Neighbors flock mingling w/ my flock

Welcome to Backyard chickens Bennetfarms!! I hope you enjoy it and the camaraderie here and everybody that goes nuts over chickens (me being one of them....) Have fun! And ask questions! I am not sure exactly what to do to keep from hanging out together. I have heard somebody say that they put zipties on their chickens legs to tell them apart, but I don't think that is a great idea myself.

 

Welcome to BYC and good luck with your chicken venture! Probably your chickens will keep to themselves, as will the neighbors'. They are always suspicious of outsiders. The big issue facing you today is integrating your new chickens with the originals. May I suggest you read some forums on integrating new members to the flock.
And may I add to the suggestion against zip ties on legs....please don't anyone do this. If the end gets pulled (and chickens love to pick at things like this) the tie just gets tighter and tighter.

 

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

That's just the problem...nothing keeps the flocks from co-mingling. And you don't know if your neighbor's birds are healthy or might not be and infect your flock. One of the perils of free ranging. Not sure what the solution, other than a fence, would be.

 

If your neighbors have roosters, often it is the free ranging rooster that lures (your hens- or others) to join his flock. I would really suggest you put up a large enclosed run with top to keep other flocks from mingling with yours. If not they may spread disease and mites, etc. to your birds, and will eat up your feed if they like yours better. Conversely your birds may like someone else's property better and lay their eggs over there and not come home.

 

Welcome to BYC! It's great to have you.

Free range flocks will indeed mingle. Which might be an issue or it might not be. If both flocks are healthy and each goes back to its coop to lay and sleep, I don't see an issue. However if they get confused about who's coop is who's... that could be a problem. Zip ties work great as markers to differentiate chickens, I've used 'em for years. Gotta put em on adult birds only though, so they don't outgrow them.

 

You can band a chicken by the leg, just cut the excess really short so even if they do peck at it they cant pull it tight. I had 3 blind birds and used zip ties to know which was which. As for introducing them, i use wire dog crates. Its a barrier between them and the older chickens. They will chill in the crate foe 2 or 3 days, letting everyone become acquainted. Also, when you let the chickens out into the coop with other chickens, do it at night when they are all going to sleep. It helps with integration. As for the rooster, he was trying to woo your girls. Its what he does, do you plan on hatching eggs? If not, a rooster isnt really needed, but they are a blast to watch. YES you need to watch the other rooster when you get yours. Typically if theres a substantial amount of ladies, the roosters will leave each other alone, or they may fight and only one will survive.

I would go over to the neighbors house and inspect their flock, and invite them to come over to your coop as well. Inspect for cleanliness and for disease. Who knows, they may have a breed you wish to breed one of your chicks with.