Integrating...Again...

[ChickenGirl555]

(To aart if he is reading this, I took in the measurements of my coop and I do have enough room for all of the chickens)

I have integrated 2 chicks into my flock of 6 pullets before, but now a few things have changed. (The two I integrated are no longer with me. I gave them to somebody who wanted them since one was a roo, and it was a naked neck, and I didn't want to breed naked necks since I am raising chickens for eggs and show birds.) The pullets hadn't started laying eggs when I integrated the others, so it was easier because they weren't fully matured and still making the pecking order. But now they are 9 months old, laying eggs, and have a good pecking order. I know who the top pullet, and the low pullet is. I'm not sure if that helps, but anyways I have an idea of what chickens are lower or higher.

Anyways, another change is now I'm integrating 4 polish chickens. Besides the Naked Neck, I had integrated a Silkie/Faverolle mix (That's what I believe she was) with him. We gave her away because the Naked Neck would've been heartbroken and terrified without her. So she did have an 'afro' so they have seen 'afros' before. Once again, not sure if this helps, but I'm trying to give all of the information since I left a lot out the first time I integrated.

So I have started integrating with see-don't-touch with the chicks staying outside in a rabbit fence (covered for hawks/crows) right next to the pullets' run. They are not even a foot away from each other. I'm not planning on moving them in soon since they aren't big enough, so I'm going to be doing see-don't-touch and occasional free ranging together for a while. I'm not home currently, so I'm not monitoring them.

I'm sorry if I had talked and said too much, but I'm always worried about my chickens. I'm not sure which are cockerels or pullets, since they weren't sexed, but if I have more than one roo (or the rooster is horrible and I absolutely hate him) we will give some away, so we might not even keep all 4 after July.

Some people might be wondering why I'm asking about integration and typing a giant story when I've done it before...Well I've never really done all afro breeds, and I know they can get picked on, and like I said, the pullets have grown.

Sorry if this took forever to read!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

@aart is a female.

I'm having a hard time understanding your post after reading it.

How many existing birds and what are their ages, and breeds? How many are you integrating and their ages and breeds?

How big is your coop and run. Polish can be tricky, and are best kept with other polish, especially under confinement or in a tight set up.

I see you also live in Wisconsin. A coop needs to be pretty roomy here as many months of winter leads to chickens staying inside on many days. Bored chickens will start to peck each other and Polish are big targets.

 

[aart]

(To aart if they are reading this, I took in the measurements of my coop and I do have enough room for all of the chickens)

So, give us those dimensions here, along with pics of your coop.

IIRC, from your numerous threads on the prior integration, your coop was barely big enough for the birds you had and you were not set up to integrate more.
Please, if you really want some help figuring this out, do not start multiple threads again.
Keep everything right here.
Giving us the info we need to help you make the best decisions.

So pics and dimensions of coop and run and 'rabbit fence'.
How old are the 4 polish chicks you have?
Pics of those too cause who doesn't like chick pics.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

I’m so sorry. I just assumed from aart’s picture she was a male.

The pullets are 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Buff Orps, and 2 Americana/EE.

I’m not really sure on the age of the chicks, so I’ll just give pictures. (They are adorable)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The good thing is you have 4 polish which may work out. Still wondering about how big your coop and run is though. 10 adult birds in Wisconsin will need roughly a 8 x10 coop in my experiences to avoid problems.

 

[aart]

So pics and dimensions of coop and run and 'rabbit fence'.
How old are the 4 polish chicks you have?

Great chicks pics, curious why you don't know their ages?
..... and what about the other info?

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Great chicks pics, curious why you don't know their ages?

We saw them in late-late March, just two days before we left for Spring Break. They came in early. They were supposed to ship in April 7th, when we got home. When we got back, the same chicks were there and now we aren't sure of any exact ages.

 

[aart]

..... and what about the other info?

 

[paneubert]

I tried to read thru their 7 pages of prior post titles reading any that I thought might have dimensions, and I can't see where they ever have said their coop size, ever. Just one photo of the coop and one of the roof. Makes me wonder.....



Looking at the coop photo, I am betting 4 by 8 for the coop. The run is mostly out of the frame of the photo, so who knows.

 

[aart]

and I can't see where they ever have said their coop size, ever. Just one photo of the coop and one of the roof. Makes me wonder.....

Yep...we've begged...but solid info never forthcoming.