Yes indeedy!
Sadly, I am pretty sure it is one of those two things. I told her if she had to get into trouble she picked a good time, as she is completely avoiding the heat wave. She is a good houseguest though, so no worries. It takes as long as it takes, if she is fighting so am I.
I have had many babies integrated with the main flock, I usually let them start roaming with the main gang at about 2 or 3 weeks old, when I am working in the barn to keep any eye on them.Yes indeedy!
Sadly, I am pretty sure it is one of those two things. I told her if she had to get into trouble she picked a good time, as she is completely avoiding the heat wave. She is a good houseguest though, so no worries. It takes as long as it takes, if she is fighting so am I.
Speed will be their friend for sure. I have only been through integration without a mama hen one time and it was rough. Drama lots of drama.
I will keep my fingers crossed that your babies come through with just their pride hurt a bit and that the feather loss is minimal.
That is another picture of the week right thereI have had many babies integrated with the main flock, I usually let them start roaming with the main gang at about 2 or 3 weeks old, when I am working in the barn to keep any eye on them.
The key is lots of places to hide and get away; I make sure they are ok and if anyone gets too rough I intervene.
By the time they are around 5 weeks old they are mixing and mingling fine. My main gang are so used to chicks beimg around though, they just mostly ignore them. Surprisingly when the babies go to eat, the older ladies allow it!
Mr P pretty much just ignores them, but the chicks like to run and hop up on him which freaks him out. He can’t see with his topknot I imagine
BFTP
Some of the babies raised here
Sophia and her babies
View attachment 4160179
I have had many babies integrated with the main flock, I usually let them start roaming with the main gang at about 2 or 3 weeks old, when I am working in the barn to keep any eye on them.
The key is lots of places to hide and get away; I make sure they are ok and if anyone gets too rough I intervene.
By the time they are around 5 weeks old they are mixing and mingling fine. My main gang are so used to chicks beimg around though, they just mostly ignore them. Surprisingly when the babies go to eat, the older ladies allow it!
Mr P pretty much just ignores them, but the chicks like to run and hop up on him which freaks him out. He can’t see with his topknot I imagine
BFTP
Some of the babies raised here
Sophia and her babies
View attachment 4160179
The 2023 school chicks mixing it up with Mr P and his favourite ladies
View attachment 4160178
Awlll, babies, babies everywhere! Cuties they were.I have had many babies integrated with the main flock, I usually let them start roaming with the main gang at about 2 or 3 weeks old, when I am working in the barn to keep any eye on them.
The key is lots of places to hide and get away; I make sure they are ok and if anyone gets too rough I intervene.
By the time they are around 5 weeks old they are mixing and mingling fine. My main gang are so used to chicks beimg around though, they just mostly ignore them. Surprisingly when the babies go to eat, the older ladies allow it!
Mr P pretty much just ignores them, but the chicks like to run and hop up on him which freaks him out. He can’t see with his topknot I imagine
BFTP
Some of the babies raised here
Sophia and her babies
View attachment 4160179
The 2023 school chicks
View attachment 4160178
Exactly like that, the possum wasn’t hurt. The possum doesn’t belong in my yard anyways. That neighbor, lets his animals come to my yard, so I’m just returning the favor.
Maybe I might have gone a bit too far with dipping the tail in paint, but that’s just how I roll. And that’s Elsa sneaking in to never miss a camera shoot!Don’t forget painting it orange!
When I took down the run fence between the littles and the ladies, I did it at night, after lock up. Then I moved a few things around in the run. That way, when everyone came out in the morning, it was different. It caught the older chickens off guard, and they spent less time worrying about the "new kids."
I confess, I worry about all my birds, big and small.Awlll, babies, babies everywhere! Cuties they were.
When I had Brownie raise em it was so easy. Those chicks were untouchable, Brownie made sure of that and no one dared even try to mess with them.
The Amerucanas took a lot longer and there was more drama overall. They did survive it though, and with no injury except to their pride of course.
It just takes more human intervention and supervision without a mama hen. Us humans probably worry a bit to much too
