The Silver Laced Wyandotte Thread

[jdoane]

Do any of the wyandotte varieties have little subtle gender differences as young chicks (like with Barred Rocks new pullets having more distinct head spot and dark wash on legs)?

 

[delisha]

Quote: It helps with many things...it is an exchange of bacteria and immunities. The new bird is exposed to your established group, and your establish group will now have some of the new girls bacteria and immunities. The lone girl will bond with the new one, since they are social. It might take a few days, because of the age difference and you will need to supervise in the beginning. Having a buddy helps with introduction. You might even add a few of your established birds to the slw and established bird a few day before total introduction too..

 

[jdoane]

It helps with many things...it is an exchange of bacteria and immunities. The new bird is exposed to your established group, and your establish group will now have some of the new girls bacteria and immunities. The lone girl will bond with the new one, since they are social. It might take a few days, because of the age difference and you will need to supervise in the beginning. Having a buddy helps with introduction. You might even add a few of your established birds to the slw and established bird a few day before total introduction too..

I think I got that but you lost me on the last sentence. SOrry I'm being dense. So I currently have a BR, BA, Black Eng. Orp, and Gold Sex link. All 12 weeks. They are in the coop and run. And then I have the one slw in quarantine in the garage. So say if I bring the Barred Rock in with the slw for the last two weeks - would I have them stay together full time or have the BR move back and forth? But can you also explain what you meant in the last part?

I was thinking the BR as she is the mellowest of the other 4 - maybe lowest in pecking order but not clearly so. Does that make sense or should I do a higher up?

And if the BR (or whoever) is with the slw for two weeks will the others forget who she is?

 

[delisha]

Quote: You are not being dense.your questions help others too.

I would use the BR for the last 14 days in with the SLW..do not put the BR back in with the established group..she lives with the SLW in the garage for 14 days. They need to bond. Observe the health of both birds. Look for signs of stress, depression, weight loss..etc

(Last part) I would than add the black English to the SLW and the BR for the last 4 days. You now have the Black english, the slw and the BR in the garage. If those 3 birds all act and look healthy on day 14 move them all into the coop at night. You should have little to no issues with the flock the next morning.

 

[jdoane]

One last question. Do I do this in place of the moving the crate right next to the run? Or would I still do that piece?

 

[jdoane]

Step one done. Introduced my 3 month old Barred Rock to my 7 month slp who is finishing up quarantine. It went pretty well. Not without some ruckus but I think they are doing ok. They have periods of ignoring one another and then periods of freaking out. The SLP generally just seems curious. On occasion she will peck the BR harder but most of the tie the pecks seem more gentle. But the BR is so freaky right now that she makes quite a fuss even with a gentles exploratory peck. I think I'll have to watch closely to make sure the SLP is letting the BR eat and drink. But tonight they are both on the perch - opposite ends but both up there! Fingers crossed that when they wake up together they will be ok! I'll be up early!

 

[delisha]

Step one done. Introduced my 3 month old Barred Rock to my 7 month slp who is finishing up quarantine. It went pretty well. Not without some ruckus but I think they are doing ok. They have periods of ignoring one another and then periods of freaking out. The SLP generally just seems curious. On occasion she will peck the BR harder but most of the tie the pecks seem more gentle. But the BR is so freaky right now that she makes quite a fuss even with a gentles exploratory peck. I think I'll have to watch closely to make sure the SLP is letting the BR eat and drink. But tonight they are both on the perch - opposite ends but both up there! Fingers crossed that when they wake up together they will be ok! I'll be up early!

all normal behavior..the BR is in a new place so she is unsure. She will be fine in a few days.

 

[delisha]

One last question. Do I do this in place of the moving the crate right next to the run? Or would I still do that piece?

I have never placed birds next to other birds in cages or behind a fence if they are to eventually be introduced. A fence causes territory issues.
The easy way to introduce a new bird is to place the head bird in quarantine the last two weeks. The head bird is unsure because they are in a new area. Making a buddy with the head bird is a nice way to bring a new bird in..after you bring them all together..the head bird will take back her place and she has a new buddy that the others will refrain from picking on.

 

[Chickenhill]

I take a cuppa and the camera and sit on my park bench and let it all unfold before me.
Here are the girls sheltering in the wisteria walk.


Of course it helps to have an " idiot proof " camera.

Very gorgeous and dreamy! For my Birthday this year my most wonderful husband ordered me a new camera. It's a Canon 70D with a 18-300 zoom lens. Beyond excited

Is it next Tuesday yet?? I will be waiting at the end of the drive for the fed ex guy! What kind of camera do you have?

 

[Fancychooklady]

Very gorgeous and dreamy!  For my Birthday this year my most wonderful husband ordered me a new camera.  It's a Canon 70D with a 18-300 zoom lens.  Beyond excited   Is it next Tuesday yet??  I will be waiting at the end of the drive for the fed ex guy!  What kind of camera do you have?  

Mine is a Canon EOS 1000 with EFS 55-250 lense . Mine has image stabilizer, so no matter how unsteady my hands are , it will correct it. I bought it when they were 1/2 price. Between my chick pics and the showjumping pics it has been worth every cent. Now all I need is for it to stop raining so I can get some pics of the hatchlings. The zoom lense allows me to get those shots without disturbing the subject. Chickens don't have a very long attention span, once I've been sitting in the pen with them for 10 mins, they tend to forget about me and get on with whatever they were doing.
Happy birthday. :yiipchick