From egg to chick!

[fluffycrow]

I would start with the birds you are looking to give away. From those I would pick out the ones that are thr friendliest, and are not top ranking. Your babies are about 9 weeks old, right? I don't think there is much to worry about when it comes to males of this age. Aggression sets in much later. Remember than any bird you remove from the flock to keep Kithara company will need to be introduced back into the flock, if you are to keep them. That is the main reason I am saying you should choose from the birds (males mostly, I presume) you will not be keeping long term

 

[TwoCrows]

Good explanation! Regarding the "last to roost part," I had an Easter Egger hen named Lavender who was lower on the pecking order than I have ever seen before. She would always sleep on the ground and her back would get pooped on during the night. Lower-ranking birds are usually the first to get sick as well if disease is spread. Lavender was very weak because she was constantly bullied. She couldn't walk fast and was always slow. Her balance was off and she would fall on her face if she tried to lift off. Eventually, she died because she got bumblefoot that was severe and spread all along one leg. Her body couldn't handle it.

Oh poor dear bird, many times they are the lowest ranking because of health problems. The flock is good at detecting sick birds and of course bullying makes them weaker. Birds can be so mean to the lower ranking birds.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Oh poor dear bird, many times they are the lowest ranking because of health problems. The flock is good at detecting sick birds and of course bullying makes them weaker. Birds can be so mean to the lower ranking birds.

Chickens are my favorite animal but they always seem to have a bit of a cruel side to them.

 

[fluffycrow]

Chickens are my favorite animal but they always seem to have a bit of a cruel side to them.

Don't think like that. One can draw many parallels between animals and humans, but it can become a dangerous game to play. Chickens are not cruel. If anything, we are. Chickens simply do what all animals do, by trying to survive, and potentially thrive

 

[TwoCrows]

Don't think like that. One can draw many parallels between animals and humans, but it can become a dangerous game to play. Chickens are not cruel. If anything, we are. Chickens simply do what all animals do, by trying to survive, and potentially thrive

So true! In the animal kingdom its survival of the fittest, the strongest keep the species alive.

However from a human perspective it can be quite difficult to watch our babies driving off those they don't feel fit in. Humans have too much emotion, both a blessing an a curse.

 

[fluffycrow]

So true! In the animal kingdom its survival of the fittest, the strongest keep the species alive.

However from a human perspective it can be quite difficult to watch our babies driving off those they don't feel fit in. Humans have too much emotion, both a blessing an a curse.

Absolutely. It's heartbreaking, it's tough; even confusing at times, to watch our beloved creatures acting this way, but it is our perspective

 

[ElfenLied89]

Thank you!


Cockerels will fight if they are put together. Pullets won't fight with a cockerel unless he does something they don't like.


Whoever is the oldest, strongest, and the biggest bully of the flock will always be the most dominant. The most dominant hens are the ones who likely will appear the most healthy and they will have bigger crops because they eat more. Females who are more submissive and are lower on the pecking order will look more rough and they won't eat as much due to being chased off.

I cant tell. Most of the big girls are well fed and I don't usually see any domination yet. The bigger pullets do snip a bit at the smaller babies, but everyone seems good. I have no idea lol

 

[ElfenLied89]

Which birds get chased, who gets pecked the most, which birds are last to eat treats, who is last to roost, who roosts on the end or lower, who is last out of the coop, who cries all the time.... these are your lower ranking birds.

What about 4 birds who roost away from everyone else? Lol

 

[ElfenLied89]

I would start with the birds you are looking to give away. From those I would pick out the ones that are thr friendliest, and are not top ranking. Your babies are about 9 weeks old, right? I don't think there is much to worry about when it comes to males of this age. Aggression sets in much later. Remember than any bird you remove from the flock to keep Kithara company will need to be introduced back into the flock, if you are to keep them. That is the main reason I am saying you should choose from the birds (males mostly, I presume) you will not be keeping long term

So Lucky and Pelican and possibly one of the orange looking babies. I want to keep them all but I can't Hubs said to get a Buff Orpington I have to have only 10 babies out of the now 19.
Including my 6 pullets originally. Kithara has pulled at my heartstrings and I want him to be my buddy.

 

[2ndTink]

I cant tell. Most of the big girls are well fed and I don't usually see any domination yet. The bigger pullets do snip a bit at the smaller babies, but everyone seems good. I have no idea lol

You could make a guess, put whoever you catch in with him, see how they interact. If they get along well (maybe some minor introductory stuff) leave them together, if the one you add looks to be chasing him mercilessly or being too aggressive, take them out.

It is a good idea to pick birds that you know you won't be keeping, test them with him first. When I got my 3 chocolates at 8 weeks old or so, I picked a very docile silkie from the group I had and let them hang out for a few hours at a time. Although silkies seem very accepting for some reason, I had 0 drama. Even in Dec when I got the new 9, the oldest is a few weeks older than the others and hadn't been in with them before. He was happy as a clam at high tide to have the new friends and never even pecked them. Ah, love silkies