California - Northern

[caychris]

I usually do for at least an hour or two a day. It is better then because the bigs are distracted, but then I have to chase and catch the littles because they don't want to go back in with the meanies.

I would just let the bigs out and give treats inside the coop to the littles to make them feel more at home in the coop. Then in the late evening give them all a treat in the coop. Start the littles on it and let the big girls come to them.

Something like a large slice of watermelon that they will have to eat together.

 

[gander007]

So, my babies have been in the coop with my bigger ones for a couple days. No injuries, but the big ones have scared the little ones so much they have started staying up on the roosting/nesting area of our a-frame coop, or huddled in a corner. We put food and water up there so they don't starve, but they are totally afraid of the big ones, for good reason. Will this get better, please tell me it will get better! At least the night time has been peaceful.

Ya this is normal behavior for setting up the pecking order but keep an eye out for rough housing as it can get out of hand ...

Some of my flock still have out burst from time to time but it is normal .




and as you can see their is a wide verity of different types of birds ...

 

[joydix]

I usually make an area for the little ones or new ones to be able to escape. Sometimes a pile of sticks or a dog crate with door wired so babies can get in but not the big ones. Then i watch to be sure they will find way back to it if they go out. I have a mixed flock too. Bantams, standards different ages. After awhile they all hang together. You can also offer food to ones i side the crate and to others just on other side of the door so they sort of eat together. Hope this helps! Of course if there is one major bully you can take her out for a day or two and take her down a peg! Last resort!!

 

[TheKeeper]

I have discovered that button quail with bathe in water

Goofy things.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Well, today my dad helped me modify my coop and install an external nesting box that is easier to access than the old internal one. Sylvester was so cheesed off and worked up by having dad in the yard that when I let them out he fricken flogged me! That better not happen again.

 

[Granny368W]

Please help a newbie out! My two bigger chickens (5 months) have been getting to know our two younger (3 months) in the coop with a divider. I tried putting them up for the night together after the big ones went to bed, but as soon as I did the leader started pecking them and scared them out of the perching area to the coop floor. Do I try again later in the night? Do I just put them together in the morning and see how it goes? Is it okay for some bullying to establish pecking order? I don't want the little ones hurt, and I don't know what's appropriate pecking vs. I need to step in. With only having four it seems like it is harder than if there were a bunch.

on thing that I had to do with mine was,I put up one of my dog kennel fencing and divided the coop in half, after a few weeks of that, I opened one end where the babies could get out but the big ones could not get in.....at that time I put up a board, leaning it against the wall so if the babies needed to hide they got behind the board ...

Many times I went out the little ones would be out place... I just put them back on the right side... it probably took 6 weeks total but it was worth it for sure.... I hope this helps 9 a little...

 

[caychris]

So, my babies have been in the coop with my bigger ones for a couple days. No injuries, but the big ones have scared the little ones so much they have started staying up on the roosting/nesting area of our a-frame coop, or huddled in a corner. We put food and water up there so they don't starve, but they are totally afraid of the big ones, for good reason. Will this get better, please tell me it will get better! At least the night time has been peaceful.

one more thoght on this to consider we call some one chicken for a reason. The little ones will be afraid of the bigs even if there is no aggression. its just in their nature. As they mature and reach closer size the younger birds will get used to them. Also when they run away from the bigs it only encourages the bigs to reinforce the fear. There may be nothing you can do to get them to integrate quickly all you can do is be sure that no one is getting injured.

 

[caychris]

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[attimus]

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X2.
Started filling my new duck pond today. And got my second egg from my new bantam. They are so tiny. Lol

 

[Honora]

I went to the farmers' market yesterday & a dozen free-range eggs was $7.00 there! It's a good time to have chickens.