And so it begins... integration

[Naisha]

I can’t wait to know moarrr

 

[Lor]

They freaked out and only Darla stayed on the roost. Rachael even got off the roost.
It's finally quiet. I'm not sure I will get much sleep.
This was my husband's idea. If one chick gets hurt he is in big trouble. Might make him sleep in the coop tomorrow.

 

[3KillerBs]

They will probably take a while to get used to the idea of the roost.

As long as they're safe in the coop it's fine.

 

[Lor]

They will probably take a while to get used to the idea of the roost.

As long as they're safe in the coop it's fine.

Define safe. Rachael is in there.

 

[Naisha]

Hahah you’ll have to carry your husband to the coop and make him roost xD

 

[Lor]

Hahah you’ll have to carry your husband to the coop and make him roost xD

Or shoo him out there with the broom!

 

[Lor]

I went out there at 6 am and waited until they all came out.
Not a feather misplaced.

 

[Lor]

BTW Reba was so freaked out she actually clucked! First cluck! LOL!

Edited to add: My husband just told me that Reba, orpington, was up on the roost with the hens this morning.

 

[Lor]

They are still too afraid of the big girls to go into the coop themselves when it starts getting dark. (except one of them). I have to chase them around to put them in myself.

Tonight I tried catching them all and putting them in the coop a little early and closing the pop door so they wouldn't sneak back out. Then sit out there to open it back up when the big girls were ready to go in. Only one gets on their roost. They all huddle by the door on top of each other.
This is stressful. Suggestions?
BTW: If you hear me mention at any time that I want to get more chicks, please remind me of this thread.

 

[luckycluk]

They are still too afraid of the big girls to go into the coop themselves when it starts getting dark. (except one of them). I have to chase them around to put them in myself.

Tonight I tried catching them all and putting them in the coop a little early and closing the pop door so they wouldn't sneak back out. Then sit out there to open it back up when the big girls were ready to go in. Only one gets on their roost. They all huddle by the door on top of each other.
This is stressful. Suggestions?
BTW: If you hear me mention at any time that I want to get more chicks, please remind me of this thread.

While reading your thread on integrating I started thinking what have igotten myself into. I have two hens 2 yrs old they are dominicker/ rhode island red mutts. I my 14 granddaughter and I decided we would try chicks. We thought we got 4 sapphire gems ,2 ameraucans, 1Isa Brown and 1 golden comet. We weee waiting for an order of 6 EEr’s to come from another feed store butt they were delayed by 4 1/2 weeks. So we ended up with three groups. I’ve got the first group of 8 that we got from tsc one ended up a cockerel which I didn’t mind but the others but the Isa brown and golden comet were definitely mislabeled. Those are 8 weeks old and out in the run that I put a prefab coop in and fenced of part of run from the big hens. I have the six, 3 week old EE’s in a brooder in the house weaning them off the light. Sorry for writing you a book. But as I was reading your post I’m thinking what have I done, what am I gonna do to intergrate these three groups without no one getting hurt. I admire what you have accomplished. I will be open to anything you can suggest. Heck I’m not sure what breeds I have except for the 6 EE’rs. My cockeral is a handsome guy but Lord knows what he is
Lol, even the rest of 8 for that matterlol.
Here is a couple pics of mine