Laying Rhode Island Red Needs a Home (SoCal)!

[Summerfield]

We have a ~4yo RIR named Annie who has been stressed ever since we brought three new chicks in to the fold. She was adopted from a neighbor who raised her with other hens her age - she’s healthy, always well taken care of, and she still lays beautiful large eggs almost everyday!

We’re in Ventura County but open to SoCal generally speaking! Important to note, while she likes to be bossy, she has not hurt any of the chicks! We just want to see her in a flock she’s more comfortable with, perhaps with hens her own age.

 

[CalBickieMomma]

Hello! I’m just north of you guys (SLO county). I was just wondering what you mean by her being stressed …?
Was she by herself before you got the new chicks? And how old are they now? If they are still little (under 8 weeks old), it‘s best to keep them separate from the adult hen for a while longer. It is totally possible to integrate them once they are big enough not to be injured by your big hen if she decides to show them who’s boss. And if she’s by herself, having some flock mates would be good for her (chickens are social creatures and will get lonely if they don’t have friends). She may seem annoyed by them/peck at them at first, but given space and time, she’ll get used to them and they should all get along fairly well. I say this because I’d hate for you guys to give up your lovely girl if all the chickens can be successfully integrated given enough time .

 

[Summerfield]

Hello! I’m just north of you guys (SLO county). I was just wondering what you mean by her being stressed …?
Was she by herself before you got the new chicks? And how old are they now? If they are still little (under 8 weeks old), it‘s best to keep them separate from the adult hen for a while longer. It is totally possible to integrate them once they are big enough not to be injured by your big hen if she decides to show them who’s boss. And if she’s by herself, having some flock mates would be good for her (chickens are social creatures and will get lonely if they don’t have friends). She may seem annoyed by them/peck at them at first, but given space and time, she’ll get used to them and they should all get along fairly well. I say this because I’d hate for you guys to give up your lovely girl if all the chickens can be successfully integrated given enough time .

Hi! Thanks for all this, very informative . Our three 'chicks' are 24 weeks old and have been in the same space as Annie (the 4yo) since they were 15 weeks. They all run around our 1/4 acre backyard during the day and they've gotten good at escaping her, but in the morning in the coop, she will mount the chicks and peck aggressively at them, and in the daytime, she stands near the house door and squawks until we come outside. Sometimes we can do that, but other times it's tough to do all day. Of course - we'd love for her to stay! So maybe even more time is necessary...

 

[CalBickieMomma]

Huh…. Yeah, she sounds like a character . Mine don’t free range and are in a large coop and run (butdefi smaller than a 1/4 acre). Maybe give her a little more time to get used to them …? Unless she’s just a big brat (in which case she might cause problems wherever she goes). Keeping my fingers crossed it all works out and you can keep her!

 

[Summerfield]

Huh…. Yeah, she sounds like a character . Mine don’t free range and are in a large coop and run (butdefi smaller than a 1/4 acre). Maybe give her a little more time to get used to them …? Unless she’s just a big brat (in which case she might cause problems wherever she goes). Keeping my fingers crossed it all works out and you can keep her!

Time seems to have been helpful! She’s still pretty bratty but no one is hurt. Thanks for the advice.

 

[CalBickieMomma]

Time seems to have been helpful! She’s still pretty bratty but no one is hurt. Thanks for the advice.

Yay! Glad she can stay with you guys .