The Old Folks Home

[chickadoodles]

I need some advice please! I moved 26 babies into the grow out pen we made. They are a month old now. And the grow out pen is in the chicken run with screen around it to keep the babies in because we only had 4x6 welded wire. How long do I need to wait to let the babies out of the pen into the run with the other grown birds?

 

[Cynthia12]

I need some advice please! I moved 26 babies into the grow out pen we made. They are a month old now. And the grow out pen is in the chicken run with screen around it to keep the babies in because we only had 4x6 welded wire. How long do I need to wait to let the babies out of the pen into the run with the other grown birds?

I usually wait until they are two months old. Maybe others do something different. But, here is one person's way of doing it. )

 

[insanity]

I asked this question on the EE thread but no one is answering. Maybe you guys will know the answer. I hatched several EEs from MyPetChicken on 5/14. 2 are"a matched pair" black, rose combed, and tufted. 1 is a roo,crowing, aggressive, and he is double spurred. The other I'm not sure about. She/He is smaller combed, single small spurs, and doesn't crow, but it has a full rooster style tail. I know EE is a mutt breed but could they carry Sumatran in their background? It just doesn't seem like a likely mix to me. It would be the only explanation I can find for the double spurs or a hen with a full tail( I'm hoping its a hen)

 

[chickadoodles]

I usually wait until they are two months old. Maybe others do something different. But, here is one person's way of doing it. )

Thank you Cynthia, I can leave the babies in the pen for a month so that they will be two months old first. That is not a problem at all. Thank you!

 

[scottcaddy]

I asked this question on the EE thread but no one is answering. Maybe you guys will know the answer. I hatched several EEs from MyPetChicken on 5/14. 2 are"a matched pair" black, rose combed, and tufted. 1 is a roo,crowing, aggressive, and he is double spurred. The other I'm not sure about. She/He is smaller combed, single small spurs, and doesn't crow, but it has a full rooster style tail. I know EE is a mutt breed but could they carry Sumatran in their background? It just doesn't seem like a likely mix to me. It would be the only explanation I can find for the double spurs or a hen with a full tail( I'm hoping its a hen)

I have seen Sumatra Roo's that can easily fly over an 8 ft fence, and have his way with the hens in the wrong pen or several pens. Just one of the reasons I have bird netting over my breeding runs.

Scott

 

[insanity]

I have seen Sumatra Roo's that can easily fly over an 8 ft fence, and have his way with the hens in the wrong pen or several pens. Just one of the reasons I have bird netting over my breeding runs.

Scott

So it probably wasn't an intentional mix. Would a EExSumatran hen look like a roo?

 

[Bunnylady]

I asked this question on the EE thread but no one is answering. Maybe you guys will know the answer. I hatched several EEs from MyPetChicken on 5/14. 2 are"a matched pair" black, rose combed, and tufted. 1 is a roo,crowing, aggressive, and he is double spurred. The other I'm not sure about. She/He is smaller combed, single small spurs, and doesn't crow, but it has a full rooster style tail. I know EE is a mutt breed but could they carry Sumatran in their background? It just doesn't seem like a likely mix to me. It would be the only explanation I can find for the double spurs or a hen with a full tail( I'm hoping its a hen)

I wouldn't have expected Sumatra in the EE mix, but there's probably no telling. I know I've had a few EE pullets that I had my doubts about almost until that first egg! The feathers can be a little confusing, because even the hens' neck feathers are a bit pointy looking. The hens tail feathers can have just a little curve too, but IME, the saddle feathers on a roo are always long and pointed; the feathers in front of the hen's tail are always blunt. Hope that helps!

 

[ronott1]

I need some advice please! I moved 26 babies into the grow out pen we made. They are a month old now. And the grow out pen is in the chicken run with screen around it to keep the babies in because we only had 4x6 welded wire. How long do I need to wait to let the babies out of the pen into the run with the other grown birds?

I have to be careful mixing the young ones with the older ones. Some do not mix well. This has been the year of picked up pullets. I have one with blue kote that I am trying to integrate for the second time into the layer pen. She made it yesterday so maybe this time...

The general rule is to wait until the little chickens are 3/4 the size of the bigger chickens. There are always exceptions though.

Integrate them at night and it often helps if they can see each other through a fence for several days first. Actually I might try the fence trick next time.

 

[ronott1]

I asked this question on the EE thread but no one is answering. Maybe you guys will know the answer. I hatched several EEs from MyPetChicken on 5/14. 2 are"a matched pair" black, rose combed, and tufted. 1 is a roo,crowing, aggressive, and he is double spurred. The other I'm not sure about. She/He is smaller combed, single small spurs, and doesn't crow, but it has a full rooster style tail. I know EE is a mutt breed but could they carry Sumatran in their background? It just doesn't seem like a likely mix to me. It would be the only explanation I can find for the double spurs or a hen with a full tail( I'm hoping its a hen)

EEs can be the hardest ones to tell boys from girls. Show Girls and Silkies too. The Spurs and Rooster feathers really do not mean much with them. The white ones will often have red on the wings for boys.

Do you have pictures? A nice one from the side that shows the head and another from the front that shows the comb would help.

 

[chickadoodles]

I have to be careful mixing the young ones with the older ones. Some do not mix well. This has been the year of picked up pullets. I have one with blue kote that I am trying to integrate for the second time into the layer pen. She made it yesterday so maybe this time...

The general rule is to wait until the little chickens are 3/4 the size of the bigger chickens. There are always exceptions though.

Integrate them at night and it often helps if they can see each other through a fence for several days first. Actually I might try the fence trick next time.

I may roll up or take the screen down for a week so they can see each other before I let them into the run with the hens. Thanks Ron! I hope your little one does ok this time!