jennyinvermont
In the Brooder
- Apr 2, 2021
- 24
- 19
- 31
After much drama and getting rid of 3 roosters, I'm considering adding 2-3 pullets to my flock of 8 18 week olds. Is this a bad idea, or fine? I really don't want to deal with any more chicken drama or injuries.
I had 3 of my 11 turn out to be roosters. A couple weeks ago one hen got a horrible head injury - like pecked to bone (I was away and my boyfriend may not be the best monitor - so idk if this was as sudden as he says or if he just missed it getting worse). She has finally recovered and reintroduced 2 days ago but it's a little iffy. All seemed okay but when I checked her today she was definitely pecked more on her one tiny remaining bald spot and it was red. I need to stop her from being injured/blood drawn again. I'm taking the last rooster to our neighbors farm tomorrow. He's a beauty, but since everyone is free ranging in the yard all day I feel like he HAS to be behind the new plucking, since I'm pretty sure she can get away from everyone else? (I was monitoring almost the whole day and never saw anything, but think it happened when I went running? I also found TONS of the white keratin flakes on the log she's been hiding on, like someone had been chewing her up for a while??? why would there be keratin flakes all over the place??) Only 2-3 hens have started laying but everyone is about to. I was thinking if I got rid of the rooster, and maybe added 2-3 new pullets it would shake things up a bit and she'd be left alone. But I don't want the new ones to be injured either. I just want a happy family! I would put the new ladies in the coop at night - but I don't have time or space to do the whole keep them separate but visible for 3 weeks.
I had 3 of my 11 turn out to be roosters. A couple weeks ago one hen got a horrible head injury - like pecked to bone (I was away and my boyfriend may not be the best monitor - so idk if this was as sudden as he says or if he just missed it getting worse). She has finally recovered and reintroduced 2 days ago but it's a little iffy. All seemed okay but when I checked her today she was definitely pecked more on her one tiny remaining bald spot and it was red. I need to stop her from being injured/blood drawn again. I'm taking the last rooster to our neighbors farm tomorrow. He's a beauty, but since everyone is free ranging in the yard all day I feel like he HAS to be behind the new plucking, since I'm pretty sure she can get away from everyone else? (I was monitoring almost the whole day and never saw anything, but think it happened when I went running? I also found TONS of the white keratin flakes on the log she's been hiding on, like someone had been chewing her up for a while??? why would there be keratin flakes all over the place??) Only 2-3 hens have started laying but everyone is about to. I was thinking if I got rid of the rooster, and maybe added 2-3 new pullets it would shake things up a bit and she'd be left alone. But I don't want the new ones to be injured either. I just want a happy family! I would put the new ladies in the coop at night - but I don't have time or space to do the whole keep them separate but visible for 3 weeks.