California - Northern

[Hangtown Farms]

I am in Southern California but I have a lot of family in the North. To me northern Cali is above San Fran.
I have family all over ....Hydesville, Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville then on over to Redding.
I am really a Northern Cali girl at heart

I have always concicered anything north of LA.

welcome to byc and the Norcal Thread

 

[juststruttin]

Question peoples.

I have a group of 6 that I bought as pullets, they are 5 weeks or so now and free ranging in the backyard during the day together (with me outside on my laptop). I've noticed that Little Dave (formerly Lady Di) is the ringleader. Unfortunately this is a big city. No roosters allowed. So, I found little dave a nice adoptive home. My question is this..... Should I do it now, and remove him so the girls can work out a new pecking order before I move them all into the coop I am building, or would it be better to 'break up the band' at the last moment (ie when he starts trying to crow). I'd rather limit the stress on my girls since they are already getting used to little dave being the lookout. At the same time, I feel guilty about rehoming him and keep thinking I should give him as long as possible with "his girls". Am I crazy to even worry about this?

Is Dave going to be re-homed with older chickens? At 5 weeks he is too young to be added to a flock of all adults, especially without any buddies. I assume your birds are still on lights. Is the new home set up with lights? I would judge the timing based on Dave's needs and the dynamic of his new home. Your girls will be fine either way.

 

[juststruttin]

My Cochin Bantam Frizzles... <3 <3 believe it or not, they are cuter in person.. I LOVE THEM!

No way!! No Fair!!! those are way tooo cute. I have some in the bator... Oooohh I cannot wait.

 

[liz9910]

I am in Southern California but I have a lot of family in the North. To me northern Cali is above San Fran.
I have family all over ....Hydesville, Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville then on over to Redding.
I am really a Northern Cali girl at heart

Welcome to the thread I'm in Modesto but I consider myself closer to northern CA than southern

 

[OR4-hmom]

I think I ended up with 28 or so. I might just keep them all. Why not

I can re home some of the rooster later...
They are bantam, they stay small. Ill tell my husband they are chicks. We don't count chicks here

Almost sprayed my coffee with that one! I can get away with that one for awhile. To keep me in check Eric sometimes does a head count. Last time he asked me where the new ones came from, they had been here for 7 months!

I've been able to keep up with the reading but the way this thread moves the replies would have been pages later.

May all the medical issues turn out to be non-issues!
So many precious babies everyone-quite the patina on the turkey egg!
Continued success with coop construction.

ETA - Welcome to all the newcomers-knew I was going to forget lots of stuff.

 

[MossyoakLane]

Ok, I have another newbie question.....run while you can!
I added a 14 week old pullet 2 days ago.. Our top bird (wyandotte also 14 weeks) is still chasing her off and pecking at her. The problem is that I have to go out about 4 or 5 times a day to put the other birds away, and allow our new girl to eat and drink. I feel so bad for our new girl, standing in the corner alone....she is extremely docile and submissive.

I wish I had added 2 birds, instead of just one.
Am I doing the right thing? Is there anything I can do to minimize her being pecked on? I am thinking there is not much I can do.......but figured it was worth asking anyway.

 

[chickee]

Ok, I have another newbie question.....run while you can!
I added a 14 week old pullet 2 days ago.. Our top bird (wyandotte also 14 weeks) is still chasing her off and pecking at her. The problem is that I have to go out about 4 or 5 times a day to put the other birds away, and allow our new girl to eat and drink. I feel so bad for our new girl, standing in the corner alone....she is extremely docile and submissive.

I wish I had added 2 birds, instead of just one.
Am I doing the right thing? Is there anything I can do to minimize her being pecked on? I am thinking there is not much I can do.......but figured it was worth asking anyway.

How sad for your new girl

That is why I never sell just one bird. I always make sure they go with a buddy. I would purchase another 14 week old or slightly younger pullet and separate them together to bond, then when you re-introduce them to the flock they can hang out together for support and confidence building.

Good luck!

 

[MossyoakLane]

How sad for your new girl

That is why I never sell just one bird. I always make sure they go with a buddy. I would purchase another 14 week old or slightly younger pullet and separate them together to bond, then when you re-introduce them to the flock they can hang out together for support and confidence building.

Good luck!

Thank you! If I added, I would add a bird from her previous flock.. Will they remember each other after 2 days?

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
It won't matter if they remember each other. They will become a little flock.

Another problem is probably size. Two more weeks apart will make a huge difference when you put the two in with the big girls.

 

[chickee]

Thank you! If I added, I would add a bird from her previous flock.. Will they remember each other after 2 days?

Yes, chickens have great memories! I have Wyandottes and they can be aggressive to newly introduced birds, especially if the Wyandottes are hatchery birds. At least if your lone pullet has a familiar friend (from her flock or another bird in the same situation needing a buddy) they will support each other. When introducing new birds into my flock I spend some time with them, so I am there to chase off the aggressor when they go after them to give them the message that the new bird is not to be messed with. Have you ever watched the DOG WHISPERER? I point my finger at, and do the same noise (pssst) at the aggressor when they go after another chicken, walking right at them until they run in the opposite direction. It takes several time of doing this, but it works surprisingly well!