Colorado

[Robilyn81]

I have three pullets that are about 3 weeks younger than than the 4 older birds. I was holding out for the Welsummer The big ones push them around a little although they are almost over that. I feel like it makes the younger ones think a little more for themselves. They range father in the yard and find solutions to things the big ones don't bother with.

Today a thunderstorm went over and the littles all snugged up in the coop like smart birds. The bigs just rode it out under the coop lol.

Wallaroo Jack is getting so handsome!

 

[ThePaulsRanch]

Hello everyone!
I am new to BYC and another fellow Coloradan! I have 5 one year old hens, and 11 ten week old chicks. Preparing ourselves for integrating, which is coming fairly quick! So far the big girls despise the young ones, trying to get at them through the fence. I am brand new to adding chickens to an established flock, so any tips are much appreciated. I apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong section! I did read the BYC info for newbies, but its all a bit overwhelming still!
Thanks so much!
ThePaulsRanch

 

[21hens-incharge]

Quote: Thank you Uzi. I am rather fond of the plants that are either really dark bloomers or have really dark names like Lucifer Crocosmia and spotted dead nettle. Who would have thunk it lol.



This is a pic of a Shirley tulip but in the top left is the bottom of a queen of night tulip. YUP dark as I can get them. The Shirley was in a mixed bag of tulips and is kind of neat too.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Welcome ThePaulsRanch!

The best advise I can give is to take it as slowly as possible. Keep a fence between them until they stop reacting to each other then let them free range for a bit just before dark when they would be heading to bed. Fights will be lessened if they are already winding down for the day. Keep doing it until they can hang out together with little or no fighting then try introducing them into the coop after everyone has gone to bed. I would choose a day that you can be there the following day to monitor things.
Provide hiding places in the run that the young can get behind and be out of sight. Multiple food and water stations also help a lot as older established hens can and will prevent others from getting a drink or food.

Put some of the watering and feed stations behind barriers so the young can eat and drink without being seen. Out of sight out of mind and all that.

Best wishes,

Barbara

 

[ThePaulsRanch]

Thank you so much Barbara! Its a bit nerve-racking, since I haven't done this before. In the next few weeks we will be moving the littles into the big pen, but with it divided, so they can all be together. We will take it slow like you suggested!
Thank you,
Caitlin

 

[lomine]

@coop410silkies yes that pinkish comb has me a bit worried but looking at other pictures of confirmed Wyandotte roos of the sage age I'm just not sure. I'll just have to wait and see. All the replies to my EE post said it looked like a pullet so that gives me hope.

@21hens-incharge the coop looks good and your flowers are so pretty. Tulips are my favorite flower.

@Robilyn81 what breed is the one in the front on your bottom picture? I can't see the face. Is it a GLW? The lacing is beautiful.

@ThePaulsRanch Welcome! I can't offer much more advise on integrating, I think 21hens covered most of it. But I would love to see pictures.

 

[Latestarter]

Greetings @ThePaulsRanch welcome to BYC and the Colorado thread. Advice already given is right on. You can modify it a bit as best suits your situation, needs, requirements... Good luck and let us know how it all works out for you. Oh, and yeah... pictures are a bit of a 'requirement"

 

[ThePaulsRanch]

I have pictures, lomine, but please excuse the slight blurring! Chickens can be hard to capture-especially friendly ones

The 3 buff Orpingtons pictured first are ones I have questions on. I know the middle one is a roo- he has been crowing! But the other two I am unsure on.

The last 2 pictures are some of the flock. We have RIR's, and 3 bantam that are 1 week older than the orpingtons. I know for a fact that I have at least one Orpingtons pullet, becuase her comb is really small and pale.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Hello everyone!
I am new to BYC and another fellow Coloradan! I have 5 one year old hens, and 11 ten week old chicks. Preparing ourselves for integrating, which is coming fairly quick! So far the big girls despise the young ones, trying to get at them through the fence. I am brand new to adding chickens to an established flock, so any tips are much appreciated. I apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong section! I did read the BYC info for newbies, but its all a bit overwhelming still!
Thanks so much!
ThePaulsRanch

Welcome to the Colorado Thread...it's always great to meet a new neighbor.

Integrating flocks is tricky. It is made easier once the new birds are older and have some size to them. As it is, younger smaller birds will be subjected to the brunt of the pecking order of the established flock.

One trick is to isolate those birds at the top of the pecking order and those birds at the bottom of the pecking order from the main flock...these two extremes in the pecking order will contain most of the birds that would/could create the more serious problems. Birds on top want to stay on top, birds on the bottom are excited to finally have someone beneath them that they can pick on for a change. Both will go after younger smaller birds.

Once these two extremes are removed and isolated, then integrate the new birds. Wait until things settle out, bring the isolated birds back into the flock after new pecking orders "start" to become apparent.

Anyway you cut it there will be turmoil on the home front. Chickens don't like change, it will be reflected in reduced production until things settle out. There is always the possibility that a nice bird will suddenly turn mean and vengeful.

They are chickens after all...

 

[PugNChicks]

Hi fellow Colorado chicken keepers. I'm here in Northglenn where they only passed chicken keeping about 2-3 weeks ago. I ran right out, ordered my coop, got my license and got my 2 chicks.