Liege Fighter Flock Compatibility

[user651618]

Oh yeah- definitely people friendly. We call them the ‘yard cats’ because they’re like barn cats- they follow you around the yard and they catch more mice than I’ve ever seen a cat do!
Thanks for the input. Did you get your Liege locally?

I too have noticed that mine are really predatory. They go after mice lizards and frogs with a passion. Just yesterday one of mine (following me around the yard, of course) flushed a mouse and dismembered and ate it in front of a pair of barred rocks who stood there looking aghast. My lieges have also hopped in the truck when I'm unloading groceries and helped themselves when my back is turned. If I didn't free range, I couldn't afford to feed them. I got mine from various sources: a seller in Miami, who has basically Greenfire stock, Greenfire themselves and a seller in the Midwest who has some Belgian imports.

 

[ProbablyChickenRelated]

I too have noticed that mine are really predatory. They go after mice lizards and frogs with a passion. Just yesterday one of mine (following me around the yard, of course) flushed a mouse and dismembered and ate it in front of a pair of barred rocks who stood there looking aghast. My lieges have also hopped in the truck when I'm unloading groceries and helped themselves when my back is turned. If I didn't free range, I couldn't afford to feed them. I got mine from various sources: a seller in Miami, who has basically Greenfire stock, Greenfire themselves and a seller in the Midwest who has some Belgian imports.

I feel like it depends on how many there are in a flock comparatively- like 2 Liege girls in a flock of 10 aren’t going to be nearly the same as say 5 of them in a flock of 10-12. Individual birds like 1 or 2 seem to mix in ok.

 

[AGeese]

When I penned them up next to my flock just how large they are finally dawned on me. So my youngest little Buckeye just streches out and looks eye to eye with them. I'm like gurrrl they'll murder ya...

I think having them in that pen a while may cool their jets some. They seem pretty chill. There was a lot of noise from one of them at first, the one I hope is not a Roo.

I have a 3 year old Buckeye who runs with my dominant Jerseys. She stood up to the hardware cloth today and I could tell she wanted to pounce. There were a couple of pecks on the screen, after she pipped up. She'll fight for her spot in the pecking order, but will probably have to back down if they come on too strong for her.

My dominant Jersey was up next and she was giving them some eye. She's not really even stressed about it, she's like I'm queen out here.

My little Maran has been interested too, but she only runs the pair of my 5 month old Buckeyes otherwise don't mess with the older birds.

As for Little Chief my 5 month old Black Sumatra Roo, he's quick, and smart. I don't think he's going to mess with them.

Now of course I'm not going to let things get carried away and will have to take whatever necessary measures if things don't align. Fingers crossed!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hopefully the integration is going smoothly. A lot can be established sometimes through the fence with all that posturing.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

As for Little Chief my 5 month old Black Sumatra Roo, he's quick, and smart. I don't think he's going to mess with them.

Every sumatra rooster I've encountered has been human aggressive. I hope yours ends up better behaved

The females on the other hand are very sweet to humans but quite dominant and aggressive to chickens. My old sumatra hen grabs other hens by the neck and pretends to mate them like a rooster

 

[AGeese]

Every sumatra rooster I've encountered has been human aggressive. I hope yours ends up better behaved

The females on the other hand are very sweet to humans but quite dominant and aggressive to chickens. My old sumatra hen grabs other hens by the neck and pretends to mate them like a rooster

He's been good so far, he's not quite there, but he's done that with my Liege Pullet who I should have known better than to set down with me for a second while I scooped out some food.

Crossing my fingers he's like they say at MH. I'd hate to have to make stew of him, he's such a beautiful bird. Just the other day, I was looking at his feathers in the sunlight, and I was blown away how his black changed to irridesent purple!

I am going to work really hard on intregration.

 

[AGeese]

So I've been posting updates under Luikse Vechter aka Liege Fighter Thread on my integration progress, first attempt I did it all wrong. Both Liege Fighters totally dominated my flock, and had to be quarantined again. Tried a second time and it was the same.

Since then I've continued to keep them penned near the flock and let them out into my fenced yard near the flock when everyone is free ranging (weather permitting)

Today I decided to take another shot at it, and opened their pen door. No rush to kill each other observed, so good there. The Liege mosied on out and pecked around their pen. However it wasn't long before the dominant Liege began to assert herself. This time she didn't grab anyone so another positive, it was one peck, and done.

My little Maran actually stood up to her and she didn't take it further with her. My little Roo was keeping a close eye, he stretched out tall (for a Sumatra), but did not engage.

But then dominate Liege began to move in towards the veterans who were all just fluffed up hanging back minding their own business. I knew this wasn't going to end well especially judging by her confident gait. I intervened before it went down and placed her back in the pen.

I left the subordinate Liege out with the flock. Things seemed ok, she tried to assert here and there, but no real issue, until one of my old quiet Buckeye veterans showed up from the shadows and raised up. She jumped the Liege a couple times, and the Liege did not have the confidence to challege her so after a short stand off, I placed the Liege back with her sister.

I consider this progress, and hoping to have a lot more time this week to spend with them all.

​

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That sound pretty feisty. I'm glad you are doing a little at a time with the mingling. Hopefully they all can get along eventually.

 

[AGeese]

That sound pretty feisty. I'm glad you are doing a little at a time with the mingling. Hopefully they all can get along eventually.

Thanks yes, I'm learning as I go! The Buckeyes totally surprised me this time. The Jeresys have been the boss. But it was my old Buckeye that stepped forward to regulate.

Oh and my little Buckeyes crack me up, they walk on by like they're talking crap, and look eye to eye with them, but they get run off quick when it's business time.

 

[AGeese]

Today I am happy to report my two Liege quarantined for the last month have been successfully integrated.

I still have ganglely girl in the porch who will now take their place in the pen by the flock, but otherwise we're off to the races this morning!

Yesterday I let the two 7 month old Liege out of their pen, there were a few squables, but all went well as the dominant one found the sun bathing area in the flower garden by the house where it's sunny.

Little chief and his girl friends joined her. The subordinate Liege remained in the garage with the older girls while I watched redirected them when there was confrontation.

The biggest fuss was bedtime. The Liege especially the dominant girl was pecking everyone off the top bar including her sister. Eventually she had some company, but she was very annoyed by the fact Little Chief and one of his Buckeye girl friends flew up to the truss above to roost.

She tried to reach it, but came down ungracefully, should be a lesson to her. I intevened a few time and give them a poke when they were being bullies, but finally all settled down.

Today it's going well. Just preparing for phase 2 which is to get Sneeches set up by the flock now so I can reclaim my porch!