Colorado

[EHook518]

You have a couple of things to think about with your additions. No matter how peaceful your hens seem, it is possible/likely they will test the new girls, as they establish their new pecking order. That would be one reason to think about a started pullet or even a hen, although it could still go wrong in a number of ways. I found exposure through wire eased the joining some, but even after that, when there are no barriers there are always tests to determine pecking order. It evolves, too, my red hen was Boss until my Speckled Sussex got bigger than her, then things changed again. I think she might still be top girl, but most of the SS are no longer afraid of her and won't run when she tries to make them. The Cochin, though, is able to make some of them run with the right glare and stomp, and yet she is the slowest when it comes to retrieving treats, because she's a Cochin and just isn't a darter.

Sorry, back to your flock Whatever you decide to add, you will have an easier time with integration by introducing them on opposite sides of wire, combined with free ranging them together if you are able, then when you are ready to merge them, if the new girls have not already tried to go into the main coop, put them in at night on a Friday night when you will be there when they awaken in the morning and see what happens. There will be some pecking and feather pulling, but more than a few feathers or for sure any blood drawn will tell you they aren't ready yet. Feeding treats when they are together the first few times helps, they are more focused on getting treats than on the fact there are "others" present. I found scattering scratch or tossing an apple cut into chunks made for total focus on eating - to this day!

Before Hattie died I didn't want to get anymore just due to the stress of adding new blood. Since the circumstances have changed I am prepared. My blue laced Wyandotte decided the other day that she had a vendetta against my EE, she chased her around (they were free ranging) and even pinned her down. No blood, just being a bully. The Wyandotte is twice the size of the EE, can't run as fast so the EE was safe. They roost together and have always been ok, I think the EE was saying mean things to the Wyandotte! I had to merge three "flocks" at the beginning so I am aware of the behavior.
Next month I want to start the serious search for some chicks/pullets.

 

[Minchi]

Before Hattie died I didn't want to get anymore just due to the stress of adding new blood. Since the circumstances have changed I am prepared. My blue laced Wyandotte decided the other day that she had a vendetta against my EE, she chased her around (they were free ranging) and even pinned her down. No blood, just being a bully. The Wyandotte is twice the size of the EE, can't run as fast so the EE was safe. They roost together and have always been ok, I think the EE was saying mean things to the Wyandotte! I had to merge three "flocks" at the beginning so I am aware of the behavior.
Next month I want to start the serious search for some chicks/pullets.

You know from day to day I don't know who likes who. Menchi will peck at Zoe all day and then the next day be like the best of friends while they both pick on Arry.

 

[suncatcher]

Hi all, I want to thank you all again for your kind words and support through my first chicken loss. The other girls have adjusted to Hattie's absence (I was worried about her girlfriend but she is making new friends).
Since I am now down to 4 I will be looking to replace Hattie and add another (watch out chicken math). I am really interested in getting another EE, but one with a fluffy face (my current one is clean faced). I am having a hard time deciding on the other breed, all this talk has me really thinking. Possibly a Dominique (and some eggs to hatch in my classroom) or a RIR or another Wyandotte (blue lace red). DH thinks it would be better to get an older pullet but I will be building a brooder for the classroom. I just got a Brinsea Mini Advance incubator, looking forward to using it. We won't be hatching eggs in the class till May however.

They seem to get over the missing chicken fairly quickly, glad your girls are adjusting well. I have to say, I just looked up the Wyandotte BLR, and they are sure beautiful! The RIR from the CO breeder will be larger than what one would get from the hatchery, which to me is a plus!

What fun for the classroom to watch chicks hatch!

 

[suncatcher]

So I was thinking after my visit with Pozees.....If i added a set of nest boxes to the little house in pen 4, I could run two breeding pens, rotating Abraham between the two one week at a time. I could then run 4-5 hens in each pen, collecting up to 40 eggs per week...... don't you love chicken math! That would fill my incubator each batch. .......

I think that is a stellar idea. I was reading an article the other day about a man who was running four breeding pens, he did have four roos though, and only three or four hens in each pen. I think it was in the book, Call Of The Hen. Judi recommended the book, and I was reading it on line. Anyway, he had these four pens going, and was explaining how one can improve the breed fairly quickly in this way. He also used a toe punch on the chicks to keep them straight, and then when they are old enough they get different color bands. Otherwise he said it takes too long to improve your stock. Looking for the link now............

