Integration oddities or normal behavior?

[NatJ]

Feathers are everywhere. I pick them up frequently, because the chicks are eating them.

Eating feathers shouldn't hurt them. As long as they've got enough grit in their gizzards, the feathers will get ground up just like everything else does.

 

[vantain]

I moved Daisy from the nest box after dark, and placed her on the littles side of the coop, with them on the roost bar. She seems content there.

 

[vantain]

Ok..so I switched over to the smaller pinless peepers. Gwyneth is an Isa Brown, and has a rather large comb. I initially used the larger peepers with the space for larger combs, but the wings of the peepers are also quite a bit larger than the smaller peepers. It was giving her problems with the waterer. I removed the bridge on the upper part of the smaller peepers, and put those on her last night. They seem to be strong enough without that bridge. Today, she is doing great, and drinking out of the waterer again. The downside is that she can see better, so she does peck at and chase the littles a bit more. However, the incidents are greatly reduced, as she still can't see directly in front of her, so it limits her ability to peck very hard. This has been a win win for us all. She mostly stays to herself now, and ignores anyone not directly next to her. She is with the flock though, and that is the important part. She is also not constantly harassing Precious, my blind chick. Yay!

As for Daisy, she's still in mother mode, and enjoying her life with the littles.

 

[aart]

Observe and Adjust...Good Job!!

 

[vantain]

Observe and Adjust...Good Job!!

It worked out pretty well today. The modified peeper stayed on, and tempered Gwyneth’s aggression very well. She can still get some pecks in on the chicks, but nothing like before, and she is less likely to chase them.

 

[vantain]

Here she is with her stylish head gear.

 

[vantain]

That's why I said ordinarily...the places to hide and preventing chicks from getting cornered by offering places to escape or hide is pretty standard and would likely work in your situation.

Here's an updated pic with the clutter. There is the ramp now, and that jungle gym tower they can be on or under. Not seen to the left is another small roost. I will be adding more. They do love jumping up and down off things. The other older 8x8 is run is to the right, behind what you can see of the coop. They now have access to the entire thing. I'm also adding another 8x8 to the other side of the coop next month.

 

[igorsMistress]

Here's an updated pic with the clutter. There is the ramp now, and that jungle gym tower they can be on or under. Not seen to the left is another small roost. I will be adding more. They do love jumping up and down off things. The other older 8x8 is run is to the right, behind what you can see of the coop. They now have access to the entire thing. I'm also adding another 8x8 to the other side of the coop next month.
View attachment 2185156

Nice area for them!

 

[vantain]

Removed some of the partition wall in the coop, and moved the roost divider over to give the littles more space. Right now, Daisy roosts with the littles....after I drag her out of the nest box after dark. She protests, but seems content to be with them. Mean Gwyneth has the other, now smaller side. So far, she doesn’t seem to be bothering the littles in the mornings, while still in the coop, before we open the door. That said, to be safe, I have that partition wall, and left the other part of the main partition wall in place. If she does get aggressive in the more confined space of the coop, the barriers should give the littles space to get away, with something between them and Gwyneth. Hope it works as I hope it will.

 

[vantain]

Well...that sort of worked. Some of the littles tried being on Gwyneths side of the roost, and she would not let them be there. She also simply ducked under the partition there, and drove them off their side as well. I blocked the underside of the partition, and that is keeping Gwyneth on her side. What drama....