Getting Friends for One Debeaked Chicken?

[Jessie84]

A predator killed two out of my three chickens today...

I don't want the survivor to be lonely. I want to get one or two other hens, but my chicken is debeaked. If I get "beaked" chickens, will they pick on the debeaked one? Any tips for integrating adult chickens?

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

I think it's almost impossible to tell how other hens will react. I have integrated chickens 3 times now and each time was very different. I would say to go slow. Let them see each other with out being able to get at each other. She SHOULD be the alpha hen now since it's her turf. But again, you just never know how that will go.

Do you think she would take babies if you brought home chicks? I have a 3 year old Jersey Giant who is very sweet. I brought home day old chicks 5 weeks ago. I kept them in a dog crate in the garage for the first week and would let her come in and see them. And then when they were a week old, I turned them lose in the garden. She come over to see what they are doing but shows no signs of aggression at all.

The chicks are 5 weeks old and they all get along very well. They are all out in the same run but I do put the babies on one side of a small fence from the JG and her buddy a Blue Andalusian.

I want the chicks to get a little bigger before I turn them all lose together in the run.

 

[Jessie84]

Thanks for the tips, SpiceGirls! I have a large dog crate that I could keep one or two chickens in, and put it next to the chicken coop outside during the day, so they can see each other... I will give that a try.

 

[centrarchid]

I have a hen that is a little more than debeaked. Despite this she has little trouble integrating with a dynamic flock of normal beaked chickens. Her issues, like with yours involve challenges with eating small particulates and preening.

Inspect closely. Photographs are nearly a year old and some regrowth has occurred but full function has not been restored. Your typical debeaking is not as extreme. This hen can still hold her own in conflicts quite well. She also works as a broody.

 

[Jessie84]

Thanks for the feedback -- you right, my chicken does have a bit more beak than that. I've decided just to order two more pullets from the farm store where I bought this one last year, rather than buying on Craigslist. They will be debeaked already, but I will know they are vaccinated, healthy, and I'll know their ages. (And since they'll be still "teenagers," maybe a little easier to integrate than adults?)

Also, a more predator-proof large run is in the works. :/ Until then, the girl(s) will have to stay in their coop and small run.

 

[centrarchid]

Why are you getting debeaked birds? That has no advantages other than to suppress cannibalism under high density conditions. Very few backyard keepers are likely keep birds so confined.

 

[Jessie84]

Basically because they are already debeaked when they get to the farm store where I buy them as 17 or 18-week old pullets. I'm buying from that store because I'm not ready for baby chicks and I'm wary about buying adult birds from individuals on Craigslist (there aren't too many in my area anyway). If anyone has suggestions about where to buy pullets in southern CT that aren't debeaked, aside from Craigslist, please send along.

 

[iluvrats]

I got my pullets at Clarks Farm in Higganum, CT. I had to order ahead of time so I don't know if they usually have some on hand if you're not particular about breed. Its worth trying though.