Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[aart]

By tomorrow they will be hopping in and out without a second thought!

I keep a pile of bricks around to set in strategic places as 'steps' for chicks.

Pecking order reminder I think. I was surprised by that as well.

That was mild. Have a hellacious hen fights here, but my broodies set behind wire wall in coop....released into flock after about a week.

When do you think it’s better to integrate.. when they are little or when they are older and can defend themselves better...?

Are these broody chicks, or incubator?
My bator chicks get integrated at ~4 weeks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

 

[BY Bob]

That was mild. Have a hellacious hen fights here, but my broodies set behind wire wall in coop....released into flock after about a week.

I did not post on what Sidney did to Phyllis yesterday. Phyllis likes to roost early, maybe even 90 minutes before dusk. I don't know why. She went in to roost early twice last night and Sydney had not been able to get the chicks up the ramp and to bed yet.

Well Sydney did not want her in the coop. Both times she tore Phyllis off the roost and soundly beat her and chased her out. It was quite vicious. Startling so. In fact both times Phyllis jumped off the porch to get away and just missed the chicks which were stuck at the bottom of the big ramp. It's one of the reasons for the board on the end of the porch.

 

[aart]

I did not post on what Sidney did to Phyllis yesterday. Phyllis likes to roost early, maybe even 90 minutes before dusk. I don't know why. She went in to roost early twice last night and Sydney had not been able to get the chicks up the ramp and to bed yet.

Well Sydney did not want her in the coop. Both times she tore Phyllis off the roost and soundly beat her and chased her out. It was quite vicious. Startling so. In fact both times Phyllis jumped off the porch to get away and just missed the chicks which were stuck at the bottom of the big ramp. It's one of the reasons for the board on the end of the porch.

Hopefully once broody gets her new 'broody fierce' status well known they will all calm down. But, yeah, it can be brutal.
Tho I've found a couple broodies revel their new status and wield it wide and often unnecessarily....even after the chicks are weaned.

 

[BY Bob]

Hopefully once broody gets her new 'broody fierce' status well known they will all calm down. But, yeah, it can be brutal.
Tho I've found a couple broodies revel their new status and wield it wide and often unnecessarily....even after the chicks are weaned.

This sure will be interesting to watch. Mostly the Aunties have stayed away and given her space.

 

[Shadrach]

When do you think it’s better to integrate.. when they are little or when they are older and can defend themselves better...? I’m starting to wonder if younger is better as they are not a threat in any way... I have them in the coop now in their safe space.... only the bullies seem interested! View attachment 2202246

I'm not the right person to ask. I don't integrate any of the chicks here; the mothers decide when to do it if they haven't been hatched in the tribe coop. I'm on hand to help with the ramps when they do decide to take the chicks home but apart from that I don't have a say in the matter.
@aart seems to have this all worked out, so she would be a better person to advise.

 

[Ali James]

I did not post on what Sidney did to Phyllis yesterday. Phyllis likes to roost early, maybe even 90 minutes before dusk. I don't know why. She went in to roost early twice last night and Sydney had not been able to get the chicks up the ramp and to bed yet.

Well Sydney did not want her in the coop. Both times she tore Phyllis off the roost and soundly beat her and chased her out. It was quite vicious. Startling so. In fact both times Phyllis jumped off the porch to get away and just missed the chicks which were stuck at the bottom of the big ramp. It's one of the reasons for the board on the end of the porch.

You go broody momma! There is something about a mother's instinct that is formidable when her little ones need her. I was ferocious when my son was a new born!! (still am when the occasion calls for it...)

 

[WhoDatChick]

When I did chicks last I had them out in the run so the others could know and see them but I did not let them "hang" together until the chicks were older and better at getting away, etc.

Yea.. they are in with them now.. but separate... I did this three times last year but they were entering a smaller flock and one group entered with a mama and those seemed to be the most excepted by the flock.. thank goodness cuz they were bantams... and now I have a couple of bullies that I’m concerned with... I waited until they were quite big before I integrated and there was a lot of pecking... but like I said I have some bullies.. they are some of the new ones from last year... so I was wondering if they are much smaller would that be better

 

[WhoDatChick]

I keep a pile of bricks around to set in strategic places as 'steps' for chicks.

That was mild. Have a hellacious hen fights here, but my broodies set behind wire wall in coop....released into flock after about a week.

Are these broody chicks, or incubator?
My bator chicks get integrated at ~4 weeks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

They were bought at the feed store at one week.. they are four weeks now...

 

[WhoDatChick]

Here they are at four weeks... Trump is a boy ... but I’ve already found him a home...

 

[WhoDatChick]

Cool. Though Bob might not think so. Still Shad can now give us all pointers on raising a great rooster.

If I ever decide to keep a rooster I will be getting one from my daughters friend.. this young lady brought us into her chicken coop and she had three roosters within the flock.. living peacefully with each other and didn’t mind us one bit. She then picked each one up for cuddles.. she also has multiple yard with chickens and roosters... she picked each one up to show us and even her little sister picked up another.... I was very impressed as to how many sweet roosters this girl has... all different breeds as well.. the three that live together with the main flock are FCMs and one Cochin bantam... I so wish I would’ve taken pics!