 

[wsmith]

I think that is a stellar idea. I was reading an article the other day about a man who was running four breeding pens, he did have four roos though, and only three or four hens in each pen. I think it was in the book, Call Of The Hen. Judi recommended the book, and I was reading it on line. Anyway, he had these four pens going, and was explaining how one can improve the breed fairly quickly in this way. He also used a toe punch on the chicks to keep them straight, and then when they are old enough they get different color bands. Otherwise he said it takes too long to improve your stock. Looking for the link now............

We forgot to get you (Pozees) the old chicken publications!

This year I only have one Rooster, next year I should have 2 + a backup. Two breeding pens is all I want to run, as I wouldn't have enough space to raise them all without building more.......... I have the property......I could add on....Dang Chicken Math! Must resist!

I have also read Call of the hen, and it is good. I am following the reccommendation of a Master Dominique breeder, Mark Fields, so I should see some good results very soon. Not that they are too bad to begin with though. My breed rooster is exceptional, as are two of my pullets. I will be using a rotational breeding program starting next year. This year's goal is to crank out as many of Abraham's offspring as possible and keep only 1 cockerel and about 10-12 pullets. Next year the cockerel will be bred to the best older hens, while the Cock (Abraham) will be bred to the best pullets.

 

[Pozees]

I had to merge three "flocks" at the beginning so I am aware of the behavior.
Next month I want to start the serious search for some chicks/pullets.

Ah, then you are thoroughly familiar with merging flocks

 

[Pozees]

We forgot to get you (Pozees) the old chicken publications!

This year I only have one Rooster, next year I should have 2 + a backup. Two breeding pens is all I want to run, as I wouldn't have enough space to raise them all without building more.......... I have the property......I could add on....Dang Chicken Math! Must resist!

I have also read Call of the hen, and it is good. I am following the reccommendation of a Master Dominique breeder, Mark Fields, so I should see some good results very soon. Not that they are too bad to begin with though. My breed rooster is exceptional, as are two of my pullets. I will be using a rotational breeding program starting next year. This year's goal is to crank out as many of Abraham's offspring as possible and keep only 1 cockerel and about 10-12 pullets. Next year the cockerel will be bred to the best older hens, while the Cock (Abraham) will be bred to the best pullets.

LOL not to worry, we'll get to it next time.

Chicken Math + acreage =

and so on, and so on ...

This year I'm putting up a 12x16 shed which will have a center aisle across the middle of the short side (so a 4' wide x 12' long aisle) and two pens on each side of the aisle. I'm holding my breath as I await delivery of the "kit" - prebuilt floor, walls, and roof trusses. Theoretically it could be up in a day, I believe it will take us at least the weekend to get the shell up, then I have to finish the inside, but the shell will help a lot. As long as it's a good shell. If it is I'll give the guy a plug here, and if it isn't I'll warn you away.

 

[wsmith]

LOL not to worry, we'll get to it next time.

Chicken Math + acreage =

and so on, and so on ...

LOL. Every time I mention more chickens, Beth about goes into convulsions...... She was afraid of the numbers we were talking last year, but she is looking forward to chicks again. It gives her a reason to go outside and gets her out of the house for a little while.

Seriously though, I think I will stick with what we have built for now. I will add nest boxes to the small coop in pen 4, which give us two small pens and two larger ones for growing out and sorting. Once the breeding pens are done, we will have two more of the smaller pens that are empty. Easy to manage, and forces us to cull hard and keeps it small. Of course in this case, keeping it small means potentially processing close to 60 cockerels this fall.......And if we don't sell all the extra pullets, some of those could be processed as well. I have set out "maximum" over-winter chicken population at about 30-ish...(notice how I am being vague about numbers...) If we decide to over-winter a pair of turkeys, we will be clipping wings and keeping them with the chickens in the main house when it gets cold.

 

[Chesterchook]

LOL not to worry, we'll get to it next time.

Chicken Math + acreage = and so on, and so on ...

This year I'm putting up a 12x16 shed which will have a center aisle across the middle of the short side (so a 4' wide x 12' long aisle) and two pens on each side of the aisle.  I'm holding my breath as I await delivery of the "kit" - prebuilt floor, walls, and roof trusses.  Theoretically it could be up in a day, I believe it will take us at least the weekend to get the shell up, then I have to finish the inside, but the shell will help a lot.  As long as it's a good shell.  If it is I'll give the guy a plug here, and if it isn't I'll warn you away.

I've been looking at sheds and kits too, can I ask where you're getting yours from?

 

[suncatcher]

Chicken Math is a difficult type of Math, the equations don't always work out the same.......