- Jul 24, 2011
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We have had chickens for the only five months but I think we have gone through just about everything that could possibly happen to a chicken...well almost...knock on wood. We are now down to three chickens after a raccoon got one our BOs last week and then a fox got our polish chicken the other day!
So...we have two Barred Rocks and an Australorp. Unfortunately, the australorp is the sweetest, shyest thing around and is getting picked on so heavily by one of the barred rocks. This has been going on for awhile but she and the polish were inseparable and seemed like they were looking out for each other. Now that we know the fox is around (we have been smelling the urine that smells like skunk on a regular basis) we have to keep them all locked up together. I'm really at a loss of what to do but we have invested so much time and money into our chickens (they really are so spoiled) that I would like to get more chickens but I'm wondering if it makes sense to also get rid of the more aggressive barred rock. Would it be possible the more gentle barred rock will bond with the australorp if the aggressive barred rock isn't around?
I also know this means we will have to integrate some new chickens to our flock, which we have done in the past and know how difficult that can be.
I would love to hear any advice (encouragement too) to help us figure this out.
So...we have two Barred Rocks and an Australorp. Unfortunately, the australorp is the sweetest, shyest thing around and is getting picked on so heavily by one of the barred rocks. This has been going on for awhile but she and the polish were inseparable and seemed like they were looking out for each other. Now that we know the fox is around (we have been smelling the urine that smells like skunk on a regular basis) we have to keep them all locked up together. I'm really at a loss of what to do but we have invested so much time and money into our chickens (they really are so spoiled) that I would like to get more chickens but I'm wondering if it makes sense to also get rid of the more aggressive barred rock. Would it be possible the more gentle barred rock will bond with the australorp if the aggressive barred rock isn't around?
I also know this means we will have to integrate some new chickens to our flock, which we have done in the past and know how difficult that can be.
I would love to hear any advice (encouragement too) to help us figure this out.