Ribh's D'Coopage

[drumstick diva]

Ribh it all means you are doing things right and the birds respect it.

 

[drumstick diva]

It's funny but all through my school years my best friend (s) seemed to be among the tallest students. I was inevitably the shortest - we just hit it off great. In this regard, size does not matter.

 

[Ribh]

Ribh it all means you are doing things right and the birds respect it.

Thanks, Nancy. I'm not the most practical of people but I do try. And I've had to severely *peck* my favorelle, Suyin, who has been getting quite aggressive with me ~ friendly but exerting dominance & needing to be reminded who is boss!

 

[Ribh]

It's funny but all through my school years my best friend (s) seemed to be among the tallest students. I was inevitably the shortest - we just hit it off great. In this regard, size does not matter.

lol Question of temperament so far as my chooks are concerned I think. My bantam Aussie never assumed anything other than that she belonged with the big girls & they never doubted her.

 

[BY Bob]

Well, Shadrach [sorry, have no idea which of his many articles I was reading @ the time ~ or if it is merely something I've picked up from his comments] has 3 different large flocks if I remember correctly & his observation is that chickens always prefer to hobnob with their own kind ~ or @ the very least birds of similar size & temperament. From my own observations I would say that is so.

To run a multi~breed flock as many on here do requires a little more patience & just generally keeping an eye on things to ensure the bullies don't get out of hand & the more timid birds aren't terrorised. I believe it can be done. The birds simply adjust to what is their normal & I believe all my girls have a really good life. If I thought it was a major issue I would change my practise but that being said the favorelles pal up together, the rocks together, the campines together, the Australorps together. The Aussies even recognize the bantam as one of their own but my mutant BR is not recognised as a rock by the other BRs & is ostracised. I have 3 sort of on their own within the flock but they are not bullied or unhappy so I figure I have a win.

That's a win for sure. Well done.

 

[MaryJanet]

Thanks Ribh!
I must admit, it was in refelcting on Sandy's integration (she's still picked on by Janet at roosting time) that I thought buying pairs of pullets from the same hatching (if possible) might facilitate a happier integration for the new ones. They'd be new girls together if you see what I mean - maybe not so alone in their torment. I realise there are loads of other factors at play, but if nothing else, I'd feel like I tried to smooth things out a little.

 

[Ribh]

That's a win for sure. Well done.

Thanks, Bob. I bought my birds for eye~candy as much as eggs & never gave a thought to what the birds might actually prefer. Never occurred to me. But even knowing what I know now I would prefer [& choose] a mixed flock for it's entertainment value.

 

[Ribh]

Thanks Ribh!
I must admit, it was in refelcting on Sandy's integration (she's still picked on by Janet at roosting time) that I thought buying pairs of pullets from the same hatching (if possible) might facilitate a happier integration for the new ones. They'd be new girls together if you see what I mean - maybe not so alone in their torment. I realise there are loads of other factors at play, but if nothing else, I'd feel like I tried to smooth things out a little.

That was my general policy & it always worked pretty well ~ until my last buy. I wanted the wyandottes, Campines & frizzles but could only get the one frizzle & 1 wyandotte, letting my heart rule my head. It has worked out ~ more luck than anything else but I think I could have avoided some problems I've had if I had continued to buy in pairs & hope to stick to this policy in the future ~ though knowing me...

 

[MaryJanet]

And by the way, my breakfast looked so good this morning, I took a photo to share Sandy's eggs scrambled on toast with brewed tea keeping warm under the chicken tea cosy (a thank you gift from my friends whose cats n chooks I looked after for a few days last week).

All gone now!

 

[BY Bob]

Thanks, Bob. I bought my birds for eye~candy as much as eggs & never gave a thought to what the birds might actually prefer. Never occurred to me. But even knowing what I know now I would prefer [& choose] a mixed flock for it's entertainment value.

Im doing the same. 3 different kinds with 4 birds. I love the eye candy as well.