Had the oddest thing happen last evening.
I have a number of younger birds that are still allowed to free range my back yard because the aren't ready to live with the birds in the big pens yet. A group of 4 13 week olds (2 pita boys a pita girl and a delware girl) A group of five 6 week olds (4 delawares and 1 pita) who's broody left the about 2 weeks ago and I have a broody with 3 hamps and a wellie the same age.(My broody hatched the 1 pita and the other 8 are feed store chicks) The older birds were bator hatched
I also just moved outside 4 4 week old chicks into a brooder cage outside that I had hatched. These are the 4 friendliest chicks I have ever seen. They climb and perch on me and love to be paid attention to.
Well my daughter was handling the 4 and they decided to fly into the yard and mingle with the other birds. Usually chicks are afraid of the bigger stranger chickens. Not these 4 they all acted like they belonged to the flock, Well I just watched as the 13 week old Pita girl came to investigate them. She started trying to make clucking noises at the chicks and then lightly pecked each one like she was counting them. Then she proceeded to act like mother hen to these 4 chicks for the rest of their time out in the yard. Even the Boy Pitas came over and ate with the chicks and let them pick food off the beaks. Not once did these little birds act scared or posture up to the bigger birds they just took it all in stride. The Pita girl event took food out of the dish for them and pointed to things on the ground to eat. 13 weeks (barely if that). The only thing I can figure is she is imitating the broody with the Hamps. The broody with the hamps couldnt be bothered she looked at the little ones a bit but then took her brood off to another part of the yard.
It was instant integration. I guess I shouldn't be surprised the 13 week olds have sort of adopted the abandoned chicks they eat and hang out together during the day. These 6 week olds also interacted with the little guys just like flock mates. I've known Pitas are calm and easy going birds but this? Such good birds. Now the older pita boy will discipline the younger delaware boy when he stands up to him. (The 4 month old ones are 3 legbar mutts and a pita) It was the cutest thing last night these little birds were happy as clams to run around go talk to the bigger chickens play with the bigger chicks and the showed no fear even when they were told to settle down by the bigger birds. They didnt posture with the older birds and would just go and pick food off beaks like they had known them forever. Some of the older birds didnt really know what to make of these things that would invade their personal space so easily but they ate together and tolerated them just like they were flock mates. I wish I had video of it. It was really neat to see birds get along so well.
I have a number of younger birds that are still allowed to free range my back yard because the aren't ready to live with the birds in the big pens yet. A group of 4 13 week olds (2 pita boys a pita girl and a delware girl) A group of five 6 week olds (4 delawares and 1 pita) who's broody left the about 2 weeks ago and I have a broody with 3 hamps and a wellie the same age.(My broody hatched the 1 pita and the other 8 are feed store chicks) The older birds were bator hatched
I also just moved outside 4 4 week old chicks into a brooder cage outside that I had hatched. These are the 4 friendliest chicks I have ever seen. They climb and perch on me and love to be paid attention to.
Well my daughter was handling the 4 and they decided to fly into the yard and mingle with the other birds. Usually chicks are afraid of the bigger stranger chickens. Not these 4 they all acted like they belonged to the flock, Well I just watched as the 13 week old Pita girl came to investigate them. She started trying to make clucking noises at the chicks and then lightly pecked each one like she was counting them. Then she proceeded to act like mother hen to these 4 chicks for the rest of their time out in the yard. Even the Boy Pitas came over and ate with the chicks and let them pick food off the beaks. Not once did these little birds act scared or posture up to the bigger birds they just took it all in stride. The Pita girl event took food out of the dish for them and pointed to things on the ground to eat. 13 weeks (barely if that). The only thing I can figure is she is imitating the broody with the Hamps. The broody with the hamps couldnt be bothered she looked at the little ones a bit but then took her brood off to another part of the yard.
It was instant integration. I guess I shouldn't be surprised the 13 week olds have sort of adopted the abandoned chicks they eat and hang out together during the day. These 6 week olds also interacted with the little guys just like flock mates. I've known Pitas are calm and easy going birds but this? Such good birds. Now the older pita boy will discipline the younger delaware boy when he stands up to him. (The 4 month old ones are 3 legbar mutts and a pita) It was the cutest thing last night these little birds were happy as clams to run around go talk to the bigger chickens play with the bigger chicks and the showed no fear even when they were told to settle down by the bigger birds. They didnt posture with the older birds and would just go and pick food off beaks like they had known them forever. Some of the older birds didnt really know what to make of these things that would invade their personal space so easily but they ate together and tolerated them just like they were flock mates. I wish I had video of it. It was really neat to see birds get along so well.
wish I could afford a cooling system. 
