At wit's end!

[Myra]

Okay -

I got 4 buff orphinton chicks and 2 pekins a year ago - everything went fine until one of the pekins decided she was a he at 8 months and as a drake he started trying to mate with the hens. So I had to seperate the drake from the flock in the morning so everyone could calmly lay their eggs then put the 2 pekins together in one area & hens in another for the rest of the day. Tiresome routine!

So I thought in April that I'd order 2 female pekin chicks....well, now I'm in a quandry. I kept the ducklings seperate then did the slow introduction thing but now the the hens attack/chase the 2 month old pekins, the 2 month olds attack the 2 adult pekins (and the female now has stopped laying eggs -= sure it's stress)and the drake still tries to mate the hens if put in the same area.

Now giving anyone away isn't an option as my kids would revolt.....so do I keep everyone seperate and continue to rotate in and out of pens and in and out to free range in the yard....or what!!!!

Myra

 

[katharinad]

Nettie posted not to long ago that it all turned around when they turned 4 month old in her house. I personally think it is also a question of time. The 2 month olds are just still kiddos and wont stand up for themselves. Just give it more time. I have the same issue with my 11 ducks that are also 2 month old. They are afraid of the 2 that are only one month older. I still keep them separated, with only supervised time together. Garden hose works well on the 2 older stinkers. They see me lifting the nozzle and they behave.