- Jul 8, 2008
- 5
- 1
- 62
Today was integration day, phase 2 on the chicks.
A brief summary: we have 3 year plus chickens (adults), we have 3 month old chickens (teenagers) and we have 3 week old chickens (kids). The adults free range around the place. They have a place to roost in the main coop. The teenagers were moved from their little home in the garden shed to the extended pen (attached to the main coop and entered through a door in the main coop) about two weeks ago. They have now settled into their new home, an area 30' by 12' and totally secured. Inside the penned area is a self contained small coop 4' by 8' with a small door into the penned area and another door on the opposite side into the main coop. Inside this coop is the new momma and her 8 new little babies. Momma is a very good and caring mother. She let the chicks ride around on her back etc. and when there was danger she would put everyone under her body (there always seemed to be a little head poking out somewhere however).
It was time. Today we integrated the kids/momma with the teenagers. I opened the door and slowly the babies got braver and ventured down the ramp (this small coop is raised off of the ground about 3') and into the penned area. The teenagers didn't like the newbies and proceeded to chase them and occasionally peck them. The thing was however, not all the kids left momma's side so she was faced with a dilemma; to stay with the one's around her or go to the ones who had ventured out. She stayed until the curious ones who wandered down the ramp and into the coop out numbered the ones with her. Keep in mind the teenagers were chasing and pecking the little ones in the penned area and they were peeping loud and frantic. I let the process continue.
Finally she decided it was time. She slowly walked down the ramp, called all her kids to come around her. They did. She then proceeded to kick a**. She went after the closest teenager (not necessarily the one who was pecking and chasing the chicks) grabbed a mouth full of back feathers and pulled them out. She then went back to her chicks to see if they were alright, they were. She picked another teenager and jumped her and flattened her to the ground. By the time she was done the teenagers had a 4' square area assigned to them and momma and her children had the rest of the penned area.
I followed up later; momma and the kids were eating the teenagers food and drinking their water while the teenagers were still in their four foot area.
From what I read she will slowly let the teenagers wander around with her kids but it is her pen now until we free range them.
Stay tuned on phase three when we integrate the adults, teenagers and the kids. That phase is called the integration of the pecking order and the rooster assignments.
Chicken ranching keeps a smile on your face
A brief summary: we have 3 year plus chickens (adults), we have 3 month old chickens (teenagers) and we have 3 week old chickens (kids). The adults free range around the place. They have a place to roost in the main coop. The teenagers were moved from their little home in the garden shed to the extended pen (attached to the main coop and entered through a door in the main coop) about two weeks ago. They have now settled into their new home, an area 30' by 12' and totally secured. Inside the penned area is a self contained small coop 4' by 8' with a small door into the penned area and another door on the opposite side into the main coop. Inside this coop is the new momma and her 8 new little babies. Momma is a very good and caring mother. She let the chicks ride around on her back etc. and when there was danger she would put everyone under her body (there always seemed to be a little head poking out somewhere however).
It was time. Today we integrated the kids/momma with the teenagers. I opened the door and slowly the babies got braver and ventured down the ramp (this small coop is raised off of the ground about 3') and into the penned area. The teenagers didn't like the newbies and proceeded to chase them and occasionally peck them. The thing was however, not all the kids left momma's side so she was faced with a dilemma; to stay with the one's around her or go to the ones who had ventured out. She stayed until the curious ones who wandered down the ramp and into the coop out numbered the ones with her. Keep in mind the teenagers were chasing and pecking the little ones in the penned area and they were peeping loud and frantic. I let the process continue.
Finally she decided it was time. She slowly walked down the ramp, called all her kids to come around her. They did. She then proceeded to kick a**. She went after the closest teenager (not necessarily the one who was pecking and chasing the chicks) grabbed a mouth full of back feathers and pulled them out. She then went back to her chicks to see if they were alright, they were. She picked another teenager and jumped her and flattened her to the ground. By the time she was done the teenagers had a 4' square area assigned to them and momma and her children had the rest of the penned area.
I followed up later; momma and the kids were eating the teenagers food and drinking their water while the teenagers were still in their four foot area.
From what I read she will slowly let the teenagers wander around with her kids but it is her pen now until we free range them.
Stay tuned on phase three when we integrate the adults, teenagers and the kids. That phase is called the integration of the pecking order and the rooster assignments.
Chicken ranching keeps a smile on your face
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