Ribh's D'Coopage

[Ribh]

After hearing about everyone's integration successes I thought that it was high time that my girls started acting like one flock.

Alice had transferred her sleeping quarters to the small coop with the old girls successfully a few weeks ago and is hanging around with Tsuki more often than with her nest mate Edwina.

For the last few days I have been transferring hens from the small coop to the large coop after roosting time and haven't heard too much commotion.

I have been happily imagining Edwina and Pepper occupying the back roost with Tsuki, Deana and Alice on the front roost.

Well, I went out to check a little while ago and this is their current sleeping arrangement.


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As BY Bob said: It's not all a bed of roses here either ~ & won't be for some time. During the day I have plenty of space options but come night time they have to share & I have @ least 2 girls who consider sharing anathema! How it all goes down in the end depends very much on who gets where first because Suyin, Lavender & Hepzibah will repel all boarders. If the Campines can snavel a corner they hunker down together & no amount of pecking will shift them.Lottie could have a top roost if she wants it but she doesn't mind running with the new girls who are all more her size so sometimes chooses the 2nd bar. For some reason I don't understand my Wyandottes & Campines run well together. The jury's still out on the Araucanas ~ I must talk to you about Alice~ but the big girls have more of a tendency to throw their not inconsiderable weight about & now I know I can manage the Campines [I was told some real horror stories that made me wonder if I'd regret getting them; I haven't] I will go with them as my hen of preference in the future.

 

[Ribh]

At least Tsuki is happy.

Don't assume my integration is going perfectly. Roosting time is tough right now. They have only spent 2 nights together and there has been a lot of pecking. It is not going to go quickly I'm afraid.

Roosting is the only time I'm seeing real nastiness too, Bob.. They have plenty of space but everyone wants that top spot & the Big Girls do not want to share.

 

[BY Bob]

Roosting is the only time I'm seeing real nastiness too, Bob.. They have plenty of space but everyone wants that top spot & the Big Girls do not want to share.

For me right now, I think the Bigs are still of the mindset that they don't want to share the coop, let alone position on the roost.

 

[Ribh]

For me right now, I think the Bigs are still of the mindset that they don't want to share the coop, let alone position on the roost.

I guess I'm lucky that way. No~one is objecting to sharing the coop ~ just the top spot! My lower order girls & my top ones are ok but I have 2 in the middle going ballistic. Suyin is just a total pain anyway. She hates sharing anything ~ including me!

 

[Ribh]

@Aussie-Chookmum: Alice is your Araucana, right? Which of your other ladies is she getting along with best & how do you find her personality wise?

Both my Araucanas seem to be particularly observant. They figured out the new routine first & are confident without being pushy. I like 'em but not sure yet how good a fit they will be with the rest of the flock. They don't particularly hang together nor with anyone else either which seems a little odd for a chook.

 

[rjohns39]

Good morning folks

 

[Ribh]

Good morning folks

How's the clean up going? Did you guys suffer any damage?

 

[BY Bob]

@Aussie-Chookmum: Alice is your Araucana, right? Which of your other ladies is she getting along with best & how do you find her personality wise?

Both my Araucanas seem to be particularly observant. They figured out the new routine first & are confident without being pushy. I like 'em but not sure yet how good a fit they will be with the rest of the flock. They don't particularly hang together nor with anyone else either which seems a little odd for a chook.

So they both are off on their own? That would be very odd based on my experiences.

 

[Ribh]

So they both are off on their own? That would be very odd based on my experiences.

Yep. I need more observation time but they aren't particularly social.

 

[rjohns39]

How's the clean up going? Did you guys suffer any damage?

Volunteers are out now working on cleanup. No damage here, but we do have debris scattered about the property, oddly stuff like insulation, etc... That stuff would have had to travel 15+ miles to get here.