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- #51
Greeting by pecking order is interesting, I sure it would reinforce that order. Pecking order is always such an interesting topic, I try to remind myself that it’s natural, but I find myself trying to step in at times, too. I hate seeing the lower ones get pecked on!I figured due to the duration and age of the thread, it was probably the case, and as badly as he 'cares' for them, he likely would not part with them. Some people are just like that, and do not see animals as much value.
Mine are pets. So I spend as much time as I can with them. They will never be "processed".
Certainly, get some more, but a little while down the track (that way you have new layers as some of the others may reduce their laying). Having said that, my 9yo still lays as well as the average hen, she was a champion layer until 8yo.
So I would suggest to get the new ones when your existing ones are about 2, 3, or 4yo. And get three. That should work out nicely with the existing four. Your shed and run are about the same size as mine, and that area is fairly good for that number. Mine do have an additional free range area, about the size of a small backyard I guess.
Having 6-7 in that size shed and run should be fine. But if in the future, you want more (and who doesn't?!?!) then add some more run or give them some part time free range, and they should all be happy enough. It seems to me that 'chicken math' has a doubling factor involved. Having just doubled my flock, it seems now 'right' and not too many!
To add to my 'interference' in the pecking order management (which was really reinforcing the 'natural order'), getting the pullets to back down worked well, but had the older ones become bullies after a while, I would have told them to back down. Without a rooster, the human becomes a bit of a rooster (IMO). But, as I said, I was more reinforcing the existing order, not changing it about. I knew my existing order, and I also knew the order of the pullets. IME, the pecking order becomes a huge issue when the higher ranking feel either 'insecure' or 'threatened' by the newcomers, and/or the newcomers do not submit, that was my approach. I think it helped that the newcomers loved the new accommodation, so more readily took instruction from my 'authority', because they preferred it over their last home at the breeder's. They also became more chatty too!
I was surprised that the alpha pullet backed down so readily, tbh. I thought I would have far more issue there. Another thing I do, when greeting, I greet in pecking order order. That way every bird knows her 'place'. I don't do it 100% of the time, but most of the time.
Ours do get some free range time each day in our backyard, although, less now that it is winter and the ground is frequently covered in snow. And as much as I would love to have 100 chickens and give them all a good life, I know that our max more here would have to be about 7.
I agree with you, I think it would be smarter to wait until production drops a bit for my ladies now, just to keep having a steady flow of eggs. But man is it hard to pass up the chance to get some more! That is amazing your hen is that old and lays somewhat regularly still, you must’ve taken great care of her. Ours are definitely pets first, too, and will always be around, I’m with you on that. Heck, if my other half would allow, they’d be living inside with us!
and my better half happened to be out there while the guy was holding her. He told the guy to just give her to us. I’m not sure why tonight was different, but he did just that, he handed her over the fence.
