Our Mixed Flock Journey!

[RoyalChick]

Good morning RC! I knew that they had a lot of personality from your other posts. Hearing about how much they fly concerns me. I'm now a little worried about being able to keep them contained...for their own safety. It really stresses me when my hens get out of the pen, there are a lot of dogs around here that are allowed to freely roam.

I think the flying gives them an advantage in that they can escape. I haven’t tested their limits yet but they don’t seem inclined to roam far from the rest of the tribe. It is more like why run when you can fly sort of thing.
one got out of the Chicken Palace and spent all her flying energy trying to fly back in through the closed window. It wasn’t like she flew off on a road trip!

 

[drstratton]

I'm sorry to hear that. Many people say that about leghorns as well. It just hasn't been my experience. How big is your flock?

Me and my bestie Daisy, the greatest hen ever. She was highly motivated by food!
View attachment 2577284

I love this picture! She was such a great pet for you!

 

[RoyalChick]

They're beautiful & it sounds like they will be keeping me on my toes. The best flying hens we ever had were the Black Tailed Japanese...they loved to roost in the trees!

I don’t think my Legbars would try and roost in trees. They seem like real home-bodies to me.

 

[drstratton]

I think the flying gives them an advantage in that they can escape. I haven’t tested their limits yet but they don’t seem inclined to roam far from the rest of the tribe. It is more like why run when you can fly sort of thing.
one got out of the Chicken Palace and spent all her flying energy trying to fly back in through the closed window. It wasn’t like she flew off on a road trip!

It definitely gives them an advantage...one of my Japanese hens lasted longer than any of the others, but eventually she was killed by dogs too. I hope integration goes well with my Legbars, I think that will make a difference on how well they remain in the pen!

 

[drstratton]

I don’t think my Legbars would try and roost in trees. They seem like real home-bodies to me.

I really wouldn't mind if they flew into any of the trees in the pen, I just hope they don't fly out by accident!

 

[N F C]

I'm sorry to hear that. Many people say that about leghorns as well. It just hasn't been my experience. How big is your flock?

Me and my bestie Daisy, the greatest hen ever. She was highly motivated by food!
View attachment 2577284

Fun picture!

Good morning Debby! What breed are your other hens? Are they friendlier than your Legbars?

I only have 5 birds now...the 3 Legbars, 1 Welsummer and 1 white something or other (I never can remember except she's a cross that also lays blue eggs). That's right, somehow I ended up with 4 blue egg layers and 1 speckly brown egg layer.

Here's Bonnie, the white girl (sorry about the poo)


I'm always gazing longingly at the colorful egg baskets I see around the site. But the city limits me to 6 and my old girls are here for the long haul.

 

[RoyalChick]

It definitely gives them an advantage...one of my Japanese hens lasted longer than any of the others, but eventually she was killed by dogs too. I hope integration goes well with my Legbars, I think that will make a difference on how well they remain in the pen!

I will let you know how they get on when I start letting them out more - they are confined in the (spacious) Chicken Palace but soon I will try and persuade them to till the soil in the veggie garden. I am a bit nervous about corralling 5 vs 3 chickens so I hope they really do stay with the flock!

 

[drstratton]

Fun picture!



I only have 5 birds now...the 3 Legbars, 1 Welsummer and 1 white something or other (I never can remember except she's a cross that also lays blue eggs). That's right, somehow I ended up with 4 blue egg layers and 1 speckly brown egg layer.

Here's Bonnie, the white girl (sorry about the poo)
View attachment 2577553

I'm always gazing longingly at the colorful egg baskets I see around the site. But the city limits me to 6 and my old girls are here for the long haul.

She's beautiful! My girls are here for the long haul too.

As to the poo...it happens!

 

[drstratton]

I will let you know how they get on when I start letting them out more - they are confined in the (spacious) Chicken Palace but soon I will try and persuade them to till the soil in the veggie garden. I am a bit nervous about corralling 5 vs 3 chickens so I hope they really do stay with the flock!

I hope it all goes well and they do stay close to your other 3! I'll be looking forward to updates on how it's going!

 

[RoyalChick]

I hope it all goes well and they do stay close to your other 3! I'll be looking forward to updates on how it's going!

Will do. There is still too much snow in that area to try - need melt and a bit of drying out first.