My perfect flock ruined by Rural King. Need advice for new flock.

[Mother2Hens]

We bought six Rhode Island Red "pullets" at Rural King and ended up with five roosters! It was very disappointing to find out that we had to find homes for 5 of our RIR that we had raised since they were a week old. It was very time-consuming and stressful finding good homes and letting them go. I called a local farmer whose name I tracked down on a carton of eggs that I had purchased at a farm market. He had an invaluable tip to post the roosters on craigslist farm/garden for sale. I knew that pets could not be listed on cragislist, but this farm section opened up a whole new world. I met several nice people who either had backyard chickens or had large free range farms. Apparently roosters become more aggressive the older they get, so people like getting a younger rooster to tend to their hens. I was pleasantly surprised that I met many nice contacts in my area.

Another stressor has been reassembling a flock. We had only one RIR hen, and decided to keep the nicest RIR rooster to see if he might work out. I traded one rooster for a one year old black Jersey Giant hen and another rooster for a four month old Ameraucana hen. The Jersey Giant is ruling the roost, but she has not laid eggs since we have had her (a week). I know that she needs to adjust. Our four month old RIR hen and rooster stick together, but today the rooster tried to mount the Jersey Giant who quickly let him know she wasn't going to put up with him. He went back to keeping his distance from her. The Ameraucana is treated like an outcast. They all get in the coop together at night, but the Ameraucana isn't allowed on the perch. If anyone has any tips about encouraging them to become a cohesive group, please let me know. Thank you!

 

[centrarchid]

First is terminology time.

The Jersey Giant is the only hen you have.

The four month-old Ameraucana is a pullet, not yet a hen. In all likelihood the RIR female is still a pullet. I do not call a female a hen until point-of-lay (POL) when first egg is layed. Big changes in behavior are associated with reaching POL. If RIR female still a pullet, then her sibling is not fully mature either. A hen is not likely to tolerate a cockerel she can whip. When male matures, becomes a cock, then he will he able to dominate. It requires a cock to be a harem master that can direct / unify a small group of hens. Also, juveniles tend to be like human teenagers in being exclusive in respect to who is allowed to hang with a group.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Yes, I should have used the correct terminology for better understanding of the flock dynamics. My original RIR pullet and cockerel are four months old, and the Ameraucana is a four month old pullet. The Jersey Giant is one year old, and laid eggs until we adopted her a week ago.

Since the Ameraucana is the outcast, I have considered purchasing one of her former flock-mates so that she has a buddy. I wonder if that would increase the clique atmosphere. I would like to purchase a black and white four month old pullet, either a Wyandotte or a Barred Rock to complete my flock of four females and one male. I'm not sure if that will make matters worse, or if it's a good time to do so while they are all adjusting, and then the cockerel will eventually unify the flock.

Any advice from experienced owners? Thank you!

 

[centrarchid]

Your situation is not all that bad, just a little discord. Addition of past flockmate of Ameraucana will not likely restore bonds between past flockmates if separation more than a couple days since memory is short term. Time / maturation will smooth relationships. Scattering feed in differing locations with help disrupt discord.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Thank for your expertise. We've been putting food, water, watermelon, grapes, blueberries in a few different areas, especially to make sure the Ameraucana gets enough. We haven't fed them any scraps, etc., just occasional scratch so that they get the correct nutrition from their poultry food. We have been feeding them all Nutrena Chick Grower even though the hen should obviously be eating Layer food, but it would be difficult to feed her a different food, and we don't want the younger ones to consume too much calcium. We have ground organic egg shells available with the grit. Is this arrangement okay until the younger ones mature? We're also wondering if the cockerel can eat Layer food when we switch?
I appreciate your advice.

 

[centrarchid]

With a small mixed flock (based on age and sex), I would go with the grower where oyster shell is provided free-choice so hens in lay can supplement their calcium intake as needed. This spares males and pre-lay females from higher rates of calcium intake. Such an arrangement will be a little rich (high and expensive) with respect to protein intake but tolerable, especially if birds are free-ranged with options of lower protein vegetable fare. I get pickier with use of layer feed when concerned more about health of hens and cost of feed while rooster is only of a secondary concern. The use of grower will have you preset for dealing with upcoming moult when protein needs will increase relative to needs of a hen simply in lay. When birds are free-range and other food options are provided, food concerns are generally more relaxed.



I am not an expert, rather someone with a opinion based experience that appears to have worked. When birds are kept free-range, it is easy to do right as birds can compensate for our ignorance of their needs.

 

[BooBear]

Hi Mother2Hens

I have a mixed flock of different ages.
Hens and pullets can be very catty at times. They do form social clicks as there is a pecking order to be followed. Birds that are raised together and kept together form their own brood click, some birds click to others that have same color as them, others will click for any number of other reasons. Flock dynamics is always interesting to watch.

Sounds like the Jersey Giant is at the top of your pecking order with the young RIRs in the middle and the poor Ameracauna is the low ranking kid.

The top hen will be pulling the strings so to speak until the young cockeral gets better size and establishes his right as flock sheriff.
Right now your little flock is going through establishing flock order. Any new additions will restir things up and there is no guareentee that the Ameracauna will get to move up the pecking order if she is a meek pullet. Just watch n make sure none are being too aggressive.

Like Centrachid said just make sure that everyone can get food without being chased off and all will hopefully smooth out.

 

[Mother2Hens]

To Centrarchid: Thank you again for your advice. There is so much info on the Internet, which can be both overwhelming and confusing. I have purchased several books, and am probably over-thinking every decision just like a new mother.

To Chicken Cuddler: I am also a crazy cat lady who has become addicted to observing chicken behavior. Overall, I think my mixed flock is relaxing. The Ameracauna (we haven't really named her, but call her The Roadrunner for obvious reasons) is becoming more bold about coming nearer to the others. Her hang-out is in a large section of ground cover/ivy. If one of the others chase her-- usually the RIR pullet and cockerel -- she runs back to her home base. Sometimes I use a squirt bottle to deter the RIReds. The cockerel tried to mount the Jersey hen again today, and again she knocked him off, and he's still kind of afraid of her. Usually the Jersey is the first in the coop at night, and fusses at the others as they come up. Tonight the cockerel went in first, so she fussed at him until he moved to the opposite end of the perch. The RIR pullet always sits next to the RIR cockerel, and the Ameracauna bravely goes up and somehow sits on a slanted roof of a nesting box. The others won't allow her on the perch. We have a large, walk-in coop with plenty of room, but the Ameracauna wants to be with the others regardless of their rude behavior. They are fascinating.

 

[centrarchid]

Mother2Hens,

Listen closely as your birds go to roost. At some point you will hear a sound that is specific to actually going up and settling on roost. Once this sound is made the group will settle in peaceably as one. If you have time listen to them early in morning as they prepare to leave roost and you will here another sound that is made in preparation for flight to ground. Both sounds seem to have a bonding as well as synchronizing function.


If interested in behavior, I suggest getting some meal worms and make birds look for them. You see quickly their communications with respect to food can be quite complex.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Before my original RIR flock (five cockerels and one pullet) was split up, the pullet seemed to be the organizer, and called meetings where they would gather before going in the coop. She has always been quite vocal, and acts like the stereotypical nervous hen. Since we've had the Jersey, she has normally gone in the coop a little earlier than the RIReds. However, it was interesting that the cockerel got a head start last night. I wouldn't have adopted the one year old, but the guy who wanted one of my cockerels brought her over to see if I wanted to trade because he knew that I only had one pullet. It was love at first sight of the Jersey; she is really pretty and quite a character.

My son is an honors biology graduate of Purdue (he also took a couple of animal behavior and animal ethics classes) who moved back home (!) and is working on an engineering degree at USI. He worked with rats in breast cancer research labs at Purdue, so he is the one who treats the chickens like lab animals who need to have a sterile environment, healthful food monitoring, charts, and graphs. We often take time to observe the flock, and always sit by the coop in the evening to watch their going-to-bed behavior. My husband is an early bird who opens the coop in the morning.

Anyway, I will get some meal worms for our entertainment (I don't watch much TV anymore!) If you don't mind me bothering you with another question, we aren't sure what vaccines to give our flock, and if the vet gives them, or we should administer them. I don't know if the age difference matters. As I mentioned before, there is so much conflicting info that it is difficult to know what to do. Thank you for your time.