Integrating a cockerel into a flock of mature hens

[islandgirl82]

Thank you! Making sure everyone here can live harmoniously is very important to me and I've been pleasantly surprised by the personalities of both Ichabod and the pup.

I have worried about this pup with other animals but she's has proven each and every time, no matter who/what type of animal she's meeting, that she has no interest in treating them like toys or prey. She instantly goes belly up to other dogs (and cats), no matter how big or small and with livestock, she gets as low as she possibly can. I take her to my children's horseback riding lessons and there are two Nigerian Dwarf goat kids there (not much bigger than the pup) who roam loose on the farm. They're very sweet but timid around dogs. The pup not only lays down when she sees them, but stretches her back legs straight out behind her and her front legs to either side with her head on the ground. She's learned very quickly that staying still like that makes them more likely to approach her than if she's bouncing around in hopes that they'll play. She'll even sit quietly and just watch them as they bounce and race all over doing their baby goat thing. Do I think she has the makings of a good flock/livestock protector? Not at all but she's a phenomenal family dog which works just fine for me. She's a mix of four very energetic/hyper breeds but is nothing like what I would have expected her to be. She has incredible self control, especially for one so young. She doesn't get into things or chew anything she's not supposed to. She doesn't nip even when she's at her most rambunctious level but if she even looks like she might, a "no bite", even spoken at a whisper and she'll immediately stop. She's just over 15 weeks now, brought her home at 10 weeks and she's gone the last two without any accidents at home or anywhere else I've taken her. I know working from home has been a major benefit in getting through her puppyhood but wanting to learn and please is just who she is. Even when I've taken her to play with one of her sisters, she will try her hardest to follow commands despite getting pounced on and shoved over by her sister who does everything she can to keep my pup engaged in play.

As for Ichabod, there was a while I had wondered what was wrong with him because he's nothing like what I would expect from a male, especially an adolescent going through his obnoxious phase but as his hormones have kicked in, he's becoming even more mellow - not anything I thought possible, especially now being confined to the run although I'm sure he finds looking after the girls to be much easier. I also thought being confined would make him territorial but that hasn't happened either.

I'm very excited to see/get these new Dom girls today and I think this excitement is just as much for him as it is for me. Part of my debate was not wanting to cull the mean girls for new girls who still aren't a breed I want and it was by luck that I found these pullets at their age and at this time.

 

[lazy gardener]

You know why I'm anxiously waiting for your assessment of these Dom girls, don't you!!!!

 

[Sylvester017]

Thank you! Making sure everyone here can live harmoniously is very important to me and I've been pleasantly surprised by the personalities of both Ichabod and the pup.

She doesn't nip even when she's at her most rambunctious level but if she even looks like she might, a "no bite", even spoken at a whisper and she'll immediately stop. Even when I've taken her to play with one of her sisters, she will try her hardest to follow commands despite getting pounced on and shoved over by her sister who does everything she can to keep my pup engaged in play.

I'm very excited to see/get these new Dom girls today and I think this excitement is just as much for him as it is for me. Part of my debate was not wanting to cull the mean girls for new girls who still aren't a breed I want and it was by luck that I found these pullets at their age and at this time.

You've been blessed this time around w/ both Ichabod & the new puppy (did you name her yet?).

In training my different dogs over the years I've found whispers and soft low commands very effective as it makes the dog attentive to catch every word even with distractions around them. I eventually got down to just hand signals and one dog responded to my eyebrows believe it or not. My chickens look at my face but I don't dare hope they can understand my expressions LOL! They do respond to a couple hand signals though and definitely know their names.

