Shelbysoobs
In the Brooder
- Jul 18, 2022
- 7
- 4
- 11
I have 1 golden comet pullet (9 weeks on thurs 8/19) and 2 Easter egger pullets (8 weeks on Thursday 8/19. They have been together since I purchased from the feed store, when they were 1 week 3 days and 3 day old hatchlings.
They have been in an enclosed 7x7 covered run for 2 weeks now, with a raised coop within this space. They have a full 7x7 usable space, with herbs, concrete blocks, places to hide, etc. but I haven’t yet installed any roosts in the run area so they cant hide super well.
I built a crappy enclosure within the 7x7 run for two pullets I am trying to integrate. Today is day 3. They are a 9 week olive egger and a 9 week buff laced polish hen. The polish hen is still so tiny in comparison though she is the oldest by a couple days.
My existing flock still seems to be searching for a way into the “paddock” as I call it, not sure if it’s because they want to be mean to the new pullets or want access to the herbs sectioned off, etc. but at other times seem completely disinterested. I did notice that the golden comet especially seems to act territorial if I throw some fresh strawberries into the paddock, refresh their water, etc. the water container in the paddock is new, the golden comet has never had access to it. So it’s not like she’s mad they have her “favorite” waterer.. I am having a hard time discerning if she’s curious or if she intends to be mean to the new comers. One of my Easter eggers also seems to be searching the paddock for vulnerabilities as well, on occasion.
So, my question is.. what’s phase 2 of this integration? How long should I expect to keep them separate? It’s hard to change out the food and water, and I can’t really access the run to mix up bedding until the paddock is gone. I guess I’m at a loss to know how long I should expect them to be separate, what signs to look for as far as when I can try integrating.. I just really worry about the new girls especially, the polish hen is my husbands and it is the first pet in his entire life, and he’s very sensitive so he is quite attached to her.
I don’t free range to let them all out together as a trial run, im not sure I can trust them to go back in or not fly over the fence. The 3 existing pullets still run from us. My fault for not holding them more. So if I call them to come back to the run they would definitely not go in if I was anywhere by the door.
They have been in an enclosed 7x7 covered run for 2 weeks now, with a raised coop within this space. They have a full 7x7 usable space, with herbs, concrete blocks, places to hide, etc. but I haven’t yet installed any roosts in the run area so they cant hide super well.
I built a crappy enclosure within the 7x7 run for two pullets I am trying to integrate. Today is day 3. They are a 9 week olive egger and a 9 week buff laced polish hen. The polish hen is still so tiny in comparison though she is the oldest by a couple days.
My existing flock still seems to be searching for a way into the “paddock” as I call it, not sure if it’s because they want to be mean to the new pullets or want access to the herbs sectioned off, etc. but at other times seem completely disinterested. I did notice that the golden comet especially seems to act territorial if I throw some fresh strawberries into the paddock, refresh their water, etc. the water container in the paddock is new, the golden comet has never had access to it. So it’s not like she’s mad they have her “favorite” waterer.. I am having a hard time discerning if she’s curious or if she intends to be mean to the new comers. One of my Easter eggers also seems to be searching the paddock for vulnerabilities as well, on occasion.
So, my question is.. what’s phase 2 of this integration? How long should I expect to keep them separate? It’s hard to change out the food and water, and I can’t really access the run to mix up bedding until the paddock is gone. I guess I’m at a loss to know how long I should expect them to be separate, what signs to look for as far as when I can try integrating.. I just really worry about the new girls especially, the polish hen is my husbands and it is the first pet in his entire life, and he’s very sensitive so he is quite attached to her.
I don’t free range to let them all out together as a trial run, im not sure I can trust them to go back in or not fly over the fence. The 3 existing pullets still run from us. My fault for not holding them more. So if I call them to come back to the run they would definitely not go in if I was anywhere by the door.