Removing Cashew and Terry

[ChickenGirl555]

I'm thinking of giving away my two chickens, Cashew and Terry, since they don't ever interact with me and only leave the roosts when the older pullets are gone. My first 6 pullets (2 barred rocks, 2 buff orps, 2 EEs) are so kind and barely pay attention to the Oddballs (what I call Cashew and Terry) besides pecking them when they try to go outside. Terry is some type of black silkie, or sultan, or just something like that. Cashew is a Naked Neck. The Oddballs were to given to us from a petting farm as chicks in October since they needed to get rid of all of their baby animals. We only were ready for 2 since our pullets didn't have a pecking order nor do they give eggs (they still don't lay eggs).

If I get rid of the Oddballs I would have much more space in my coop to replace them with 3 new chicks from my local feed mill. I want 2 polish and 1 other breed (I'm leaning towards blue Australorp). I've always wanted polish but when we got our first chicks, the polish were out of season and weren't available (Our first pullets were born on Aug. 2 and we got them Aug. 7).

So I'm just trying to get some feedback on me doing this. I would get the new chicks around early April. I would get rid of the Oddballs on Feb. 24 so I still have some time to decide if I will get rid of the Oddballs or not. For any of you wondering why it HAS to be Feb. 24, there's a 4-H swap meet I'm going to go to on that day and that day only. Also I need to decide soon for the pullorum testing.

Any advice, opinions, or feedback would be great! I'm still deciding what I want to do, but so far its get rid of them until I find some reason to keep them.

 

[bobbi-j]

There is nothing wrong with removing chickens from a flock that don't quite fit in, or birds you're not happy with. Since you're planning on getting new ones anyway, it's better to make room than to crowd more into the coop.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

There is nothing wrong with removing chickens from a flock that don't quite fit in, or birds you're not happy with. Since you're planning on getting new ones anyway, it's better to make room than to crowd more into the coop.

Yes, that's what I thought. It hurts to think of them as something that's just eating my feed because they don't even give eggs to pay their rent. Maybe I'd keep them if they could at least lay, but they can't so my mind turned to the most logical reason to me, which is *whistle* outta here!

 

[ben0125]

If you think its the right desicion, go for it. Like bobbi-j said, there is nothing wrong with removing chickens from the flock if they don't fit in.

 

[Chickassan]

I'm not a chicken chucker but you would end up happier since you can get chicks you want. Somebody will be thriled to get Cashew and Terry since they're flipping cute! And maybe C&T will be happier and better adjusted in another flock. Totally win win.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

I'm not a chicken chucker but you would end up happier since you can get chicks you want. Somebody will be thriled to get Cashew and Terry since they're flipping cute! And maybe C&T will be happier and better adjusted in another flock. Totally win win.

Yeah, I thought maybe if somebody has a lot of scared chickens or just really friendly chickens, they would be much happier than living in fear with me.

 

[aart]

since they don't ever interact with me and only leave the roosts when the older pullets are gone.

After the long and tortuous integration of these chicks into your rather small setup, I think you should stick with them. It's winter still and all should start laying soon. Once they start laying they will become a more melded flock.

If I get rid of the Oddballs I would have much more space in my coop to replace them with 3 new chicks from my local feed mill

Removing 2 will not make room for 3
If you do get rid of the 2 (your choice) I would advise against getting 3 more until you have a larger coop/run setup.

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed with Aart. Does your coop have at least 36 s.f. of open floor space? Does your run have at least 90 s.f. of open space? And if integrating new birds, you really should have MORE than that minimal amount. Cashew and Terry are not blending in well b/c they are intimidated in your current set up. Newer/younger pullets will do even worse.

 

[Maddison]

I would really not get rid of them. being oddballs as you say just seems like they would have a harder time fitting in anywhere else and anyone else wouldn't hesitate in putting them on the dinner table if they dont like them. p.s any chickens I have that don't fit in go in the "reject group" a special flock for special chicks who don't fit in or have special needs. consider that.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Removing 2 will not make room for 3
If you do get rid of the 2 (your choice) I would advise against getting 3 more until you have a larger coop/run setup.

I see...But what if I got rid of the two and only got two more chicks? The new chicks will have an easier chickhood and I think that could impact how they act. Plus, now I know so much more and can bond with them better so they feel safe when I'm around.

Once they start laying they will become a more melded flock.

So if these have an even easier past, won't it be easier or have the same, 'melding' outcome?