Integration Roadblock and Questions

[BonnieBlue]

No, I have mostly moved and the facilities I have now are what I the permanent ones. I moved the two older hens in August and got the littles in October. I am just finishing moving my stuff into this new house. I got my chickens and dog situated first, then started with me. Lol

 

[BonnieBlue]

Taking time off for Christmas and finally getting this done when I can be here to keep an eye on things for a few days.

Yesterday afternoon late, the bigs came into their coop while I was there, and the littles were just outside it, so I called and talked to them until they all came inside. Then shut the pop door. From dusk until dark, the whining and carrying on was pitiful. And the two bigs just stood there and glared at me like "WHY DID YOU DO THAT"? I checked on them late and they had all exhausted themselves to sleep on the roost. Today has seen a bit of fussies, but for the most part, everyone is getting along. I plan on leaving everyone locked in the coop for a few of days. I'll lock off the coop and tiny run, and even if they want to go back, hopefully will just go to the big coop when they can't.

 

[Mrs. K]

Just to make sure I am understanding are you locking them in just at night? If you lock up the little coop, just check to make sure, but once mine have roosted in a coop, they go back there. No need to lock them in a coop unless you don’t have a secure run.

 

[BonnieBlue]

Just to make sure I am understanding are you locking them in just at night? If you lock up the little coop, just check to make sure, but once mine have roosted in a coop, they go back there. No need to lock them in a coop unless you don’t have a secure run.

I am locking them in the big coop for a couple of days and nights. I am going to close and lock up the little coop and run. My run is quite secure, but I thought they would try to go back to their little coop until they had been in the big one 24/7 for a few nights. They do well during the day in the big coop, but Thurs night and last night they stood at the pop door at dusk whining incessantly. I don't speak chicken, but it sounded like "it's been fun, but we need to go hooooooome". I thought they needed a few days/nights to set their little gps's to their new home.

One benefit I noticed this morning was the bigs are getting a lot better with the littles. There are still food fussies, which is to be expected, but this morning everyone was standing together watching for me and the littles were right next to Violet, who didn't care. That was a first.