Pullet nasty to chicks

[Mother of Chaos]

I have a bit of a soap opera going on in my yard, lol.

*DUN DUN DUN

Two Pullets, two cockerels (or was it 3) . . . . were the girls being faithful or did the RIR leave a parting gift before he was rehomed . .

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK

“Why is that chick feathered red, when the daddies aren’t?! Inquiring minds want to know!!”

The red-headed stepchild is now a feature in the chicken coop.

 

[redinator]

“Why is that chick feathered red, when the daddies aren’t?! Inquiring minds want to know!!”

The red-headed stepchild is now a feature in the chicken coop.

I'm actually dying laughing . . .

The punchline? I'm a redhead

 

[redinator]

Well, they're integrated.

When I separated the troublesome pullet before I'd put her in the side yard away from the flock, which didn't seem to work like I'd hoped. This time I put her in this: https://www.chewy.com/coziwow-collapsible-small-pet-hutch/dp/579726 in the same yard.

I penned her with food and water and let her stew a bit during the day. She was "clucking mad" but there wasn't much she could do about but peck at chicks that came too close. After about an hour she settled down. The second day, yesterday, I decided to let the chicks out while she was loose and see if her attitude had changed. It only changed marginally, but since most of the chicks had figured out she's trouble (with her trying to get at them through the mesh) the majority manage to avoid her.

Thanks again to everyone for helping me get this figured out. She's actually a pretty nice chicken, as far as RIR go, lol.

 

[Charlene W]

The reds can be feisty. Most are fine. I agree a good rooster will keep her in line and a home with no chicks. I have production reds and other red breeds and they do squabble more than the others but are nice birds. I don't do chicks and have roos to go with my 60 hens though. They are mostly pets and for fun. Free eggs for my friends. Good luck with her.

 

[redinator]

The reds can be feisty. Most are fine. I agree a good rooster will keep her in line and a home with no chicks. I have production reds and other red breeds and they do squabble more than the others but are nice birds. I don't do chicks and have roos to go with my 60 hens though. They are mostly pets and for fun. Free eggs for my friends. Good luck with her.

It seems her favorite past-time is chasing the chicks around. She hasn't done any serious harm though, so I let it be. I do keep the chicks in their run for the earlier part of the day to make sure they get a good breakfast before being chased around though.

Once the now 8 and 9 week olds are old enough I will be selling all 5 of the RIRs though. I'm just not a fan of their temperment.

 

[mary14889]

I have a batch of 26 chicks I've been trying to integrate for over a month, they are now 7 and 8 week olds. After the first two weeks most of the flock has left the chicks alone unless they stuck their heads in the same pile of feed or treats. I'm using the same method that I used the last time which worked wonders, here's the link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/integration-phase-one-complete-whats-next.1661723/

This time I have one low ranking pullet that, regardless of what food is on offer will relentlessly chase and attempt to corner the chicks. I'm always standing guard so she gets a shove with the shrub rake, but doesn't care, she continues to chase the chicks. When she gets the chicks riled up the other pullets will join in the chase.

The last two times I separated her while working on integration. The other chickens left the chicks alone unless they got under foot or tried eating from the same pile of food, they only give them a peck and chase them off, but they don't pursue them.

I think I already know the answer but I figured I'd ask just in case anyone has suggestions on what to do. I thought about selling her, or even giving her away, but I wouldn't want to off load my problems on someone else. She's a nearly 5 month old RIR pullet.

I raise chicks in a separate coop, on starter feed, until they are big enough to hold their own, 12 - 16 weeks, and then first into a crate in the coop for several days so the chicks can get used to their surroundings and the other chickens and vice versa. 7-8 weeks sounds so young to integrate though it sounds like people can get it to work.

 

[redinator]

I raise chicks in a separate coop, on starter feed, until they are big enough to hold their own, 12 - 16 weeks, and then first into a crate in the coop for several days so the chicks can get used to their surroundings and the other chickens and vice versa. 7-8 weeks sounds so young to integrate though it sounds like people can get it to work.

The last time I integrated both sets were chicks, 2 month olds and 1 month olds, and that was considerably easier. This kind of worked except for the one troublesome pullet stirring up trouble.

I don't plan on getting/hatching anymore chicks until next spring. I have a 7 month old broody that just brought 2 day olds off the nest so I'm interested to see how that goes . . . wish me luck!

 

[Roslyn the Gosling]

I have a batch of 26 chicks I've been trying to integrate for over a month, they are now 7 and 8 week olds. After the first two weeks most of the flock has left the chicks alone unless they stuck their heads in the same pile of feed or treats. I'm using the same method that I used the last time which worked wonders, here's the link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/integration-phase-one-complete-whats-next.1661723/

This time I have one low ranking pullet that, regardless of what food is on offer will relentlessly chase and attempt to corner the chicks. I'm always standing guard so she gets a shove with the shrub rake, but doesn't care, she continues to chase the chicks. When she gets the chicks riled up the other pullets will join in the chase.

The last two times I separated her while working on integration. The other chickens left the chicks alone unless they got under foot or tried eating from the same pile of food, they only give them a peck and chase them off, but they don't pursue them.

I think I already know the answer but I figured I'd ask just in case anyone has suggestions on what to do. I thought about selling her, or even giving her away, but I wouldn't want to off load my problems on someone else. She's a nearly 5 month old RIR pullet.

I only raise ducks & geese now because chickens were more trouble BUT, when I DID have chickens along with the ducks & geese, I had a white Chinese Swan goose (purportedted to be excellent as a guard goose.) Anytime I was integrating young chickens or ducklings into the flock, I'd put the "new guys" in the run, take a seat & observe just in case I had to intervene but the guard goose would quickly go over to either instigator or crowd - if that be the case - & break it up. It usually dissipated the first time but sometimes two. The perps always quickly backd away. Even the larger geese would back off. They had been raised from goslings when the guard goose was already full grown & established as guard goose but any bullies quickly lost interest in any "new guys" when the guard goose marched up honking at the perps. The "new guys" learned to stay in the vicinity of the guard goose until everyone else lost interest in them.

 

[redinator]

I only raise ducks & geese now because chickens were more trouble BUT, when I DID have chickens along with the ducks & geese, I had a white Chinese Swan goose (purportedted to be excellent as a guard goose.) Anytime I was integrating young chickens or ducklings into the flock, I'd put the "new guys" in the run, take a seat & observe just in case I had to intervene but the guard goose would quickly go over to either instigator or crowd - if that be the case - & break it up. It usually dissipated the first time but sometimes two. The perps always quickly backd away. Even the larger geese would back off. They had been raised from goslings when the guard goose was already full grown & established as guard goose but any bullies quickly lost interest in any "new guys" when the guard goose marched up honking at the perps. The "new guys" learned to stay in the vicinity of the guard goose until everyone else lost interest in them.

What I'm hearing is I need to get a goose.

I'm still figuring out chickens, lol. A friend keeps telling me I need ducks . . . I'm not sure of his reasoning, but he almost had me convinced until I smelled his duckinglings in the brooder . . .holy moly . . .they stink. I brood my chicks indoors, so no thanks.

 

[ChickenChick46]

What I'm hearing is I need to get a goose.

I'm still figuring out chickens, lol. A friend keeps telling me I need ducks . . . I'm not sure of his reasoning, but he almost had me convinced until I smelled his duckinglings in the brooder . . .holy moly . . .they stink. I brood my chicks indoors, so no thanks.

That's exactly why I won't get ducks right now. I do want them, but not until our future outdoor brooding building is built.