Integrating...Again...

[ChickenGirl555]

I'm sorry to hear that. Could you extend the coop and keep the polish separate?

No, sadly. But we're going to make a bigger coop sometime this summer. Also I found out one I have is boy (from crowing) and i suspect another is a boy...We may end up with only 8 chickens again!

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Would it work with no deaths if I had put the chicks in the coop, on the roosts, one night? They have only seen-not-touched for a while, the only time they really physically touched/met was when I lost Kevin. I decided I'm going to keep them separate as long as possible until I just have to get them in the house, so they will be as big as possible.

Is integrating a rooster easier than pullets? Does it help? Is it worse?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Putting birds on the roosts at night implies that chickens are too stupid to recognize strangers. It just happens to work for some (so they say), but isn't the best option. All integrations will fail without enough room for the new members to escape to and enough time taken for birds to become familiar through a fence.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Putting birds on the roosts at night implies that chickens are too stupid to recognize strangers. It just happens to work for some (so they say), but isn't the best option. All integrations will fail without enough room for the new members to escape to and enough time taken for birds to become familiar through a fence.

I'm going to take a box and cut holes for the chicks to get through, and they've been getting familiar through a fence for about a month now. When they are ready to be put in, should I just put them in at night time? Or during the day and let them fall asleep with the birds already there.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I generally start locking the chicks in the coop for a few hours each day so they can become familiar with it first, than I start opening the door and get them familiar going in and out.

I still would be wary adding polish to a non crested flock, especially since they already killed a bird.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

I generally start locking the chicks in the coop for a few hours each day so they can become familiar with it first, than I start opening the door and get them familiar going in and out.

I still would be wary adding polish to a non crested flock, especially since they already killed a bird.

Yes, now anytime they are free to be pecked and grabbed by the adults (they haven't since Kevin's death) I will never let them out of my sight. Last integration, I had introduced them to one pullet at a time, alone, in the coop. I kept checking through the nesting box on them about every five minutes or anytime I heard commotion. Should I do the same?

Also, I've noticed my lower-level pullet in the pecking order has been the most vicious with them. They seem to realize this and start to freak out in their safe outdoor pen when she is free ranging around them. Should I lock her in a dog cage near the others whenever I choose to do a full-on-physical-everybody-in integration? She's an EE named Becky. Everybody else doesn't really go out of their way to harass them. Should I start free ranging together? Letting them interact outside of a locked coop/run? I will obviously watch them during this time, and break up any bloody fights or anything looking just too much for them. Like I said, I'm going to try and keep them seperate as long as possible (hopefully to june 20-something, when I can tell gender and they have all feathers).

 

[ChickenGirl555]

I really do apologize if I've ever seemed annoying or stubborn. My mind constantly changes and fills with new questions and ideas. I also start preparing very early and annoy everybody I know.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Good news! We got a new, small coop for really cheap. After we clean and touch it up it’ll be ready for residents! This is great, because now I can move the polish into here until they are full grown or almost full grown. I don’t know dimensions but it should do as a get-out-of-the-house-but-not-integrated-yet coop.

 

[obicat]

Perfect! Then when you are ready start letting them free range under supervision. When they settled you can always attach that coop to the run and make it so only the polands can get in. That way it works like a panic room for them.