California - Northern

[lawatt]

The big gals are just trying to show them who's boss.
They should be ok just keep a eye on them. Good that they have a place to go and they should find it after awhile.

funny, i just went down to check on them and found the little girls outside the x-pen but two of the big girls (the cuckoo marans) INSIDE the x-pen! got them out & adjusted the height, now everyone's settling down for a siesta nap... will see what they do next.

it seems like most people recommend keeping them side-by-side-but-separated for weeks -- why so long, does anyone know? or does it perhaps take longer with adult birds, since my "big" ones are still only 12 weeks or so...

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
After the two weeks of quarantine, you need to keep them apart until the little ones are 3/4 of the size of the big ones. That way the big ones won't eat the little ones

Ok, it really is up to the chicken owner and the chickens. Some little bantys can run circles around the big ones and will be ok. If you have more of the little ones than the big ones then they can protect each other.

I hope the integration goes well!

Ron

 

[Hangtown Farms]

After the two weeks of quarantine, you need to keep them apart until the little ones are 3/4 of the size of the big ones. That way the big ones won't eat the little ones

Ok, it really is up to the chicken owner and the chickens. Some little bantys can run circles around the big ones and will be ok. If you have more of the little ones than the big ones then they can protect each other.

I hope the integration goes well!

Ron

Yes maybe I missed the quarantine part. I kept mine away for a few weeks. maybe a month. they where in a grow up pen that is in my chicken yard. last week I took the icelandic's and welsummer x legbar (whatever they are) crosses and put them with the big chickens.
The icelandic's are 1/2 the size of the others they are nesting fine with the big chickens at night. however the yard is 150 x 100 ft so it is pretty large. so I could seperate my Crele Penedesenca's I have had no issues at all. I have been doing it this way awhile now all seems to go well everytime.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

My broody moved back to the main coop when the chicks were about 5 weeks. They followed her the next day. The roo, all my laying hens and 10 new chickens are all in together with no problems.

They free ranged together from about a week old, when mom too them out so they were use to each other.

 

[ronott1]

My broody moved back to the main coop when the chicks were about 5 weeks. They followed her the next day. The roo, all my laying hens and 10 new chickens are all in together with no problems.

They free ranged together from about a week old, when mom too them out so they were use to each other.

Yes, It is way different with a Mama Hen and a Papa Rooster!

The little family will take care of themselves.

I read a post where the Rooster protected the chicks when the hens were attacking them. There is a lot to be said about a good rooster

 

[Meg2000000]

Im so excited...Did a little Antique shopping today..
Look what I found...It is in Awesome Shape... And it's all Mine..

Molly, that's so rad!! What a great find!

 

[Meg2000000]

Welcome back Megan!
chicks are adorable, I can see debi did an awesome job taking care of them!

As far as the bands are concerned, I use only now orthodontic bands on the chicks, they are super easy to put on the chicks. I think I googled it and got them on ebay, I got a whole bunch of sizes, but I think the 2nd size up from smallest works for chicks, let me see if I can find the link

Debi did do a great job!! Thank you for letting me know about these bands too! I will never use spiral bands again.

What cute chicks! ;-) Are they happy to be home? I meant to tell you that the bands are tight on their legs! I would have changed them for you but I don't have any. What kind are you going to get instead of the spiral ones?

Yes they are so happy to be home! Thank you so much for taking such great care of them!

 

[Meg2000000]

ok, here are the official baby portraits, at 2 days old:



the cream legbar girl



the two basques



and one blue (left) and two lavender orpingtons

it will be such a treat to watch them all grow! (these are the first baby chicks i've ever had, so rather bowled over by the cuteness)

Aww they are so precious! Congratulations!! The lavender orps are so cute as chicks!

About integration - Just keep checking on them. What Jason said is right.. they have a lot of room and places to hide so they should be just fine. When we did our first integration I was so freaked out worrying about them, but they did great. Good luck and let us know how it's going!

My broody moved back to the main coop when the chicks were about 5 weeks. They followed her the next day. The roo, all my laying hens and 10 new chickens are all in together with no problems.

They free ranged together from about a week old, when mom too them out so they were use to each other.

This is such a cute story. I hope I get to see this happen one day!

 

[Meg2000000]

Everyone's chicks are so cute! I'm having fun looking at all the different breeds. I'm also super excited that people are trying the Basques! I hope everyone is as happy with them as I am!

Weird weather down here too (Concord). It can't decide if it wants to be sunny or gloomy. Definitely a great nap day!


Reading all of this info about egg color genetics is so interesting! Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge!

Jason - Good luck with your plans! Make sure to post pictures. Would love to see what you end up doing!

I got the easier leg bands ordered so now I need to get those spiral bands off. That's my project for tonight. Johnny's going to a concert in the city so I'm going to try it myself. If it doesn't work, I'll have him help me tomorrow. The chicks are so active today! We've been shaking the mealworms bag and calling them, so now they all come running when they hear the bag. When Johnny's sister's dogs leave tomorrow, we are going to let the chicks out to forage for the day. If all goes well I plan on having them outside during the daytime every day. I can't wait to see them discover their new world and I plan on watching chicken TV a lot in the near future!

 

[debs_flock]

I believe genetically there are only two egg colors, blue and white. Blue is the dominant color. All brown is "painted" over the white shell. If you look at the inside of a brown egg, it is white. The inside of a blue egg is blue. Various breeds apply varying levels of brown, that also varies by hen and point in her laying cycle. Marans are a little different in that they apply their color later in the shell creation process. The brown can wipe off easily when the egg is freshly laid. I think of it as the difference in an ink jet printer and a fused toner printer

Green & olive eggs are blue eggs with varying levels of brown overlay.

I got the easier leg bands ordered so now I need to get those spiral bands off. That's my project for tonight.

I do use the spiral bands sometimes. When I need to remove them, I just clip them with a pair of small wire snips. If you clip them in two places, they just fall off.

Deb