- Oct 29, 2011
- 220
- 43
- 169
My two new EE pullets are now 13 weeks old. For the last several weeks, we have gradually introduced them to the existing flock of three hens and a Dominique roo, all around 8 months. We put them in adjacent pens so they could see each other, placed them on the roost at night and then separated them in the morning, and free ranged them all together. At first, the roo would go after them and I would run to the rescue. The older girls tried to beat them up at first, but now all but one completely ignores them . Yesterday, I left them in the coop until a bit past day break. Poor Ogee was in the nesting box, and Buffy was in the corner with her head hidden and Ziggy the roo was bullying her. He wasn't attacking, but I got nervous and separated them. Throughout the day he would just chase them away from the coop. This morning I went out and opened the front and back doors. The two little ones stayed on the roost until the big kids were done eating, but came down to eat once they went in the back area. I think I might have a flock now without making myself insane running to the rescue.
At 13 weeks, does everyone think the danger of injury is over and I might just expect a few pecks? With the holiday, I have the weekend, but Monday I am back to work with them locked in together for up to ten hours of unsupervised time. There is a front area that is 6x 8 and the back is about 10 x 10. The coop is in the middle. I don't want to come home to two dead or maimed babies!
At 13 weeks, does everyone think the danger of injury is over and I might just expect a few pecks? With the holiday, I have the weekend, but Monday I am back to work with them locked in together for up to ten hours of unsupervised time. There is a front area that is 6x 8 and the back is about 10 x 10. The coop is in the middle. I don't want to come home to two dead or maimed babies!