Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[KJ6485]

Last night was a big step for us! I introduced my "14" 3 week old chicks to my existing "8" 7 week old silkies. The silkies had been living outside in the coop for a few weeks now, so thats where the little girls went, when I put them in the Silkies ran to the far corner of the coop and huddled in a ball. I sat and watched for about an hour, when I left it was turning dusk and they were on separate ends of the coop, any time a little one would approach the silkies they would scream and fly away. I left for about an hour and returned to check on everyone after dark, I had 2 segregated piles of chicks, but they were on the same side of the coop! This morning they were semi-integrating themselves and were actually eating out of the same feeder at the same time, I was surprised to see not a single sign of aggression, I was a bit nervous for this moment.

On a side note my silkies were straight run and yesterday for the first time I heard a couple pathetic sounding crows. Is it possible at this age to guess the roos??

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

@MotorcycleChick

Did you set some of your barnyard mixes also? How did they do?

I set some of her barnyard mix eggs, under my broody chicken!

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Ok I started a thread but not to much help around and I need help with my silkie as soon as possible if u can come to my thread and help me I would greatly appreciate it thanks

 

[BullChick]

The chick is alive. It isn't doing awesome, but... Who knows? Duckling is eating (she slept in) so I can go see what I can do for it. Might need shoes. I'm about to give it a dose of whatever I have in the animal medicine cabinet.

 

[Chaos18]

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Here are a few more pics of my new Welshy babies

Here they are meeting the 7 week old Khakis.

I tried a few minutes in the yard (standing protectively close by) letting the babies out with the Khakis. Hahaha I could have seriously been roflmao. The Welshies just wanted to be with the Khakis and so they followed them, but the Khakis were running from the little Welshies. Now I'm not sure if I have Khakis or just really funny looking chickens hahahaha

Adorable! Are ducks as bossy as chickens with introductions? They seem like they would be more accepting, but maybe that's just because I think they're cute!

Have 128 new chicks out of the incubators already, including 4 Lavender Silkied Ameraucanas. These were from the pen that was not fertile at all until I swapped out the cockerel, that did the trick.

Glad you got that resolved. You spend so much time on your flocks, does your wife recognize you when you come in the house anymore? Do you still have any Biele's left? I definitely want some for my future coop, but that will probably be 3 months away. Hopefully I can have a breeding trio or so. I don't care if they are fertile eggs for a broody (fingers crossed), chicks or adults.

I only have ducks and I am new to that, however I love reading everything that everyone writes and a lot of stuff you write about the chickens can work with ducks and of course there are duck tails too. I am trying very hard to understand all the letters and chicken types you guys talk about but sometimes I'm so lost lol... I will keep trying tada. Glad everyone is having good hatches wish you weren't all so far away lol

Haha! Where are you located?

The chick didn't make it.

I think I could have saved it, but... I keep thinking "it wasn't strong enough. It's nature."

I think you are right, even though it stinks. Just because we can, doesn't mean we should. Did anyone else see the 70 year old Indian woman who gave birth recently by IVF? Ridiculous!

(Xpost from Silkie thread!)

Babies are 8 weeks old tomorrow! We've got some great hairdos going that may actually need a trim soon

Also, I've caught a few of them (repeat offenders) getting feisty with each other. Feathers on the back of the neck will bristle and stick up, they'll straighten up and hop around to have a stand off. Is this strictly male behavior, or will females do the same? I've read about pecking order, asserting dominance, etc. Or maybe these 2 in particular are just in a constant sibling rivalry! It doesn't get violent, it's almost like watching 2 house cats pounce on each other - but I'm just curious?

And I figured out who our nighttime stalker is - a stray/farm cat. We see one (or two) every year, it's inevitable in our area. I haven't seen any signs of it close around the coop, fortunately. But will remain vigilant...

They are so awesome looking! They look like little clouds! I have seen some of that behavior in my hens, but not often. I have seen it more often in chicks, both male and female.

Last night was a big step for us! I introduced my "14" 3 week old chicks to my existing "8" 7 week old silkies. The silkies had been living outside in the coop for a few weeks now, so thats where the little girls went, when I put them in the Silkies ran to the far corner of the coop and huddled in a ball. I sat and watched for about an hour, when I left it was turning dusk and they were on separate ends of the coop, any time a little one would approach the silkies they would scream and fly away. I left for about an hour and returned to check on everyone after dark, I had 2 segregated piles of chicks, but they were on the same side of the coop! This morning they were semi-integrating themselves and were actually eating out of the same feeder at the same time, I was surprised to see not a single sign of aggression, I was a bit nervous for this moment.

