We bought two India Blues last fall at the National Poultry Show here. They were pretty young when we got them. We were told by several people to keep them penned up from one to three months, b/c they do take a while to adjust to their surroundings. We put them in an enclosed pen for the first two months, then the third month we put them in an open wire pen so they could see and socialize with the chickens but still be protected. We just let them out in February. They are very shy and at first were afraid of the chickens, who tended to bully them a little, but they are learning how to peck back, and are also cautiously exploring their new surroundings (they are free range). they have learned that people are ok and a good source of treats , food and protection. They are also learning to follow and socialize with the chickens who have pretty much accepted them as some sort of weird chicken. They do not sexually mature for a few years. So far they are actually very quiet, they do have their own language; little barks, hisses, hooting noises, but they have not screamed yet like the call you would associate with peas. We have a cock and a hen (at least we're pretty sure that's what they are). The only thing we really have noticed about them is they really do not seem to like change of any kind, even changes in the weather they react to. They still cling to, and generally roost in or on, their old pen. And lots of times during the day they'll go in there and lie down. They do poop a lot, of course. So far that has not been a major problem either, though. So far, we like them very much.
