Pipd's Peeps!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Aw look at Crashie! Seems like yesterday she was a baby.

Can you believe she's 3 years old now? She hatched right at the beginning of this thread, too, so the thread is the same age!

That picture is old, though, from March or something. Right now, she's molting and grumpy, and cameras sure make her angry!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

One of the Marans boys (I know which one, I just can't tell anymore if that one's Quatre or Six) tried to flog me this morning. The two golden boys have been increasingly aggressive over the past week or so, so I was prepared for it to happen any time. He tried to hit me as I walked out of the pen, but luckily for me, I had just turned to close the fence behind me and was able to fend him off without any harm to myself. That's it for him. I know people say that you can train roosters not to attack, but I don't have the luxury of having the time to do so and I won't risk a relapse happening with my niece and nephew around. Any bird that flogs immediately earns their place in the freezer. No redemption. Tailless is getting aggressive now, too, so I guess that settles that no one in that set will be sticking around.

To my surprise, however, the two mottled boys have cooled their heels quite a bit. No aggression from them in a while, no stances or biting, and they've even been giving me a wide berth, all without me having done anything to change their attitudes. There may be hope for them after all! However, they are still bullying the pullets a bit, at least as much as they can through the fence, so they get to stay fenced away from them.

On the pullets, they integrated seamlessly into the flock today! I modified their little yard so that I could toss the Mottled boys in there, and left the little girls to explore the big girl chicken yard. Even the Marans pullets, who had been eager to teach those Mottled boys manners, have totally ignored the little girls! Success!

I did notice, though, that little Myrna somehow cracked the tip of her beak. It had to happen at some point before I integrated them because I noticed it just when I let them out into the big girl yard. It doesn't seem to be bothering her and she's still eating, so hopefully it will heal up fine.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yay on a good integration!

I'm kind-of dreading that for the 14 kiddos that I have to integrate with the 4 adults. They're only 11 weeks old this coming weekend so it will be awhile before they get to run outside.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Good luck! I didn't realize you only had 4 adults left! They're going to be vastly outnumbered when you integrate! How old were you planning on letting them out? Mine are in the range of 13-15 weeks old, but I don't have as many issues with hawks as you do there so I was more concerned with making sure they were big enough not to be completely flattened by the big girls.

My little pullets did have a bit of a rough morning today, but everyone settled down once I got all the feed pans filled. I think I may crate them overnight so they aren't being picked on until I get up and get everyone fed in the morning. Not sure why I didn't think to do that last night. So far, though, they're otherwise enjoying all the new stuff to explore in the big yard. And it's super cute to go out there and see all those little, fluffy Cochins running around in a big group.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I'm thinking I won't let them mix with the adults until close to 18 weeks. That way I know they're big enough to hold their own against the adults.

I know they way outnumber the elders, and outside it probably won't be an issue. Just don't know what to expect at roost time as those adults can be brutal.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Ah, good point. My pullets are piling still (well, they want to roost where I hold the Marans boys overnight and they pile once I move them into the main section of the coop where they're supposed to be sleeping), so perch time squabbles haven't been a problem here. I think I've decided at this point to take the boys in two groups instead of waiting for the youngest to finish growing out and taking them all in one go, so that may not be a problem for too much longer. I'm just done with those three Marans and their aggression, and Lucky and Theo keep charging at my face any chance they get, so... I may be short some roosters within the next week or two, let's just say.

 

[ronott1]

Can you believe she's 3 years old now? She hatched right at the beginning of this thread, too, so the thread is the same age!

That picture is old, though, from March or something. Right now, she's molting and grumpy, and cameras sure make her angry!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Thanks! It's been a heck of a 3 years, that's for sure!

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Wow can't believe it's been 3 years! Do you still have Crashie's parents?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I still have Malcolm. Trudi-patooti sadly passed away this spring, though. I never was sure what happened, although I feel like I may have been responsible. I had been trying something out with them for a friend and miscalculated the amount of Denagard to give them, so they were way overdosed. I didn't even realize until months later, either, so that really stung.