my girls are getting old

[Abriana]

My Australorps are over 3-1/2 now and still laying well ... Rooster is still feisty. Last year I introduced (2) Jersey Giants and they are now accepted flock members with full voting rights at the flock's union meetings. One of the older Aussies just hatched seven chicks a week and a half ago (mostly Aussies, but I'm sure one or two are mutts)

When you said Aussie i thought you meant the dog! Australian Shepherds are shortened to Aussie sometimes. I thought you meant a dog had hatched some chicks!

 

[biophiliac]

When you said Aussie i thought you meant the dog! Australian Shepherds are shortened to Aussie sometimes. I thought you meant a dog had hatched some chicks!

Good one!

 

[beddru]

I had an Australorp, the only one so far that got caught by one of the neighborhood dogs.
At this point will have to see what's out there, but have had my eye on the Orpingtons for a while

I currently have 2 egg laying RIR who are around 18 months to 2 years old who lay nice extra large brown eggs daily. I also have 1 RIR and 1 Easter Egger that are on the cusp of laying at 19-20 weeks old, they were hatched together. They have been free ranged and have been eating organic feed their entire lives. I am willing to sell them, even deliver them if you are close enough to Brooklyn, NY or en-route to Cooperstown NY where I own a hunting cabin that I visit frequently. All 4 birds are priced at $20 each, willing to separate the four, but would like to keep the older RIR or the younger pair together.

Wife is giving birth in early august and I wont be able to juggle all my responsibilities.

 

[Mace Gill]

When you said Aussie i thought you meant the dog! Australian Shepherds are shortened to Aussie sometimes. I thought you meant a dog had hatched some chicks!

If the older hens get too cold in winter, put an Australian shepherd in with them ... he'll watch out for predators and they will all keep each other warm

 

[Abriana]

Or a collie. I was reading a chicken book and it said that some breeds of dog are really good with chickens and they gave a collie as an example. I think that collies are the best breed with chickens. I have a collie and he will just lay in the chicken pen and let the hens check him out. He just sniffs them. Once, my rooster got out of the pen and my collie sat down and looked the other way. I was so happy! No one got hurt and the rooster just walked away.

 

[Mace Gill]

Or a collie. I was reading a chicken book and it said that some breeds of dog are really good with chickens and they gave a collie as an example. I think that collies are the best breed with chickens. I have a collie and he will just lay in the chicken pen and let the hens check him out. He just sniffs them. Once, my rooster got out of the pen and my collie sat down and looked the other way. I was so happy! No one got hurt and the rooster just walked away.

I was half kidding ... but an Australian Shepherd or a boarder collie that I even HALF trusted would be good company! My over-the-fence neighbors have a rescue aussie shepherd, he had been abused and distrusts people. He hatefully barks at everyone and everything ... EXCEPT ... when my chickens are out, he lays down peacefully and watches them! Even he, I would trust with my chickens ... my rooster, on the other hand ... I imagine he'd try to hurt some poor pooch if one tried to wander too close!

 

[Abriana]

I was half kidding ... but an Australian Shepherd or a boarder collie that I even HALF trusted would be good company! My over-the-fence neighbors have a rescue aussie shepherd, he had been abused and distrusts people. He hatefully barks at everyone and everything ... EXCEPT ... when my chickens are out, he lays down peacefully and watches them! Even he, I would trust with my chickens ... my rooster, on the other hand ... I imagine he'd try to hurt some poor pooch if one tried to wander too close!

My rooster too, thats why I don't let my collie (whose name is Beau) in the pen too much, not to mention chicken poop seems to be on his list of yummy foods.
Looks like chicken therapy works on dogs too! Thats so sweet!

 

[bluecoop]

I currently have 2 egg laying RIR who are around 18 months to 2 years old who lay nice extra large brown eggs daily. I also have 1 RIR and 1 Easter Egger that are on the cusp of laying at 19-20 weeks old, they were hatched together. They have been free ranged and have been eating organic feed their entire lives. I am willing to sell them, even deliver them if you are close enough to Brooklyn, NY or en-route to Cooperstown NY where I own a hunting cabin that I visit frequently. All 4 birds are priced at $20 each, willing to separate the four, but would like to keep the older RIR or the younger pair together.

Wife is giving birth in early august and I wont be able to juggle all my responsibilities.

thanks for the offer but I'm in idaho

 

[Mrs. K]

I had very good results with using a lattice panel as a one way gate. I sectioned off a space in the run with a small shelter for day time. The hens watched them through the panel, even sticking their heads in, but the chicks were safe. Within a few days, the chicks would venture out, staying close to their safe space, escaping if threatened. They could move through the panel like water. There was feed and water inside. Within days, they were effortlessly integrated into the flock without any fuss. I started them out there at 3 weeks.

However, I often add and subtract to my flock, so they are mostly used to the idea of chicks.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

It's recently occurred to me that my flock is now down to three from an original eight. Some have died from critters and some from different ailments. I have two 4 year araucana's neither of which lay regularly, in fact one not at all and a three year old New Hampshire who is still as feisty as ever and still a good producer. Her best friend recently died from some unknown condition which leaves me wondering what happens when I'm down to the last one.
I'm in Idaho so the winters here can get really cold, what do people suggest for the inevitable...do I try and introduce some new ones or let nature take it's path. I keep meat birds every other year so am not against slaughtering birds but I'm rather attached to these and don't really fancy doing the deed on them

There are many different ways to add birds to your flock. I prefer hatching my own or buying day old chicks form a hatchery, much less risk of bringing in pests and disease. I've found integrating chicks young is the easiest if you have the setup to do so.

Here's some notes I've taken on integration that I found to be very helpful.......
......take what applies or might help and ignore the rest.
See if any of them, or the links provided at the bottom, might offer some tips that will assist you in your situation:

Integration of new chickens into flock.

Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
BYC 'quarantine' search

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.


This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock