Sweet Pea and the pecking order

[snow5164]

Of course there are government regulated quarantine procedures , and most of us aren’t showering in between , but I definitely change my shoes and they are down wind from my flock .

There are extremes on both sides of every procedure , that isn’t an excuse to not try to learn how to do the best for the animals you have chosen to raise .

We can keep making excuses but the big question is :
Are YOU doing the absolute best according to your knowledge to raise your animals ?
If not ? Get rid of them , it’s just cruel to experiment with them .

 

[Mrs. K]

We can keep making excuses but the big question is :
Are YOU doing the absolute best according to your knowledge to raise your animals ?
If not ? Get rid of them , it’s just cruel to experiment with them .[/QUOTE]

Well, I think that is a bit harsh. Pretending to quarantine is a waste of time. People that have valuable flocks, or large numbers are risking considerably more than most back yard flocks and they should quarantine correctly. If the flock is truly valuable, they should not introduce any strange bird.

To me, healthy looks healthy, I do not buy from swaps, but many a time I have introduced birds from somewhere else. It is a risk, but one that I am fairly comfortable.

Each of us do this they way they can, it is always good to look at new ideas. We will all make mistakes and have our successes. Being judgmental does not changes anyones mind. I think it is wonderful that you take the quarantine seriously, worry about the wind direction, and changing shoes. It is good for your flock and your set up. However, it will not be possible for everyone, and sometimes you just want to add some new birds.

Mrs K

 

[snow5164]

Expecting someone to do their best is not judgmental, it’s having expectations for animal owners. That’s all , do your best ... that’s not harsh .

And if you’re ok with throwing two strange birds together and watching them draw blood? I’m really concerned

In the world we live in today we aren’t allowed to expect excellence in anything, I am responding to the comments that none of us quarantine properly.

Good luck

 

[Mrs. K]

I think you can have expectations for yourself. One can always expect excellence for oneselves. One seldom truly understands the situation of another life.

My comment was on the impossibility of quarantine for a lot of people. Two strange birds drawing blood is an integration problem, and most of us have made the mistake of 'hoping they will all just get along'. And in the animal world, often times blood is drawn. It is nature.

Again, educate others, but in the end, they get to try things the way they want.

Mrs K

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Expecting someone to do their best is not judgmental, it’s having expectations for animal owners. That’s all , do your best ... that’s not harsh .

And if you’re ok with throwing two strange birds together and watching them draw blood? I’m really concerned

In the world we live in today we aren’t allowed to expect excellence in anything, I am responding to the comments that none of us quarantine properly.

Good luck

What I said was that backyard flocks are not really quarantined. Not what a true quarantine should be to prevent disease from spreading.
Maybe it is the way you are phrasing things that makes the reader read a harsh tone?
When you go from one bird area to another, if you are not changing clothes, then there are pests that can be on your clothing and transfer from one bird to another.
What happens when the direction of the wind changes? There is no real way to be down wind - at least not on my property.
I agree that we do the best we can with the information we have at the time.
I am guessing that the OP did not realize not to throw two unknown birds together. Or maybe her original bird was alone for so long and she didn't want her to be lonely anymore.
I have read plenty of threads where flocks were wiped out leaving only 1 and the owner decided to chance it with new birds forgoing the quarantine or separation period.
We all do the best for our birds, but my best might look different than yours. Does it mean that I don't expect excellence? Nope.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So last night I picked up Dusty, a 4 year old girl so Sweet Pea isn’t alone. But now she is even more stressed out the new girl is beating her nonstop. I know it’s a pecking order thing, but at what point is it time to separate them? Sweet Pea is bleeding
View attachment 1523511

@beati How is Sweet Pea doing?

Since Dusty is new to your property. Remove her and cage her next to Sweet Pea's coop/run. Treat any wounds that Sweet Pea may have and let things settle down for a few days. Let them get used to seeing one another.
A better photo of both Dusty and Sweet Pea may be helpful.

You are right, there is a pecking order and sometimes a little blood may be drawn by a nip/peck to a comb (those bleed like crazy sometimes), but if Dusty is pinning or beating up Sweet Pea, then you need to re-evaluate your situation.

Keep us posted.

 

[beati]

@beati How is Sweet Pea doing?

Since Dusty is new to your property. Remove her and cage her next to Sweet Pea's coop/run. Treat any wounds that Sweet Pea may have and let things settle down for a few days. Let them get used to seeing one another.
A better photo of both Dusty and Sweet Pea may be helpful.

You are right, there is a pecking order and sometimes a little blood may be drawn by a nip/peck to a comb (those bleed like crazy sometimes), but if Dusty is pinning or beating up Sweet Pea, then you need to re-evaluate your situation.

Keep us posted.

Thanks so much for the advice. I took Dusty back and brought home two Wyandottes. Sweet Pea hid most of the day. Then I got her to go into the chicken run and one of the new girls attacked her. Sweet Pea fled into the coop. I put the new girls back into their crate, but Sweet Pea is still cowering in the coop. I was hoping to find her some friends and all I have done is stress her out.

 

[beati]

Did you put them together right away ?
You need to introduce them properly first not to mention a quarantine time .

Look up introducing new hens .. and quarantine for new hens

Thanks, I will check it out.

 

[snow5164]

Ok so now you brought two more unknown birds and added them to your poor little sweet peas life??

Please read up on chickens , don’t keep adding new ones , animals don’t just become friends because they’re lonely , they need to learn the other one is not the enemy

You could really damage sweet pea , she could get so scared and nervous that she doesn’t thrive ...

Read read read and learn

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks so much for the advice. I took Dusty back and brought home two Wyandottes. Sweet Pea hid most of the day. Then I got her to go into the chicken run and one of the new girls attacked her. Sweet Pea fled into the coop. I put the new girls back into their crate, but Sweet Pea is still cowering in the coop. I was hoping to find her some friends and all I have done is stress her out.

I'm sorry things are not working out very well

How old is Sweet Pea?

I looked at another of your threads, I am going to "assume" that Sweet Pea was the least dominate of your chickens. (lowest in pecking order) Just about any adult chicken that you introduce to her is likely going to attack her or beat her up if you just put them together.

You can try the Wyandottes if you free range - but that needs to be supervised. IME, Wyandottes can be quite peckish.

You may do better finding a couple of juveniles to raise with Sweet Pea instead of getting adults. I'm thinking 2month old. At that age, they still are finding their place, so she may be dominate over them.

Regardless, I would introduce whatever you get very slowly - chickens can have a hard time accepting "strangers".