Hi I really could use some advice! Please I’m not sure what to do

[Farmgirl283420]

How old are the other groups? As far as the chick starter/grower and all flock it'll be fine to switch them all to all flock, they're pretty much the same thing (just make sure you have free choice oyster shell in a separate container. What are your plans for all these cockerels? How big is your setup?

The big girls are a year the Cochins my second group are like 14 weeks and the silkies are like maybe ten or 11 weeks

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Focus on placing similar sized birds together.

To late I guess the silkies can always live in my small coop if they need too

 

[Farmgirl283420]

That’s a bit of a better picture

 

[Saveria]

I think you can try. Am I getting this right that your bigger breeds are a wyandotte and cochins? Neither of those are super aggressive breeds, they may accept smaller birds without being overly violent. I would try integrating, see how it goes and be ready to intervene.

Here is an excellent example of a good run to introduce bird in-

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

This same poster was talking about having a fence that can only let small ones through, but not the bigger ones, so they can escape hazing. It will either be off the ground a bit, or have just right spaces in the fence.

3KillerBs also talked about how having tho pieces of plywood that make a triangle (so that it is essentially a tunnel) in the run, so that the little ones can escape.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Sorry for the confusion

I think you can try. Am I getting this right that your bigger breeds are a wyandotte and cochins? Neither of those are super aggressive breeds, they may accept smaller birds without being overly violent. I would try integrating, see how it goes and be ready to intervene.

Here is an excellent example of a good run to introduce bird in-

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

This same poster was talking about having a fence that can only let small ones through, but not the bigger ones, so they can escape hazing. It will either be off the ground a bit, or have just right spaces in the fence.

3KillerBs also talked about how having tho pieces of plywood that make a triangle (so that it is essentially a tunnel) in the run, so that the little ones can escape.

the older birds are jersey giants and buff orpingtons and then there’s the Wyandotte those are the big ones my second batch is the Cochins or there supposed to be one might be a mix then the thirds batch are silkies again sorry for the confusion all in all there are 14 chickens thanks for your help!

 

[Farmgirl283420]

I think you can try. Am I getting this right that your bigger breeds are a wyandotte and cochins? Neither of those are super aggressive breeds, they may accept smaller birds without being overly violent. I would try integrating, see how it goes and be ready to intervene.

Here is an excellent example of a good run to introduce bird in-

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

This same poster was talking about having a fence that can only let small ones through, but not the bigger ones, so they can escape hazing. It will either be off the ground a bit, or have just right spaces in the fence.

3KillerBs also talked about how having tho pieces of plywood that make a triangle (so that it is essentially a tunnel) in the run, so that the little ones can escape.

Thanks that’s a good idea I’ll see if I can get it build something!

 

[Mrs. K]

Group 1 - 7 big birds, 1 year old, BO, JG, and WY

Group 2 - Cochins (?) 14 weeks old 2 roosters and 1 pullet

Group 3 - 4 silkies - 3 pullets and 1 rooster - 10 - 11 weeks

I think I have this right?

I would keep the silkies separate. People have been known to mix the littles and full size birds, but it can be tricky. I would eventually put group 1 and 2 together. What I would do, is open that dog crate somehow, so that the Cochins could fit through it, they will go out and mingle with the big birds, but can escape back to the safety zone, where you have kept them, as needed and the big girls can't follow.

I would add a lot of clutter to your run. It is almost empty, makes no use of the vertical space, and pallets, roosts, old ladders, chairs, tree branches, mini walls give hide outs, and make the whole set up a lot more interesting for your chickens. It will give more shade, and offer places where you can feed birds in different spots so that a bird eating at one place cannot see a bird eating at another. It is especially important if you want them all to be together.

I think you may just be getting started? And you have some misconceptions about chickens.

• Being raised together will produce life long friends. Roosters raised together will not fight. Not the case as they reach puberty a lot of them will fight. Some of them will become aggressive, some will attack people, even if they were a pet a couple of weeks ago.
• Rooster chicks are darling, that part is true, but it is no indicator how they will be acting in a month, a week or even tomorrow.
• Size of the bird is majorly important in pecking order. Being raised together will not compensate for that. Little birds can have a rotten life if people do not solve for peace in the flock, but just wish they would all get along.
• for 11 hens, one rooster is more than enough. Even if you keep them separated, some roosters will fight themselves bloody through the fence.

As for feed, you can feed everyone either chick feed or all flock feed or if you have them separate.

My advice - put group 1 & 2 together through a one way fence line. Add clutter, remove two - three of your rooster chicks, and keep the silkies separate.

Mrs K

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Group 1 - 7 big birds, 1 year old, BO, JG, and WY

Group 2 - Cochins (?) 14 weeks old 2 roosters and 1 pullet

Group 3 - 4 silkies - 3 pullets and 1 rooster - 10 - 11 weeks

I think I have this right?

I would keep the silkies separate. People have been known to mix the littles and full size birds, but it can be tricky. I would eventually put group 1 and 2 together. What I would do, is open that dog crate somehow, so that the Cochins could fit through it, they will go out and mingle with the big birds, but can escape back to the safety zone, where you have kept them, as needed and the big girls can't follow.

I would add a lot of clutter to your run. It is almost empty, makes no use of the vertical space, and pallets, roosts, old ladders, chairs, tree branches, mini walls give hide outs, and make the whole set up a lot more interesting for your chickens. It will give more shade, and offer places where you can feed birds in different spots so that a bird eating at one place cannot see a bird eating at another. It is especially important if you want them all to be together.

I think you may just be getting started? And you have some misconceptions about chickens.

• Being raised together will produce life long friends. Roosters raised together will not fight. Not the case as they reach puberty a lot of them will fight. Some of them will become aggressive, some will attack people, even if they were a pet a couple of weeks ago.
• Rooster chicks are darling, that part is true, but it is no indicator how they will be acting in a month, a week or even tomorrow.
• Size of the bird is majorly important in pecking order. Being raised together will not compensate for that. Little birds can have a rotten life if people do not solve for peace in the flock, but just wish they would all get along.
• for 11 hens, one rooster is more than enough. Even if you keep them separated, some roosters will fight themselves bloody through the fence.

As for feed, you can feed everyone either chick feed or all flock feed or if you have them separate.

My advice - put group 1 & 2 together through a one way fence line. Add clutter, remove two - three of your rooster chicks, and keep the silkies separate.

Mrs K

Thanks just what I wanted I am hoping to keep my little cocks because I am pretty close to them and they get along great! I will have to see how it goes you got it all right as for the breeds and ages thanks again I will start to but group one and two together thanks again!!!

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Okay so I’m pretty sure they’re going ready to go together is it okay to let my old chickens eat chick feed? And the chicks can’t eat layer feed right? Ugh I don’t know what to do

 

[aart]

Okay so I’m pretty sure they’re going ready to go together is it okay to let my old chickens eat chick feed? And the chicks can’t eat layer feed right? Ugh I don’t know what to do

I've always fed the entire flock an 'all flock' formula with a separate container of oyster shell for the active layers.