diamondsilkies
Songster
A couple months ago I bought two class A seramas to add to my flock. I'm not exactly sure how old they are. The man who was selling them said they were pullets but one lays eggs. I want to add them to my serama breeding flock.
My coop is divided by a fence that I built that goes to about a foot away from the ceiling. My seramas are on one side with my old silkie pair that I keep for pets. Normally I let them free range together for a day and then when they go back together in the coop, they're fine. Of course, there is some pecking order squabble, but not too much and no injuries.
I did the same thing with these two. When I put them back in, they got picked on a little bit, but no more than normal. However, instead of sticking up for themselves, they just flew onto the other side of the coop with all my bigger chickens, who paid them no attention. I put them back with the seramas, but the same thing happened. I've tried putting the two new ones with my old ones at night while they roost, and it doesn't work either. Neither of them get seriously picked on, but they just won't stand up for themselves or settle into the pecking order.
I've considered extending the fence up so they can't fly over, but I'm worried that if they really are in danger of getting seriously injured, they won't be able to escape.
How can I introduce them into the pecking order successfully? I want to have them as part of my breeding program, but they won't tolerate being with my roosters.
I was thinking of maybe taking out the other serama hens, since they are the main offenders, and let them get acquainted with the roosters for a couple days before adding the other hens back in. Does that sound like it would work? Would the roosters protect them?
My coop is divided by a fence that I built that goes to about a foot away from the ceiling. My seramas are on one side with my old silkie pair that I keep for pets. Normally I let them free range together for a day and then when they go back together in the coop, they're fine. Of course, there is some pecking order squabble, but not too much and no injuries.
I did the same thing with these two. When I put them back in, they got picked on a little bit, but no more than normal. However, instead of sticking up for themselves, they just flew onto the other side of the coop with all my bigger chickens, who paid them no attention. I put them back with the seramas, but the same thing happened. I've tried putting the two new ones with my old ones at night while they roost, and it doesn't work either. Neither of them get seriously picked on, but they just won't stand up for themselves or settle into the pecking order.
I've considered extending the fence up so they can't fly over, but I'm worried that if they really are in danger of getting seriously injured, they won't be able to escape.
How can I introduce them into the pecking order successfully? I want to have them as part of my breeding program, but they won't tolerate being with my roosters.
I was thinking of maybe taking out the other serama hens, since they are the main offenders, and let them get acquainted with the roosters for a couple days before adding the other hens back in. Does that sound like it would work? Would the roosters protect them?
can't hurt to try - sounds like a good idea though would keep an eye on them at first
