Are they ready to move in with the rest of the flock?

[R.M. Hens]

I have 5 RP poults. The breeder said they were 2 months old when we bought them a month ago, but I really think they were only a month old. So lets say they are 12ish weeks old. Anyway.... For the first 2 weeks, they were in a my growout pen with 10 RIR pullets, but the last 3 weeks they have been by themselves in the growout pen. They are still skittish and not very tame, but getting better. Do you think they are old enough now to move in with my 12 big girls (chickens), 10 pullets and 1 rooster in my big chicken yard? I know they will get picked on for a few days until the pecking order is straight, but will this hurt them or make them even more skittish or mean?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We don't put ours out with the flocks until they are 4 or 5 months old but we have the room and covered pens to keep them in. Our biggest problem with putting them out with the "big boys" is the afternoon thunder storms. They don't know where to go if it downpores and end up piling. As far as the other birds all you can do is keep an eye on them and make sure they aren't getting beat up. I just moved 10 or 12 bronze over the 4th to the big pen and they did just fine. We have Buff Orps in that pen also and I was a little worried about the Buff roo's but yesterday i saw one of the young turkeys chasing a roo around the pen so they can hold their own.

With them being skittish you have to work with them, find a fav food and sit down and let them come to you. Ours will be all over you for corn or hard boiled eggs.

Steve

 

[R.M. Hens]

I think I may wait until they get a little bigger to move them. They still have plenty room in the pen they are in now. I think my main worry is them acting more scared than they all ready are.

So far I have tried every kind of treat that I give my chickens. Rice, watermelon, bread, cantaloupe, grass, greens, you name it. The turkeys want nothing to do with it. I haven't tried eggs though, so maybe they will like that. They sure do eat tons of their regular food though. I am just gonna keep working with them and hope for the best. Like I said before, their temperment has improved, not alot, but some.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

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[R.M. Hens]

Haha! I will try to take some pictures today if they go for the eggs. I have tried tomatoes, but they wouldn't touch them. I thought my chickens were finicky birds, but the gobblers have them beat by far. Maybe you can tell me if they are male or female too. I am dying to know, but they all look the same to me.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

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[R.M. Hens]

LMBO...Are you kidding me!?! Yes, Shush Steve. No pics today though. It finally rained and everything was soaked. I wasn't able to water and feed until late. Hopefully today will be better weather and I can try out the egg treats. And maybe, just maybe, a little peck and scratch training.