Pipd's Peeps!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Feel better! I'm excited to see what your test hatch brings.

My new crew is doing as expected. Just sad that my cochin is a boy - he acts like one too. I figure at least 2 of the other oegbs are (well with your help). One looks very similar to another that has a smaller comb, but at this point, I'm not ruling it out as a boy. I'm hoping the little barred oegb is a girl, but it could just be a real slow grower. So, hopefully at least 3 of the oegbs are girls. I might just keep them all and set up a bachelor pad.

As far as my bantam cochins that I'm integrating, I hope it works out. The rooster and Zuzu are enemies at this point. If I let them in the same area it's a sparring match. I'm sure Zuzu would kill him if I didn't separate at this point. Neither one of them back down. But, I watched him with all of the other birds (including the ducks) - they either run from him or he runs from them. It's just going to be a face off for the other 2. Right now they are still separated and I kept the 2 in the shed with the nasty rain we got, so maybe they haven't seen each other enough or it's just going to take much longer than anticipated. Have you ever had an integration not work?

Fingers crossed for pullets!

I've never had an integration fail except for when trying to integrate a rooster into a coop already inhabited with another rooster. How old is Zuzu? Sometimes an older hen or a hen in an otherwise rooster-free flock will take over the role of the rooster for their flock, maybe that's why she's so adamant about fighting him?

He's not being overly aggressive with anyone else is he? I wonder if you should try putting Zuzu in the integration pen and letting the Cochins be loose with the rest of the flock for a few days. Maybe she'll calm down if she sees him as part of the group instead of as a neighbor encroaching on her turf?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Fingers crossed for pullets!

I've never had an integration fail except for when trying to integrate a rooster into a coop already inhabited with another rooster. How old is Zuzu? Sometimes an older hen or a hen in an otherwise rooster-free flock will take over the role of the rooster for their flock, maybe that's why she's so adamant about fighting him?

He's not being overly aggressive with anyone else is he? I wonder if you should try putting Zuzu in the integration pen and letting the Cochins be loose with the rest of the flock for a few days. Maybe she'll calm down if she sees him as part of the group instead of as a neighbor encroaching on her turf?

She will be 4. When we first got her, we had a rooster. He died that winter after a brutal cold spell (and probably mistakes I made during the cold spell). Then, we had Freckles which he was quite the brat. She became head hen when JellyBean passed a few months ago. So, maybe she's just trying to keep that spot.
I have thought about switching them around so that she is in the integration pen. He is not being aggressive with any other bird. Once Java Joe's hormones flair up soon, I will probably have to keep the two males separated just because I've seen him misbehave during the spring and he can become aggressive with males.
I've also thought that maybe it's because the rooster has not been around another dominant hen or rooster since he was in a breeding pen set up? Either way, I will get it worked out. I just don't need or want 4 pens.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Well my hopes have been dashed. My little barred oegb is showing a pink comb.

He likes to stick with his bud, the big cochin. The cochin is bigger than my sapphire gems and barred rocks. He is at least 1 week older, but a bantam? Do you think he could be full size?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Aww, yeah, the wide white barring also indicates male on the Barred OEGB. I'm so sorry.

I'm wondering as well on that Cochin... Buff is not an uncommon color in either size, so it is possible he's large fowl. He'd have to be a few weeks older than the large fowl pullets, I would think, in order to be that size compared to them...

 

[Crazy Maizie]

It's ok. I'm not too sad, just sad that I have to come up with another set up. I mean I won't have to worry about egg laying issues.

If the cochin is LF, can he stay with bantam roosters in a bachelor pad?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I think that very much depends on their temperaments as they grow up. If your Cochin is easy-going as most Cochins are, then they could certainly be fine. OEGBs are bold and feisty and unaware of their size compared to other birds, and since they mature much faster than Cochins generally do, they may have your Cochin convinced that they're boss before he's even mature enough to question it so he leaves them be. That would be something to keep a close eye on, though, and perhaps have their pen set up so that there are areas the OEGBs can go where the Cochin can't if they need to get away, such as high perches or a corner fenced off with a few small holes they can pop through. I wish I could give you more certain answers here, but chickens can be so unpredictable sometimes that all we can do is have backup plans for our backup plans and hope that one of them works out.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

but chickens can be so unpredictable sometimes that all we can do is have backup plans for our backup plans and hope that one of them works out.

You got that right!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Let's just say I have a little bit of experience in that field

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Good morning.

I have the day off, so took time this morning to set up some obstacles in the run and then let the rooster and ZuZu in the same area. I watched while they fought a little. ZuZu then ran off. When she came back, they squared up again with her retreating. I'm sure there were a few scrapes. But, with the rain and obstacles, they are staying away from each other. He's staking out in his little coop to stay out of the wind and rain. I figured that I might not have given them enough time to work things out yesterday.

A little worrying news, one of my barred rocks is making clicking noises and not very energetic. I gave her a couple drops of nutri-drench. But, from what I've read it might be something respiratory from her getting her beak too far in water?
I'm going to check on her in about an hour see how she's doing after getting the nutri-drench.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Fingers crossed for Zuzu and the rooster getting along today The rain is awful today, ugh. Even the Cochin crew out in their covered pen are opting to stay inside their coop today.

If she did dip her beak too far in the water and breathe some in, then all you can do is wait it out and hope it clears. The nutri-drench should help keep her energized through that, though.