If you’re free ranging them together that’s fine. I abundantly treat in a smaller spread out space when integrating so they get together in these moments and realize there’s enough food to go around. For a couple days when the flocks are still staying together by themselves I’ll treat them about 50 feet apart and start to move it closer together to one area over a few cycles of treating.
When will the new coop be done?
I would personally start the attempt to rehome now starting with the bossiest that’s running around your older hens. As soon as the new coops done I would move the wellies and the Lav or whichever other one you want to keep and separate the others, at least when they’re not free ranging.
Thanks!! I’m gonna try that. I did give them some treats the other day and they seemed to do okay! Little ones weren’t really sure what treats were
but they were able to sneak some without trouble.
And hopefully soon!! It’s mostly done but still need to do a few key things then they should be able to move in.
And yeah I think I’ll do that!! Was going to list them soon but didn’t want to accidentally list one I may want to keep so idk.
Maybe I’ll start with listing the ones I definitely don’t haha
So you think I should integrate a few rather than the bachelor pad idea?
I will do whatever is best.
And do you think it’s too late for them to learn manners? I really worry it is.
Family groups will stick together, sometime for years, and it's fine. You do need to have plans for the extra cockerels, because two would be almost too many for this flock. Might work out, might not, and it is early to make final decisions.
Keep the two you like best with the flock, and move the others on soon.
I prefer cockerels who ignore me and pay polite attention to their flockmates, not cockerels who seem 'friendly'.
Mary
Thank you!! That makes sense! When I added the pullets, they hung out by themselves for a while and split into their family groups (older girls and pullets) while free ranging and only recently stopped. Though even now they still sometimes split up but mingle a lot more and tend to all stick together now. Think it started when the pullets started laying.
And thanks! That’s good advice! Yeah, I’m so worried I will choose wrong which is why I haven’t listed any yet. Especially since I know it is still young to be able to tell or know their personalities. But I also know I can’t keep 7 cockerels so so do need to do something soon. But thankfully, at least for now, they are being good!
Long term though, I don’t know that I want two permanently, still not sure on even one, but I don’t want to choose wrong so do want to choose at least two, possibly 3, just for now, to see, but once I decide, I’ll probably get rid of the extras. Either rehoming or maybe eating if necessary. Hopefully not.
Though I have read that if raised together it usually works out better because they work out their differences early on? And that does seem to be the case here... there was lots of squabbling the first month or so, month and a half maybe, and now nothing. They seem to know who the boss is and don’t fight or even crow since being moved outside. They were crowing a lot downstairs. They have gotten into some fights with the big girls because they haven’t met them or established the pecking order but amongst themselves they seem to know. So hopefully it’ll be okay
We also have almost 3 acres so they can easily separate if need be when I let them out so maybe that will help?
And yeah, I have read those can sometimes be the most aggressive ones so I’ve tried not to really handle or interact with these babies much and it seems to have worked because they do seem to respect me and run away from me still.
One or two kind of approach me when I go near them but don’t come too close and it doesn’t seem to be an issue so far. They do still run when I actually make a move.
They also seem pretty alert and looking out.
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