fmorlando1
Chirping
- Jun 29, 2021
- 34
- 44
- 71
This is my second year with chickens. In the spring I had a Buff Orpington hen that hatched out a brood, 5 hens that I have kept. I also wanted to diversify my flock so I got 3 Bielifelders and 3 True Blues. They are two weeks younger than the Oprpingotn chicks. Unfortunately I lost one of the Bielifelders and 2 True Blues to a predator before they moved into the main coop that has a predator proof coop and run. It has been almost 2 months now with everyone living together. I understand that as the youngest the Bielifelders and True Blue are at the bottom of the pecking order however they spend almost all their time in the coop when the other chickens are out in the run or free ranging. I see the other chickens, mostly the Orpingtons that are 2 weeks older chase them but I haven't seen pecking, at least not to the point where I see any of the youngest hens with missing feathers or with visible peck marks. I have a small feeder and water in the coop so they always have access to those but I feel bad that they aren't getting out and about. Is this normal or should they be at least more integrated with the flock by now.