buttercups (JG is a cockerel). They were kept near each other while growing up (same night shed, although they were separated) but not lately....I split them up about a month ago.
I have a RIR pullet and cockerel, 14-15 weeks old that have been kept alone all along. The cockerel has gotten very aggressive lately.....I had planned on waiting a couple weeks until the new big pen was finished before getting rid of the nasty roo since he stays with his girl all day in a separate small 4x4 pen. But he has been more and more aggressive every day and flogged me tonight (no spurs yet, yay) and came after me a 2nd time when I was trying to get him in the night shed. He should be leaving in the next day or two. That leaves his lady all by herself. I am not comfortable just throwing her in with the 12 others that have always been together (that were fighting with the evil rooster through the fence yesterday). But can't leave her alone in her little 4x4 pen.....she makes horrible honking sounds like she is dying when I take her evil rooster pal away and leave her alone out there.
I also have nine 3-4 week old chicks in a large brooder (3.5' by 6' and 5' tall with multiple roosts and shelves).
I guess I have three options:
1) Put her in with existing flock. I really think they will all gang up on her though. She is very sweet.....
2) Pull a pullet or two from existing flock and put with her for "company" in the small pen. I have very dominant pullets and very wimpy pullets to choose from.
3) Put her with the 9 young chicks.....assuming she is not aggressive towards them...she can keep them company and I do plan on keeping her with them once they are older (they have a RIR cockerel and Blue Andalusian cockerel in the group to choose from).
What should I do? I really had hoped to have the new pen built, so I could keep her adjacent to the big kids for a couple weeks before integrating.....but I can't deal with the nasty roo any longer and she will be left all alone.
All chicks have been on my property since day old, so quarantining is not an issue.
Help?
I have a RIR pullet and cockerel, 14-15 weeks old that have been kept alone all along. The cockerel has gotten very aggressive lately.....I had planned on waiting a couple weeks until the new big pen was finished before getting rid of the nasty roo since he stays with his girl all day in a separate small 4x4 pen. But he has been more and more aggressive every day and flogged me tonight (no spurs yet, yay) and came after me a 2nd time when I was trying to get him in the night shed. He should be leaving in the next day or two. That leaves his lady all by herself. I am not comfortable just throwing her in with the 12 others that have always been together (that were fighting with the evil rooster through the fence yesterday). But can't leave her alone in her little 4x4 pen.....she makes horrible honking sounds like she is dying when I take her evil rooster pal away and leave her alone out there.
I also have nine 3-4 week old chicks in a large brooder (3.5' by 6' and 5' tall with multiple roosts and shelves).
I guess I have three options:
1) Put her in with existing flock. I really think they will all gang up on her though. She is very sweet.....
2) Pull a pullet or two from existing flock and put with her for "company" in the small pen. I have very dominant pullets and very wimpy pullets to choose from.
3) Put her with the 9 young chicks.....assuming she is not aggressive towards them...she can keep them company and I do plan on keeping her with them once they are older (they have a RIR cockerel and Blue Andalusian cockerel in the group to choose from).
What should I do? I really had hoped to have the new pen built, so I could keep her adjacent to the big kids for a couple weeks before integrating.....but I can't deal with the nasty roo any longer and she will be left all alone.
All chicks have been on my property since day old, so quarantining is not an issue.
Help?
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