Integration Day

[chickmomma03]

Quote: Yay for progress! Thanks, my littles are getting a little more brave with time.

 

[bcollier9253]

Well so far so good! Went out this morning to open up the pop door, all the girls were all together on the top roost bar. And then tonight I was corralling all back in the coop, the big girls went up the ramp first. Low and behold the young girls followed suit! Very proud to say the least! The younguns are still a little skittish when one of the older girls approaches but I reckon that's to be expected. Oh yeah... Got five eggs out six girls today. Would have been six except the stress last night caused one of ladies to drop a undeveloped egg in the poop tray. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

 

[sean320]

Well so far so good! Went out this morning to open up the pop door, all the girls were all together on the top roost bar. And then tonight I was corralling all back in the coop, the big girls went up the ramp first. Low and behold the young girls followed suit! Very proud to say the least! The younguns are still a little skittish when one of the older girls approaches but I reckon that's to be expected. Oh yeah... Got five eggs out six girls today. Would have been six except the stress last night caused one of ladies to drop a undeveloped egg in the poop tray. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

Nice! Great to hear this. Cool your still getting a solid egg count. You would think stress would drop as time goes on so you should be set.

We've reverted backwards a bit here. Opened the doors this morning and found all newbies piled in a nesting box so I suspect some early morning shenanigans. I have a coop light on a timer coming on at 4am. I believe I will extend evening lighting times and keep it dark in the morning untill I can get out in the morning to open up.

 

[chickmomma03]

Quote: My littles refuse to get on and stay on the nesting shelves too lol. They pile together in a nesting basket. I just leave them because right after I put them up they get down.

Glad to read things are going well!

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Very happy to hear that 8 weeks works for integrating the flock. I'm on a deadline with my three new babies and have to have the job done by mid-March. Perfect timing - if it works!

 

[ShannonLee]

I have three barnyard mixes with hopes of an olive egger and a blue egg layer, they are about 3 months old as the 6 layers are about 8 months old. My most social friendly layer (Cinnamon Queen) is the one doing all the pecking and corners the littles, so I have them on supervision only integration. I have them in a super sized dog kennel in the run of the layers for about 2 weeks before I even let them out. They go back in when I am not out there. The other layers are mostly uninterested. I think I may need to get her some no pecking glasses due to her relentlessness on chasing the littles around and pecking at them.