Happy to be New Chicken Mom!!

bean oller

Chirping
5 Years
May 19, 2014
13
4
72
For Mother's Day I got a coop and a promissory note for chickens. Got my new "babies" last evening, 1 Buff Orpington, Gewndolyn, 1Barred Rock, Myrtle, 1 Silver Lace Wyandotte, Dottie, 1 Gold Comet, Rosie and 1 Black Sex-Links named Effie. They were all born together and are 9 weeks old. Myrtle and Gwendolyn did not "go upstairs" last night but the rest of the girls did and from talking to the seller, they had just started roosting so I think all is normal BUT with that being said, Myrtle goes inside the feeder and Gwen then goes inside also to peck at Myrtle. Normal? Gwendolyn was named after one of nicest people I've ever meet because of the reputation of Buff Orpington, very docile. "Mr Haney" at Tractory Supply told me not to over think this but I just don't know enough about chickens to know if this is normal "getting used to our new digs" behavior. Happy to be a new member and a heads up for future questions, I do have a tendency to over think things ;)
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Congratulations on your new chicks, sounds like you have a nice little flock! It will take chicks a while to get used to their new surroundings, if the two girls don't go in the coop and roost on their own you can put them in their a night or two until they get the idea. Sounds like they are establishing their pecking order, as long as it doesn't get violent or anyone gets hurt would leave them work it out. Were these chicks all raised together? ... even if they were raised together since they are in a new place and there are fewer birds, pecking order also changes over time as birds get older and more mature. Nice article form the Learning Center on pecking order https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/a-guide-to-understanding-the-chicken-pecking-order
If you are worried Gwen is a rooster you could post pictures in the What Breed/Gender forum https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this
A great place to check out is the BYC Learning Center, lots of nice articles on all aspects of poultry keeping https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
 
Hell from OREGON!
welcome-byc.gif
X2 what Kelsie2290 says...best of luck to you with your new flock!
 
Makes perfect sense, they were raised together and there was about 80 birds total. I will read the article you suggested, thank you. I will put Gwendolyn and Myrtle "upstairs" tonight to give a little help :)
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Kelsie has given you some great advice. I wish you all the best with your flock and welcome to ours!
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom