Integrating the Splits -- Documenting the Process

[3KillerBs]

Sounds like it is going very well!

I keep thinking "It's not supposed to be this easy, right?"

But I got so much excellent advice from everyone here I guess I managed to avoid some of the major pitfalls -- at least with this batch.

Beginner's luck, maybe.

 

[Sally PB]

You deserve it.

 

[3KillerBs]

The latest renovation of the arrangements is here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/this-is-why-you-want-a-huge-run.1472664/

 

[3KillerBs]

I didn't go out into the downpour to get photos, but I could see from my window that when the deluge dropped all 9 birds, large and small, were standing together under the canopy.

Probably the Ladies were telling the Splits "It's her job to come out and fix this mess. She's responsible for the weather."

The Splits have to eat out of the Ladies' feeder today because my rain-cover arrangements were inadequate to strongly-blown rain so their feeder was all soggy this morning and is currently drying in my dishrack.

 

[3KillerBs]

It's interesting watching the Splits react to the integration of the Ideal Dozen -- they're much more interested in asserting dominance over the youngsters than the adult hens are.

The chicks even use the adults as a pick. When one of the Splits is in pursuit the little one will pass very close to the adult -- maybe taking a perfunctory peck in passing -- but if the Split tries to approach that closely the adult will peck much more assertively.

But they are sharing feeders without issues and the Splits (13 weeks tomorrow), have been checking out the Ladies' coop and even observing the nests.

 

[aart]

It's interesting watching the Splits react to the integration of the Ideal Dozen -- they're much more interested in asserting dominance over the youngsters than the adult hens are.

Of course....crap rolls downhill

 

[3KillerBs]

Of course....crap rolls downhill

Like watching kids on the playground.

The teachers reprimand the big kids, the big kids put the little ones in place, and the little ones know they can use the teachers as a shield when necessary.