Moving in day at the Chicken McMansion

[Chieftain]

That is a great looking roo Andalusn! I keep hearing about what gentle birds they are, and I am hoping our two BJGs help calm the others down a bit.

Well, that little experiment lasted about 2 hours...

This morning I went out as usual, and the two RIRs were in the run eating. I gave them some yogurt, filled the feeder and closed the coop door. I cleaned up the inside, the popped the two GSLs inside and left them to explore. The RIR hens were up on the ramp, and the four of them were having a discussion of some sort through the door...

After about an hour or so, the sun was up and it was getting warm, so I went out, camera in hand, and opened the coop door. I stayed in the run to supervise (and referee...). The two RIRs went in and immediately had a faceoff with the two GSLs. There was one big squawking, flapping and kicking contest, and they settled down a bit. The two GSLs came into the nestbox, so I snagged them and put them in the run, and left the RIRs in the coop, with the door open.

The little ones really liked the run. They found the food, water, and even tried out the ramp, so they are at least familiar with it...







After a while the RIRs decided to make another appearance in the run, and things started out well, kind of an armed standoff...



But then the RIR that had mixed it up in the coop came over and decided to start in again...




They were making enough racket that Gus came over to see what was going on, and things went downhill from here...no casualties, but some bruised egos...

The RIR came over and pecked the senior GSL, and she went off like a firecracker, and snatched a whole beak full of RIR feathers! The RIR backed off, and the little GSL was grabbing the feathers she had yanked, and was running around the run with the feathers in her mouth peeping: COME ON!! It was truly impressive, and I had no idea these GSLs had it in them!

I grabbed both of the GSLs and they are safely back in the pen tonight. The field trip today was useful, but it was just too soon to introduce the four of them...too many changes at once. I just pulled the roos yesterday, and I don't think the RIR girls had a good night, so they were definitely in a fowl mood anyway....

I'll give the little ones a couple of more weeks, and we'll try this again. Next time everyone should be a bit more calm.

Oh yeah, a word on names...I don't think much of naming chickens, but my wife does, so I find myself referring to them by name. My wife is responsible for the names, not me...

The two Rhode Island Reds are Maxine and LaVerne (after two of the Andrews Sisters, don't ask me why...)

The two Golden sex links are Paris and Nichole (Blond, vapid, talk alot without saying much...)

And the two Black Jersey Giants are Oprah and Tyra (Pretty black feathers, big butts...)

So it goes. Everyone is calmed back down and safe. We'll give it a couple more weeks and try it again...

 

[erin39]

What is the DE used for. new to this. Thanks, Erin

 

[Chieftain]

Quote:
In this instance, I put DE in the run sand because it helps dessicate the poop, and when the chooks dustbathe in it, the DE helps dry their feathers and skin, and will also help control mites and lice. The DE will dehydrate small insects like those. I also put a small amount on the litter inside the coop, also for insect control. So far it's working...

 

[andalusn]

Sometimes names makes things easier when your trying to tell someone else what a chicken did.. All of mine are named but the two who cause the most ruckus are Lucy and Ethel

They are the barred Dominique hens. Lucy always has something to say and Ethel just follows along....

 

[Chieftain]

After giving everyone a week to calm down, I reintroduced the GSLs 2 days ago, with the determination that these girls will simply have to work things out. There is still some strutting and charging going on, but overall things have calmed down dramatically in the coop. Everyone seems to be getting along well enough, they are all in and out of the coop together, and everyone is eating and drinking, so that is a good sign.

I really think that the GSLs are going to end up being the dominant hens in this coop. They are probably going to outweigh the RIRs by at least a pound if not two, and they are far more assertive, as opposed to being merely aggressive....

All is well, and the cooler weather we have been experiencing this week has kind of forced everyone to be more social and behave. It's been raining pitchforks and naked babies for a couple of days, and it has just been too nasty for the girls to mix it up very much. Mother Nature has forced a Mexican standoff, and the longer it goes on, the more they all figure out they really can get along together afterall....

Onward!

 

[Chieftain]

Success!! I do love it when a plan comes together...

I went out a little while ago to turn off the coop light, and the older girls (the RIRs) were just raising Caine out there, and I couldn't see why until I looked in the window and discovered that the GSLs have decided they like the roost!! They were perched together as comfy as you could please, and the two older RIR hens did not like it one single bit!

I'm pleased, because this is another major milestone, and another indicator that the GSLs are probably going to rule this roost some day in the very near future...

 

[Country Heart]

Quote:
Glad to hear they are working it out. It's amazing what you can learn listening in on their chicken discussions.

 

[ChickenMama18]

Quote:
Mine too

What an awesome coop!

 

[Chieftain]

Yep CH...if you pay attention to them, the birds really do know how to act and if you can figure them out it becomes a matter of giving them what they need/want. I credit BYC and my copy of Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens...

The four of them quieted right down last night pretty quickly after lights out, and from the pattern of the droppings when I cleaned the coop this morning, they all decided to roost together after all. It was chilly last night, so I am certain that helped break the ice....

Today I looked out during a sunbreak (they are a recognized weather phenom here in the Pacifist Northwest...), and all four of them were dug down into the warm sand together in the same corner of the run. Looks like they have decided to play nice after all. That's good, because they really didn't have a choice...

I'm back to a more intense coop management with four rapidly growing chooks out there again. The two Black Jersey Giant chicks should be big enough to head out by the third week of April or so. I've been told they grow a bit slower than other breeds of chook, so they may get an extra week inside in the pen if they need it; but the weather will be just fine for them by the time they are ready to move again.