I could use some advice with our peachick- black shoulder. It is our first. He is about 5 or 6 weeks now. I can't wait to fully introduce him to our chickens and move him out of our porch. Questions...
1- I have been letting him hang out (supervised) with our chickens - 6 hens and 1 rooster, who all get along. Our peachick clearly enjoys hanging out with them. He preens and looks for food. HOWEVER, every time one of them gets too close or tries to peck him, he displays and goes all judo bird on them, attacking them with his feet. (We thinks it's a boy.) He also does this wacky thing where he runs around like a ping pong balls and flys and jumps - which the chickens find terrifying. So... I'm doing short, supervised outings and hoping eventually he will be too big to get his butt kicked and he'll stop trying to prove he's tough. I'm fearful that the chickens will hate him because he is such a jerk. Any advice?
2- We are hand-rearing him. (Long story.) He is still a baby and wants to be with me 24/7. Within the last week, he has been more independent. At what age will he be confident on his own? At what age do I need to start worrying that he will go off on his own? (Now I know he will always be within 4 feet no matter where I go or what I'm doing - and chirp if I get too far away from him.)
3- We are definitely going to need to increase the height of our chicken fence. We'll need to clip his wing. (I'm sorry - I know that upsets a lot people.) With a clipped wing, how high should we make the fence. He can already fly about 5 or 6 feet without any effort. Our house is attached to the bird yard --- think the roof is about 8-10 feet high. Worried he may be able to fly up. Advice/thoughts?
4- He has been chirping. Within the last couple days, he is making big bird noises. At what age do they start to truly vocalize?
Photo from a week or so ago. I should mention he was born with his little toes curled under. We taped them down and the straightened out --- and then within a day or two, they had all curved to the side. I obviously did something wrong. But his feet are flat, so he can roost. His toes are just curled like chinese throwing stars.
1- I have been letting him hang out (supervised) with our chickens - 6 hens and 1 rooster, who all get along. Our peachick clearly enjoys hanging out with them. He preens and looks for food. HOWEVER, every time one of them gets too close or tries to peck him, he displays and goes all judo bird on them, attacking them with his feet. (We thinks it's a boy.) He also does this wacky thing where he runs around like a ping pong balls and flys and jumps - which the chickens find terrifying. So... I'm doing short, supervised outings and hoping eventually he will be too big to get his butt kicked and he'll stop trying to prove he's tough. I'm fearful that the chickens will hate him because he is such a jerk. Any advice?
2- We are hand-rearing him. (Long story.) He is still a baby and wants to be with me 24/7. Within the last week, he has been more independent. At what age will he be confident on his own? At what age do I need to start worrying that he will go off on his own? (Now I know he will always be within 4 feet no matter where I go or what I'm doing - and chirp if I get too far away from him.)
3- We are definitely going to need to increase the height of our chicken fence. We'll need to clip his wing. (I'm sorry - I know that upsets a lot people.) With a clipped wing, how high should we make the fence. He can already fly about 5 or 6 feet without any effort. Our house is attached to the bird yard --- think the roof is about 8-10 feet high. Worried he may be able to fly up. Advice/thoughts?
4- He has been chirping. Within the last couple days, he is making big bird noises. At what age do they start to truly vocalize?
Photo from a week or so ago. I should mention he was born with his little toes curled under. We taped them down and the straightened out --- and then within a day or two, they had all curved to the side. I obviously did something wrong. But his feet are flat, so he can roost. His toes are just curled like chinese throwing stars.