Hello Team!

[LFord]

My family and I are new to chickens. We purchased 4, then 4, and then 2 more, lol. They were so cute! We purchased a fairly large hen house with a small run and then enclosed our entire side yard. We put sand in the run and then put in sod. The chickens have a dirt area, mulched area, shrubs, edible plants, kiddie pool with dirt and diaotomatious earth and a corner with random wood logs to roost on during the day. Needless to say our feathered babies are spoiled. They love to be held. We are having one problem. The last two chickens are about 8 weeks behind the first 8 we purchased. We put them in with the other chickens and they seemed ok, then they got picked on. No blood was drawn but my poor Rhode Island lost a few neck feathers. We have isolated them in a pen that they can mingle with the others but not get attacked. We did that for a week and now they all co-exist in the yard, but if they are in the same area they get chased away. I have been keeping the babies in the garage in a bin at night and putting them out during the day. The issue is that if it rains the other chickens will not let the babies in the run or hen house. Will they eventually accept the new ones? I have the following:
2- silkies
1-silver laced wyndotte
1- rhode island-baby
1-barred rock
1-sex link red
1-sex link black
2-Americanas
1-austroloupe-baby

The original 8 were born the first week of April this year. The last two were born the middle of May. I would love suggestions on how to get my flock together. Also my wyndotte has waddles...how do I know if this is a Rooster. The pictures I have found show that it is hard to tell until they are full grown.

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC!
We are glad you joined!
This video should help you learn your way around this site, enjoy!

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[LFord]

Thanks! So excited to learn some new info on my feathered babies.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC

It's better to wait until the younger batch of chicks is around 8 weeks old before integration. This method is good - http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method

Space and multiple feed stations are important, as a places of refuge for the younger birds

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Welcome to BYC - so glad you've joined us. Sounds like you've definitely caught the chicken bug and figured out the addition side of chicken math, lol

 

[KaylorFarms]

Hello! Welcome to Byc!!! It's great to have you!

 

[ronott1]

My family and I are new to chickens. We purchased 4, then 4, and then 2 more, lol. They were so cute! We purchased a fairly large hen house with a small run and then enclosed our entire side yard. We put sand in the run and then put in sod. The chickens have a dirt area, mulched area, shrubs, edible plants, kiddie pool with dirt and diaotomatious earth and a corner with random wood logs to roost on during the day. Needless to say our feathered babies are spoiled. They love to be held. We are having one problem. The last two chickens are about 8 weeks behind the first 8 we purchased. We put them in with the other chickens and they seemed ok, then they got picked on. No blood was drawn but my poor Rhode Island lost a few neck feathers. We have isolated them in a pen that they can mingle with the others but not get attacked. We did that for a week and now they all co-exist in the yard, but if they are in the same area they get chased away. I have been keeping the babies in the garage in a bin at night and putting them out during the day. The issue is that if it rains the other chickens will not let the babies in the run or hen house. Will they eventually accept the new ones? I have the following:
2- silkies
1-silver laced wyndotte
1- rhode island-baby
1-barred rock
1-sex link red
1-sex link black
2-Americanas
1-austroloupe-baby

The original 8 were born the first week of April this year. The last two were born the middle of May. I would love suggestions on how to get my flock together. Also my wyndotte has waddles...how do I know if this is a Rooster. The pictures I have found show that it is hard to tell until they are full grown.

Lots of chickens have wattles as hens. The hen will have smaller wattles though.

Post a picture please

 

[LFord]

So bummed so far we have had one rooster and it was my silky baby. Such a cuddler. We ended up taking him back to the farm where we got him, but the other silky now looks like it also is a roo. My family is devastated because we are unable to keep a roo where we live. Our silver laced wyndotte is also a roo, praying no one else is.