Integrating a cockerel into a flock of mature hens

[islandgirl82]

I love road trips, even those that don't lead anywhere in particular so I didn't factor in the cost of fuel. In addition, we have family near where we got them so the majority of the trip was a much traveled one for us anyway. Given the time and money it takes to raise them from young chicks, I thought it was a more than reasonable amount for pullets who have just reached POL.

 

[Sylvester017]

I love road trips, even those that don't lead anywhere in particular so I didn't factor in the cost of fuel. In addition, we have family near where we got them so the majority of the trip was a much traveled one for us anyway. Given the time and money it takes to raise them from young chicks, I thought it was a more than reasonable amount for pullets who have just reached POL.

You're right - very reasonable. I've usually paid $20 - $25 each for 3 to 4-month-olds plus USPS shipping which is 3x more than the cost of the bird plus I always give another $25 to the breeder for the time they kept and raised the chicks to juvenile age. We're not a rural area so I have to get my desired breeds from distances too far to drive. Cackle Hatchery is going to cost me $55 for 5@ one-day-old chicks and don't even offer POL Dom pullets (at least not yet). The $55 includes shipping and Marek's vaccination but still they will be chicks and who knows how many will actually survive to POL. You never know what kind of USPS handling the chicks will be subjected to once they leave the Midwest hatchery plus it's such a pain to brooder chicks but it looks like an option. Cackles' Dom large fowl and bantam bird stock has received breeding consultation from Mark A. Fields who was top breeder of Dominiques in his day. There is a farm called Dare2Dream a few counties away from us that deliver POL chickens if you order way in advance and schedule a pickup date when they deliver to our county. Closer to Spring I will peruse their website for breed availability and delivery to our county. I want birds that have had Marek's vaccinations.

 

[islandgirl82]

There's one that's a little more curious than the rest and dares to get somewhat close to me. She's the first to explore their new accommodations - I think she needs to lay an egg and is checking around for the best spot and there looks to be one whose comb and wattles aren't quite fully developed yet so she likely hasn't begun.

I'm now seeing a little scabbing on the tops of their legs, just like what's on their combs. I'm assuming that's also a result of pecking from not having adequate space at their previous home and hoping it's not something more severe. Time in quarantine should give me a better idea.







Ichabod is surprisingly quiet this morning considering the new arrivals. He is able to see them from the big run but isn't paying them any attention.

 

[aart]

Beauties!

Closeup of 'scabs', head and feet, when you get a chance and want to make the opportunity?

 

[islandgirl82]

Will do. They're still very skittish and to top it off, a neighbor brought their granddaughter over to see the chickens and had their dogs with them. Soooo...3 out of 4 hens made a great escape, two came back and are responding to Ichabod's tidbitting from outside the big run but the one I'm sure hasn't begun laying yet took is still MIA. I'm hoping Ichabod's crowing will call her home before something gets her. Also hoping it's late enough in the season that the hawk has left for warmer weather. So much for a quiet first day to settle in. Sigh.

 

[aart]

Will do. They're still very skittish and to top it off, a neighbor brought their granddaughter over to see the chickens and had their dogs with them. Soooo...3 out of 4 hens made a great escape, two came back and are responding to Ichabod's tidbitting from outside the big run but the one I'm sure hasn't begun laying yet took is still MIA. I'm hoping Ichabod's crowing will call her home before something gets her. Also hoping it's late enough in the season that the hawk has left for warmer weather. So much for a quiet first day to settle in. Sigh.

OyVey! Trial by fire.

 

[islandgirl82]

The two that were hanging around the big coop and run are back where they belong but the one is still missing. The children and I keep going out to look periodically with the hope that she's just picked a really good hiding spot but I'm pretty sure I keep hearing the hawk every now and then. If that is the hawk, with it's continuous calls, I hope that does mean she has found herself a great hiding spot and isn't ready to come out yet.

 

[islandgirl82]

Oh! What's this??

 

[Leahs Mom]

Is that your lost girl?

 

[islandgirl82]

YES! I don't know where she was hiding but Ichabod spent all afternoon crowing. I noticed her lurking on the far side of the run as I was feeding out their dinner. We tried to herd her back to her own coop/run but she would have no part of it so we let her be and decided we'd search when the sun went down figuring she wouldn't stray too far now that she'd found her way back. After everyone else had been closed in for the night and we gave her some more time to settle down my daughter opened the door to check on her and as soon as she saw her she came rushing towards the house. She wasn't keen on being caught but wouldn't run away from us and was fairly easy to catch. She's now back in the isolation coop with the other pullets.