Gonna have to introduce 7 new to the original 15......dilemma.

[matt1898]

Well the first batch of birds are awesome, very tame. This second batch of three RIR's and four Americana's are the ones that I am having trouble with. Since they were chicks we haven't been able to spend near the amount of time with them to for them to get used to being handled and hand fed. I just spent about 40 minutes with the birds out in the brooder....managed to get the reds to eat out of my hand, but they are still jumpy and don't really care to be held. The Americana's freak out when being held, however two did appear slightly more comfortable approaching my hand after me feeding them bits of ham(jiggled it like a worm and the RIR's went nuts over it). I have to be out of state the next thee days, and I doubt any of my family will spend much time with them aside from checking feed and water. Ugh.......

My plan is to build a smaller coop, closer to the ground, that will go into the fenced in area where the big birds are. They will be enclosed by window screens so the birds can't interact, yet will see each other until I think it is safe to let them meet. I'm also hoping that the younger birds, upon seeing humans walking around, will also adjust to us as well.

The three new Jersey Giants are and will be constantly played with till adulthood(2 weeks old now), so I'm not too worried about them.

Thoughts?



New video of all the birds, and you can see what I mean about the coop.

 

[Feathers n Fur]

I am in the process of adding 7 new birds to my existing flock of 7. My newbies (2 Ameraucanas, 3 Marans, 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte and 1 Barred Rock) are more skiddish than my original flock. It wasn't until I penned off an area in the coop and added the newbies that they started to relax around me. Still not loving being held though. They can watch me on the other side of the netting pick up and hold the "big girls" and they see me interact with them a lot. Now when I go into their penned area the wyandotte and barred rock are the first to greet me. The ameraucanas are the last to approach but they've always been the least comfortable around me. Today I will let them into their section of the run, still separate from the big girls but the look no touch thing is working. In about two to three weeks I plan to remove the barrier and see how they get along first hand.

I think your approach will work. So far it is working for me. Just like people they all have their personalities. A full year later and my orpington will only tolerate being held while the rest do not resist. My bantam mix is the one I need to keep an eye on. She rules the coop/run and pecks at the others just for fun. I've scolded her many many times. If she hurts one of the newbies she's going to spend some time in solitary!

Good luck

 

[matt1898]

I am in the process of adding 7 new birds to my existing flock of 7. My newbies (2 Ameraucanas, 3 Marans, 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte and 1 Barred Rock) are more skiddish than my original flock. It wasn't until I penned off an area in the coop and added the newbies that they started to relax around me. Still not loving being held though. They can watch me on the other side of the netting pick up and hold the "big girls" and they see me interact with them a lot. Now when I go into their penned area the wyandotte and barred rock are the first to greet me. The ameraucanas are the last to approach but they've always been the least comfortable around me. Today I will let them into their section of the run, still separate from the big girls but the look no touch thing is working. In about two to three weeks I plan to remove the barrier and see how they get along first hand.

I think your approach will work. So far it is working for me. Just like people they all have their personalities. A full year later and my orpington will only tolerate being held while the rest do not resist. My bantam mix is the one I need to keep an eye on. She rules the coop/run and pecks at the others just for fun. I've scolded her many many times. If she hurts one of the newbies she's going to spend some time in solitary!

Good luck

Thanks. Over the weekend my mom went out there and handled them quite a bit, and I noticed an improvement when I fed them about 15 minutes ago. Dad and I are gonna start on a small coop/run to keep them separate from the big birds.

 

[Feathers n Fur]

Glad it's working out. Patience is key here. My new chickens are getting used to me more and more. They actually run to me when I enter their pen. The big girls are very curious and the little ones do not shy away (well except for one or two of them). Another week or so and they will all be together.

Good luck with you integration

 

[matt1898]

Glad it's working out. Patience is key here. My new chickens are getting used to me more and more. They actually run to me when I enter their pen. The big girls are very curious and the little ones do not shy away (well except for one or two of them). Another week or so and they will all be together.

Good luck with you integration

Thanks. They are beginning to tolerate each other now.