GL with the new Doms. It is always a nail-biting time wondering how everyone will eventually get along. We still have a Cuckoo Breda pullet in-house waiting for her to get near POL before integrating her with the 2 outdoor Silkies. I was going to have 2 Silkies, 2 Breda and an Ameraucana but I lost a Blue Breda and the Ameraucana over summer and down to 3 girls total for the moment. That's why I'm anxious to get my Doms in the Spring to bring up my flock number for eggs. Right now I'm getting 2 or 3 little eggs a week from one Silkie while the other Silkie is broody and of course the in-house pullet is nowhere near POL. Definitely need more hens! I'm crossing fingers that the new Cuckoo Breda pullet will be as nice to the 2 bantam Silkies as the Blue Breda was that we lost. I love the Ameraucana as the gentlest non-combative breed we've ever had but our humid drought climate is not conducive to heavily under-downed breeds like Amer's or EEs.

 

[islandgirl82]

After a two hour drive, we arrived at a home set back from the road and in the drive stood a round little woman with long dark hair put up in a loose, lopsided bun topped with half moon reading glasses. Her coat looked to be 3 sized too big as were her wellies and she wore a man's flannel shirt and a jean skirt that fell to her knees. She greeted me at my car with a hug as though she was greeting an old friend and pulled me through her yard by my arm chattering about how she planted garlic in the spring and it's taken over her lawn and asked why I was there - said she had a "senior moment" and forgot I was coming. She was the type of woman who could be everyone's grandmother and it was warming. She went on about how beautiful these dominiques are but she got carried away this year and just has too many chickens. She apologized profusely as she knew the birds didn't have adequate space in the coop she started them in and they had outgrown it ages ago. As a result, there's been some feather picking. Despite not having the space, she loved the birds and cared for them as best she could and aside from some missing tail feathers and lack of handling, the birds were well fed, bright-eyed, alert and don't have any visible issues.

She brought me into their run so I could catch, assess and choose my four. They were terrified, naturally and all but one settled into my arms as soon as they were caught and let me look them over without much fuss. The one who didn't, took a moment or two longer but she too settled down and let me look her over.

After choosing my girls, the woman was eager to show me around her homestead, especially her geese and her pride and joy - a miniature Hereford bull, sire to a few calves she had. Cutest, fuzziest, curliest fur-faced bovine EVER (except for the Scottish Highland cattle...those are my favorite breed). Also...he eats sandwiches.

The bull and my 12 year old daughter (4'11") are standing at the same level...





When we were getting ready to go, the woman gave me another hug and thanked me over and over again as she loaded up my car with loaves of bread and other baked goods, ignoring my protests of all the goodies (Did I mention she could be everyone's grandmother?) and we were back on the road for the two hour journey home, children and pup in the backseat, pullets nestled down in the crate in the cargo area and smiles and warmed spirits all around.

As for the pullets, they all have great feather coloring with tight feathers - no fluff, nice body shape but will be better to tell when their missing tail feathers grow back in and they're not scrambling over each other or huddled in fear. They have nice small, tight wattles and small combs with those points and I'm sure they'll still fill out a little more. They've just begun laying (someone even gave us an egg during the ride home). Their beaks and legs aren't as yellow as I'd like to see them but it was a little difficult to tell with all the rain and mud whether some of the discoloration of the legs is actually dirt. Tonight, they're in the crate in the kitchen, enjoying some apple slices and water. Tomorrow, I'll get them cleaned up and settled into the isolation coop and then get some photos.

 

[Sylvester017]

After a two hour drive, we arrived at a home set back from the road and in the drive stood a round little woman with long dark hair put up in a loose, lopsided bun topped with half moon reading glasses.

After choosing my girls, the woman was eager to show me around her homestead, especially her geese and her pride and joy - a miniature Hereford bull, sire to a few calves she had. Cutest, fuzziest, curliest fur-faced bovine EVER (except for the Scottish Highland cattle...those are my favorite breed). Also...he eats sandwiches.

The bull and my 12 year old daughter (4'11") are standing at the same level...


