Ribh's D'Coopage

[Ribh]

I think that is my sisters plan!! Get started and then let the mamma hens take over the flock increases. I am looking forward to watching her flock develop. It will be interesting if i give them all to her or if 1 or 2 somehow manage to miss the trip and stay at my house!! I am looking forward to getting to know them.

I hope you get a couple @ least. I love all mine. I've had 5 ~ 3 bantams & now 2 standards ~ & I've not had a mean one ever. Gloriana & Portia seem to be gentle giants & really watch out for the tiniest ones who often cuddle up to them as if they were the mama hen! Alpia & Wrold, my Wyandotte bantams, hold their own in the big flock & get on with pretty much everybody except maybe Patricia, who doesn't like anybody much.

 

[RoyalChick]

Today I let the Littlies have their 1st brief venture into the big run.
Gloriana, Regan, Portia, Desdemona & Ceres all ventured out even though the big girls were on the loose.

It came to an abrupt end.
The big girls promptly invaded the small coop leaving the littlies no safe place to retreat to.
I rounded everybody up & fed them but if the weather holds we will try again tomorrow before the big girls are let out so the Littlies can explore in peace & find all the safe nooks.

View attachment 2484483
Desdemona found herself on the wrong side of the wire with Ceres & confronted by a Campine & promptly went up! *sigh*

Here she is surveying the world from the coop roof.

Ceres found her way back to the door & safety.
Desdemona let me pick her up & carry her back to a known starting point. She is a brave little hen. She joined Gloriana instead of promptly retreating to the known safety of the Little Coop.
View attachment 2484484​

Oh dear, you will have your work cut out for you!
Is there any way to block off the entrance to the small coop so only the littles can get in and that way they have a safe retreat?
That was how I used 'the fire escape' which helped my littles to come down from their brooder and investigate the Chicken Palace, but the gaps were tiny so they could escape back into the structure whenever they needed to.

 

[Ribh]

They are growing up.

Tonight there was a ruckus about whether or not, who was or was not, going to actually roost rather than be part of the cuddle puddle on the floor.

There's room for everyone as so many of them are so small.

 

[Ribh]

Oh dear, you will have your work cut out for you!
Is there any way to block off the entrance to the small coop so only the littles can get in and that way they have a safe retreat?
That was how I used 'the fire escape' which helped my littles to come down from their brooder and investigate the Chicken Palace, but the gaps were tiny so they could escape back into the structure whenever they needed to.

I can block of the big coop, RC, which will allow the little girls to explore in peace & then let the big girls out when I've enticed the Littlies back into their own space. I did want to see how the 2 groups would mix as my month is up & I was told I could integrate the 2 flocks now but I think I need to wait a little longer. My 2 little frizzles were just terrified & hid in the coop.

 

[RoyalChick]

I can block of the big coop, RC, which will allow the little girls to explore in peace & then let the big girls out when I've enticed the Littlies back into their own space. I did want to see how the 2 groups would mix as my month is up & I was told I could integrate the 2 flocks now but I think I need to wait a little longer. My 2 little frizzles were just terrified & hid in the coop.

I was thinking in terms of giving the littles safe places to escape to once the big girls are out. Either so they can go back to the small coop and be sure that nobody can follow them, or even hidey holes in the big area.
When I introduced the road runners (it is hard to remember they were ever tiny!) I put a couple of wood crates out in the run propped up at one end on bricks. The road runners were small enough they could squeeze in underneath but the big Princesses couldn't follow them.
Just an idea.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

 

[Grammy60]

Good evening everyone

I so enjoy seeing how they interact and watching them grow ❤

 

[BY Bob]

Portia.

I always wanted Wyandottes because their feathering is so lovely.
But frizzle me timbers, this is stunning!

View attachment 2484155

Gloriana.​

View attachment 2484156

Such beautiful ladies. I will concede that the Wyandottes can have stunning feathers. Sansa adds much color to my flock.

 

[BY Bob]

Today I let the Littlies have their 1st brief venture into the big run.
Gloriana, Regan, Portia, Desdemona & Ceres all ventured out even though the big girls were on the loose.

It came to an abrupt end.
The big girls promptly invaded the small coop leaving the littlies no safe place to retreat to.
I rounded everybody up & fed them but if the weather holds we will try again tomorrow before the big girls are let out so the Littlies can explore in peace & find all the safe nooks.

View attachment 2484483
Desdemona found herself on the wrong side of the wire with Ceres & confronted by a Campine & promptly went up! *sigh*

Here she is surveying the world from the coop roof.

Ceres found her way back to the door & safety.
Desdemona let me pick her up & carry her back to a known starting point. She is a brave little hen. She joined Gloriana instead of promptly retreating to the known safety of the Little Coop.
View attachment 2484484​

That actually sounds like it went well. Why do the bigs immediately invade the little coop? Mine do that everytime as well. It must have something to do with territory or just curiosity.

 

[BY Bob]

They are growing up.

Tonight there was a ruckus about whether or not, who was or was not, going to actually roost rather than be part of the cuddle puddle on the floor.

There's room for everyone as so many of them are so small.

View attachment 2484618​

It is their way.......