The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

I usually wait until about 10 or so weeks. My biggest daytime concern is neighborhood (feral cats) and hawks, so I try and make sure they are big enough to be almost chicken size so the cats won't be tempted. I still usually lose a couple to presumed hawks, maybe cats, no sign, no feathers, no bodies.

@Kassaundra

Thanks. Since I only have 3 I don't want to lose any if possible!

What has been your experience with integration with the older birds?


I ask all this because the only times I have added to the flock previously has been with a broody. This is my first time integrating non-broody raised kiddos into an adult flock.

 

[armorfirelady]

I wondered on the molt because the last time my girl brooded she molted within the first 2 wks after the hatch. Looked pretty scruffy and then had - and has continued to have - the most beautiful, glossy feathers. She looks much better than all the rest of the birds which I attribute to the "broody fast" which I believe they are designed to go through to cleanse and rejuvinate.


Anyhow...the 2 time my girl brooded were strange times of the year. First time was in November with a NYD hatch. She began laying again around April I believe. Second time she brooded in August with a Labor Day hatch (she seems to favor the holidays..

). After molting she was fully re-feathered and beautiful before the cold came in. But I don't think she started laying again until around February or March.

Well the babies are over 2 weeks already so maybe my girls are being different?

I am hopeful Stella's molting brings back more beautiful feathers. I do not think the tots have really molted since their juvie molt so they are all over due.

 

[Kassaundra]

@Kassaundra

Thanks. Since I only have 3 I don't want to lose any if possible!

What has been your experience with integration with the older birds?


I ask all this because the only times I have added to the flock previously has been with a broody. This is my first time integrating non-broody raised kiddos into an adult flock.

I have intergrated young ones many times and never seem to have to massive issues some report. All my chickens are housed in such a way as to be able to see each other even when not allowed to run w/ each other. Some people put them together at night in the coop for the first time, but mine have 1/3 of an acre to run around on, so I tend to put them together for the first time in the day in the yard. I always have many eating spots to divide up their food so even when there aren't new young ones the low order get plenty to eat too.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I can't remember if she molted after her January hatch. I don't think so. Not really sure what to expect at a spring hatch since the closest I had to a spring hatch was in January!

You haven't seen any eggs from them have you?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Well I hope I have the same as you. Mine are housed so they see each other day and night. The olders can go out of the kennel pen to run about 1/2 - 3/4 acre and I plan on having a fence that the little ones can go through but the adults cant for them to get back to their side of the kennel run and house and food.

So...you do that at 10 weeks or so?

(The kiddos are 8 weeks tomorrow.)

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Kassaundra

Are your feed stations outside? If so, do you have them covered for rain/snow?

I prefer to feed INSIDE but after this winter I spread feed areas around outside to avoid some being kept out away from the feed.

Do you have photos of your chicken yard area?

 

[Kassaundra]

@Kassaundra

Are your feed stations outside? If so, do you have them covered for rain/snow?

I prefer to feed INSIDE but after this winter I spread feed areas around outside to avoid some being kept out away from the feed.

Do you have photos of your chicken yard area?

I feed in the morning at "let out" and in the evening a few hours before "lock up". The food is gone in minutes. My methods are probably going to sound barbaric to most. My chickens scratch in the dirt to find bugs covered in dirt, through the compost pile full of decomposing food garbage and bugs, and if they had access to a big juicy pile of cow plop they would bury their heads in it to find whatever chicken treats they like, so that being said my "feed stations" are pieces of wood and such on the ground.

 

[Nutcup]

We have night crawlers in our lawn, they freak the hens because they're so big :>)

 

[armorfirelady]

I can't remember if she molted after her January hatch. I don't think so. Not really sure what to expect at a spring hatch since the closest I had to a spring hatch was in January!

You haven't seen any eggs from them have you?

If this was meant for me then no they haven't laid yet. Both have distinctive eggs so it would be easy to tell. I am in no hurry unless a couple others decide to start molting also. And a couple big girls have that disheveled look but normally they don't stop laying for long. Stella has not laid in a week so I am hopeful she gets this molting thing done with soon. She lays a XL brown egg & my customers like them.

 

[subhanalah]

@Leahs Mom can you section off a portion of the big coop to keep the Littles locked away for several days/couple weeks then one day when you let the bigger ones out, you open up the sectioned off part and the babies follow the adults out? Then leave the sectioned off part available for the babies in until they begin roosting/fully integrating with the adult flock?