As for the pullets, they all have great feather coloring with tight feathers - no fluff, nice body shape but will be better to tell when their missing tail feathers grow back in and they're not scrambling over each other or huddled in fear. They have nice small, tight wattles and small combs with those points and I'm sure they'll still fill out a little more. They've just begun laying (someone even gave us an egg during the ride home). Their beaks and legs aren't as yellow as I'd like to see them but it was a little difficult to tell with all the rain and mud whether some of the discoloration of the legs is actually dirt. Tonight, they're in the crate in the kitchen, enjoying some apple slices and water. Tomorrow, I'll get them cleaned up and settled into the isolation coop and then get some photos.

Even if you came home empty-handed the adventure was worth the trip! Somehow I thought a miniature Hereford would be shorter since they are stocky even as full sized bulls. @chicken danz just got an adorable Highland miniature heifer -- so darn cute! My favorite miniatures are the Jerseys because of the soft fur color, darker points, and long accentuated eyelashes LOL! They can really be small little cuties!

Sounds like you did a good job selecting your pullets. The leaders at the back of the combs is a feature I love. Another is the U-shape curve of a Dom's back. Without tails it was probably hard for you to decipher that feature. You guys will have those pullets eating out of your hands in no time! I always have such high expectations from my favorite breeds I'm afraid of being disappointed if the chicken doesn't fulfill my over-rated expectations.

 

[islandgirl82]

Better shots tomorrow but here they are

 

[islandgirl82]

Quote:
The bull was stretching his head up...he was very stalky but short. So cute. With or without pullets it was such an adventure and definitely worth the trip.

The girls I selected had the most prominent leaders there. It's difficult to see that they have them at all with them huddled the way they are. As soon as I was able to hold each one and talk to them, I was able to pet them all over and they relaxed quite a bit. I'm hoping it's not raining tomorrow so it's more enjoyable to spend time with them outside. The girls I chose have more tail feathers than some had but they were all far too scared to be standing in positions that would show the U-shape. In addition for choosing girls with the most prominent leaders, I also chose those with the shortest looking backs with the hope that they'll have that shape.

 

[Sylvester017]

The girls I selected had the most prominent leaders there. It's difficult to see that they have them at all with them huddled the way they are. As soon as I was able to hold each one and talk to them, I was able to pet them all over and they relaxed quite a bit. I'm hoping it's not raining tomorrow so it's more enjoyable to spend time with them outside. The girls I chose have more tail feathers than some had but they were all far too scared to be standing in positions that would show the U-shape. In addition for choosing girls with the most prominent leaders, I also chose those with the shortest looking backs with the hope that they'll have that shape.

With 4 girls in the mix you know there'll be at least one good U in the group LOL! Too much cushion feathers at the base of the tail can interfere with seeing a good U. What is it they say? Out of 100 chickens you'd be lucky to get even 1 with the right body type. Most breeders don't bother with details like combs, wattles, feathers, leg colors, eye colors, etc, until they get the body type correct first. Me, I'm impatient, and want to see it all at once in the "perfect" bird (which doesn't exist even in show terms). Wish your little "grandma" lived near me so I could go pick up a couple pullets LOL! May I ask, what she charged for each?

 

[islandgirl82]

The two I got over the summer both have a beautiful U-shape and with six dom girls now, I'll have plenty of babies to choose from. I wish she lived closer to me, she made me realize just how much I miss my own grandmothers who passed on years ago and I don't mind you asking at all. I paid $10 for each.

 

[Sylvester017]

The two I got over the summer both have a beautiful U-shape and with six dom girls now, I'll have plenty of babies to choose from. I wish she lived closer to me, she made me realize just how much I miss my own grandmothers who passed on years ago and I don't mind you asking at all. I paid $10 for each.

Very good price factoring in the gasoline for a nice outing with DD!!!! It's memorable how these little trips stay with our kids. My grown DD just reminded me on my birthday last week how she can never get an order of hash browns to taste like the ones I made when she was a kid -- what a weird memory for an offspring to hang on to?