I'm new to BYC and to raising chickens

[Red Barn Farms]

Hello and greetings from Kentucky!

 

[Kevin565]

 

[semo]

Hi and welcome.

 

[Big A Chickens]

Hi,

So glad you joined us!!!

 

[liz9910]

from California!

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Hi and

from Kansas!

Answers:

**I've heard of some starting as early as 5 days and I've had it take some as long as 25 weeks. Usually around 15 weeks though.

**Maybe never. I have some roosters that are twice the size of hens, and they always get beat up by the girls. Actually, the ducks are the only ones at the top of the pecking order, the roos are about the middle.

**They'll probably work it out eventually, but the younger ones will probably always be at the bottom. But after awhile they'll probably be less aggressive.

Hope that helped.

~~~Ms. B

 

[aaabirdman]

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio . So glad to have you aboard.

 

[GulfStar]

Hello, and welcome aboard.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Greetings from Kansas, farmerfogg, and

! Great to have you here! Happy you have some birds, even if one is a rooster (not necessarily a bad thing). I think the rooster should be giving you morning announcements soon. Although I have a rooster with my hens who has yet to crow and he is about two weeks older than yours. He'll also be "top dog" in the pecking order soon enough as well. But again, I have some established hens among my flock and they still boss him around. Lastly, the older girls will always likely be higher in the pecking order than the new girls - not a bad thing, just their nature. But that doesn't mean they will always pick on them - just outrank them. I introduced 8 new girls into my 10 older ones and none of them are picked on but all are clearly subordinant to the older ones. Make sure they all have plenty of space. Meaness is intensified in cramped conditions! Good luck to you!

Ditto!!