Combining flocks, moving younger chicks to the coop

[rookiefarmers]

That's lucky! I can tell ours would be aggressive in the coop. There is no where to hide either so that's a concern. In the run we have 5 places the whole group of littles can hide if they need to.

 

[OlivesMama]

Just an update on my flocks- Yesterday, I was able to feed all of them treats and nobody got chased away or pecked! This is a huge thing for them. Usually, the big girls would chase the babies away when it came to treat time and I'd have to scatter them in two different places for everyone to eat. My Silkie and Sultan continue to sleep with the babies occasionally and the Sultan sometimes forages with the babies. She's closer to their size right now anyway. Here is a picture from this morning. It was the first time I've been able to get them all in one area for a picture!

 

[rookiefarmers]

Awesome! Ours are great in the run, the littles are getting more and more brave but there are a few older girls that insist on chasing them away. I hope with time that will change. They kinda act like two flocks still with a few interlopers.

 

[lauranickerson]

I'm a bit nervous about my situation. I have mid-March babies (which are getting close to full-sized) and found out 10 of 17 of them are roosters. Then I have my one mid-April Leghorn, that still gets picked on when I put her with the big ones in the run. Then yesterday I got eight 2-3 week old pullets (hopefully all are anyways) and I put them in the same trough with my little Leghorn. Now SHE picks on the little babies. Ugh! Can't win!

 

[rookiefarmers]

Oh man! That sounds even more complicated that our mess! Its so hard mixing them! I had NO IDEA it was going to be such a drama fest.

 

[Mrs. K]

It is not just rookies.....

I am experienced poultier. As in YEARS with chickens...... I want to go fancy, ordered chickens from Sandhills Preservations..... to come the last week in May (too early) the first week in June (closer to just right) or second week in June, (too late)

Cause I was gone for two days, and my BO went broody on a pile of eggs. Now I was hoping she would go broody, as I planned to slip the ordered chicks under her...... but now she has these other eggs going .... I should have got rid of them right away, but hatching chicks,..... YOU people KNOW.....

So I am pretty sure, I am looking at a mess with lots of chicks, and different sizes.

Mrs.K

 

[rookiefarmers]

Oh man!!!! I am glad I am not alone but sad we are all in this complicated mess! Our littles seem to be getting more behave which has meant more pecking. I have to go inside and watch from a distance because I want to interfere and save the babies. I just REALLY want to be done with the division of the coop. Oy vay!

 

[lauranickerson]

Me, too! Glad it's not just me! I reaaaallllly wish I could put my Leghorn in the main coop already! She's still so little even for being a month old, but I should have guessed she would grow slow, and be little anyways, because of her breed. Hmph!

 

[rookiefarmers]

Hi guys! My flock is now 100% integrated. The big girls still only allow a select few of the littles to join them inside the coop during daylight hours, but no issues at bed time. They all go in and 3/4 roost while a few still pile together. Its awesome to be done with the chicken wire dividers and the chicken rodeo round ups.

 

[OlivesMama]

YAY! YAY! YAY! I'm happy to hear this. We worry so much about these things, when really it works out most of the time without our intervention.

Mine have been great! The 2 big Barred Rock girls still occasionally chase the babies briefly if there is food involved, but that's the only time. They all sleep in one long row on the same roost at night in the coop. Flock #1 lines up with the Silkie or Sultan in the middle as the buffer next to Flock #2. It's too cute to see!