On a side note my silkies were straight run and yesterday for the first time I heard a couple pathetic sounding crows. Is it possible at this age to guess the roos??

Glad it went so well. I think you can probably make some guesses when you see practice crowing. I think @Auroradream26 had a video of a small Roo trying to crow. Maybe she can link it for you.

 

[LadyJane8]

A little time in the crate for everyone to get acquainted.



Thank you, @dgibson0604 , for my pretty girls, Roxy and Flo.



In the coop last night. They made it through with the slightly bigger, established girls. I'm hoping the group accepts them sooner than later. They're making sure the newbies know their place, but it's hard to watch.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Adorable! Are ducks as bossy as chickens with introductions? They seem like they would be more accepting, but maybe that's just because I think they're cute!
Glad you got that resolved. You spend so much time on your flocks, does your wife recognize you when you come in the house anymore? Do you still have any Biele's left? I definitely want some for my future coop, but that will probably be 3 months away. Hopefully I can have a breeding trio or so. I don't care if they are fertile eggs for a broody (fingers crossed), chicks or adults.
Haha! Where are you located?

I think you are right, even though it stinks. Just because we can, doesn't mean we should. Did anyone else see the 70 year old Indian woman who gave birth recently by IVF? Ridiculous!
They are so awesome looking! They look like little clouds! I have seen some of that behavior in my hens, but not often. I have seen it more often in chicks, both male and female.
Glad it went so well. I think you can probably make some guesses when you see practice crowing. I think @Auroradream26 had a video of a small Roo trying to crow. Maybe she can link it for you.

That was a really long time ago. I'm surprised that you ferment that lol.

Last night was a big step for us! I introduced my "14" 3 week old chicks to my existing "8" 7 week old silkies. The silkies had been living outside in the coop for a few weeks now, so thats where the little girls went, when I put them in the Silkies ran to the far corner of the coop and huddled in a ball. I sat and watched for about an hour, when I left it was turning dusk and they were on separate ends of the coop, any time a little one would approach the silkies they would scream and fly away. I left for about an hour and returned to check on everyone after dark, I had 2 segregated piles of chicks, but they were on the same side of the coop! This morning they were semi-integrating themselves and were actually eating out of the same feeder at the same time, I was surprised to see not a single sign of aggression, I was a bit nervous for this moment.

On a side note my silkies were straight run and yesterday for the first time I heard a couple pathetic sounding crows. Is it possible at this age to guess the roos??

[VIDEO]

 

[WackyQuacky]

Adorable! Are ducks as bossy as chickens with introductions? They seem like they would be more accepting, but maybe that's just because I think they're cute!
Glad you got that resolved. You spend so much time on your flocks, does your wife recognize you when you come in the house anymore? Do you still have any Biele's left? I definitely want some for my future coop, but that will probably be 3 months away. Hopefully I can have a breeding trio or so. I don't care if they are fertile eggs for a broody (fingers crossed), chicks or adults.
Haha! Where are you located?

I think you are right, even though it stinks. Just because we can, doesn't mean we should. Did anyone else see the 70 year old Indian woman who gave birth recently by IVF? Ridiculous!
They are so awesome looking! They look like little clouds! I have seen some of that behavior in my hens, but not often. I have seen it more often in chicks, both male and female.
Glad it went so well. I think you can probably make some guesses when you see practice crowing. I think @Auroradream26 had a video of a small Roo trying to crow. Maybe she can link it for you.

Ok you asked about introducing with the ducks. I don't know how it goes with chickens so I don't have a comparison, but what I have seen so far is the little ones want to be with the big ones and the big ones kinda just keep walking/ running away for a bit then the big ones will settle a little and turn and peck toward the little ones like to tell them to leave and they don't mostly there is no real hurting but they will sometimes pick one out for some reason and pick on it and that you have to be very careful of, but mine only have gotten supervised visits in the more neutral yard. I also noticed as much as the big ones act like they can't be bothered if the little ones get scared or the big ones see birds circling they bring them over to me and stand there like fix it Mum hahaha. They won't be penned together till they are close to the same size though I may be over protective lol. I live outside of Erie. Where are you?

 

[foxycrafty]

Hi! Newbie from Western Pa, Mercer County. Just wanted to say hello from the 724!