That went well, but...

[Bookspryte]

This past weekend after much cajoling from DH, I removed the excess roos from my main coop and added in the six pullets we plan to keep.

The integration went remarkably well on both sides. The excess roos are all now in the grow out pen and there has been few squabbles and no major incidents.

Two of the pullets are RIR-cross and are a different color from the other chickens. I've noticed that the older pullets are picking on them.

When I go to lock the coop at night, I've found one on the roof and the other hiding in the corner. Once I corral them and put them in the coop, they bed down in the nesting boxes, which is a potential new problem as my older girls will soon be laying

I have noticed that the roos tend to break up disagreements when they happen in the run, but at night in the coop, it's every girl for herself.

Suggestions?

Denise

 

[Puck-Puck]

You speak of culling excess roos...I assume you don't mean all the roos? Are you able to keep one rooster in the hen pen, to keep order on your behalf?

 

[Bookspryte]

I actually kept 4 roos in the main coop. I will have to cull further at some point, but wanted to see which one of these prospects will work best.

The contestants are 2 BR (one has a really strange-looking comb), an EE and a BSL.

I've noticed that the biggest BR only has one thing on his mind - mating. The others seem to be keeping the girls in check and breaking up squabbles. At least so far.