Introducing The Chicks

[aart]

Ahhh. A little separation and pecking order reset?

For the bully?
Separation can work....or not.
Try it, but keep in mind that sometimes a bird will just not fit for a harmonious flock.

I got rid of a troublemaker a few days ago, wish I had done it a few months ago, things are SO much calmer now. She was not a bully, but a neurotic nest messer, would not leave the nests alone, spent hours pacing in front and in and out of them, emptying them of bedding and disturbing all the other layers. Her and a chronic weak shell maker should be back from processor today to make great pots of stew/stock.

 

[XanderWiFi]

You're definitely right, Mrs. K. It's the last hurdle of getting them to share sleeping space.

Ah I see now Aart. I don't know if the wife would let me take this one. She is not a huge fan of her and by far not a favorite of ours. But she is productive and the only brown egglayer (the colored eggs is what my wife likes the most). I will remain hopefully that the little ones will eventually grow to a point they thump her back. On a side note...how much does it run you to process your chickens? I always figured I would have to do it all myself if it came to that.

Surprisingly, they are beginning to meld into one depending on which chickens are around who. The pullets are breaking apart from one another at times and I actually caught a couple of them just hanging out with a leghorn on top of their apartment without any muss or fuss.

The only trouble occurs when a chick gets stuck in a corner inside the coop and the RIR comes in. I believe I actually caught the RIR pursue them once when they went inside the house part of the coop to chase them back out.

 

[aart]

On a side note...how much does it run you to process your chickens? I always figured I would have to do it all myself if it came to that.

I usually slaughter myself but didn't want to set up(and clean up) for just 2, a buddy was taking a half dozen cockerels and some rabbits to the processor she uses regularly so I tossed these in the mix and provided transportation. Not sure on exact price yet, probably about 4 bucks per bird. AFAIK it can be hard to find a processor who will do just a few let alone just 1.

 

[XanderWiFi]

So I finally injected the chicks into the big girls coop. I locked them in the coop with the big girls and they did not go inside and went for the outside roosting bar instead with the exception of one. I shined the light and saw her nestled on the roosting bar but with the light the EE saw her and pecked her off. Not happy with this I stuck all six inside and then put them on the roosting bars quickly with only one getting pecked off by the EE before I could leave them blind again. The one lone chick went back out to the outside roosting bar and remained there for the night. The other five roosted contentedly with the girls. When I went to let them out the next morning the chicks were under the coop and the bigguns were milling around the food and water waiting to be let out. No further drama that I could see. I don't want to encourage them to stay on the outside bar as it will eventually get cold, but its as safe there as it is inside the interior roosting in terms of predators.

And I caught another raccoon. He's gone as well to raccoon heaven.

 

[XanderWiFi]

And this morning a opossum. Didn't even have bait...Just the raccoons blood. 4/6 chicks roosted last night. Hopefully it keeps catching on the the big girls keep their cool.

 

[XanderWiFi]

Mission complete. All six are getting on the roost at night. It is like running a gauntlet at times for them but they are sticking it out and getting up there.

 

[aart]

Great!
Littles are roosting in the big coop?

3-4 days ago I started my full integration, took the partition wall down.
It's been chaotic!
Chicks have spent most their days 'hiding' from the juvies and the adults.

 

[XanderWiFi]

They are indeed. They get pecked pretty good getting up and finding their spot but are enduring it to keep their place. I gotta say I hope they give it back eventually to the persistent bullies in the flock.

Oh yeah. I'm sure those little ones are keeping light on their feet!