Cochin Thread!!!

I am looking for suggestions on how to combine my flocks of bantam cochins into one group for the winter: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/829947/need-help-combining-into-large-flock-for-winter I would really value any help as so far everyone just wants to kill each other when they cross paths!
How many birds and how much space are we talking about? You have to expect some fighting and posturing in the beginning. I have had to move males to individual pens but the ones most likely to kill another bird is hens ganging up on a submissive bird is what I have found. Roosts are necessary to provide a safe place for birds. I seldom see fighting on the roosts so I think plenty of roost space is a big help.
 
I am looking for suggestions on how to combine my flocks of bantam cochins into one group for the winter: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/829947/need-help-combining-into-large-flock-for-winter I would really value any help as so far everyone just wants to kill each other when they cross paths!
Oh, I feel you. I'm going through the same thing. I think they may finally be starting to tolerate each other.
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Oh, I feel you. I'm going through the same thing. I think they may finally be starting to tolerate each other.
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Just be careful and watch them closely for the first day or two. It is not unusual for a bird to get pecked to death very quickly. You may be asking for the impossible, the best way to try to introduce them is to have them housed next to each other so they can interact through the wire.
 
it's interesting... I haven't had anything like that. then again the newest birds are penned and the free rangers can meet thru the wire, then everyone eventually goes into a free range situation and gets to know pecking order with plenty of room to run... after a week or so, everyone knows who's boss and can be penned, even crowded, without problems.
 
Hey folks, thought i would share two things i have found interesting this season.

i have a hen who has just laid an egg after hatching a chick two weeks ago. This really surprised me, as they usually take months off the egg laying when they hatch chicks. The little one just waited patiently as the mother laid an egg, then went back to her mothering duties. I find that rather odd as my hens usually take as much time off as possible before laying. 2 weeks is a record for me.

Second i have a hen who seems to have stopped her molt half way through, the others have all done a full molt, but one hen has half new feathers and half old, didnt stop laying and doesnt seem to be any other way effected, apart from only being half shiny. I have upped her protein intake.
 
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How many birds and how much space are we talking about? You have to expect some fighting and posturing in the beginning. I have had to move males to individual pens but the ones most likely to kill another bird is hens ganging up on a submissive bird is what I have found. Roosts are necessary to provide a safe place for birds. I seldom see fighting on the roosts so I think plenty of roost space is a big help.
Right now they are set up as follows. I was told to cut down to one rooster by someone else but as breeding is my goal, I'm not willing to do that. I have the tractor of my dominant cock next to the run of young birds, but they can't peck at each other through the wire. Maybe I am just asking for the impossible, but I have had roosters of different ages living together in the past, but they were different breeds and colors. Maybe they feel threatened since they are so obviously competition for each other now? Not sure... I need to redo my roosts in the main coop. I have lovely poop trays with sweetpdz in them for the past 4 months, and everyone still refuses to use them. What a waste of a day that was. Ideally I'd have a lovely setup like yours, but will have to wait a few more years. :)

TRACTOR A: (1) 1 1/2 year old cock and (2) 1 1/2 year old hens
TRACTOR B: (1) 5 month old cockerel and (2) 5 month old pullets (new to me, still in quarantine for another few weeks)
MAIN COOP & RUN: (5) 3 1/2 month old cockerels and (3) 3 1/2 month old pullets (I plan on rehoming 3-4 of the cockerels within the next month, before trying to combine my flocks)
 
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