The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[Happy Chooks]

Question for you pro's............how long until my welsummer cockeral mans up and takes charge of my bossy hens? It will be a week on Wed, and the young welsummers (and 2 BR cockerals) are not allowed out of the coop by my older hens. They get ambushed when one comes out. Yesterday, I let my older hens out to free range, and I physically had to kick the babies out of the coop.

It just doesn't seem like any pecking order is being established when they are all running and hiding from the hens.

 

[pinkchick]

Chooks~
Believe it or not they are establishing a pecking order. Your young roo will take charge....never fear. The older gals will teach him manners as he matures until then, they will get off their high horses soon. I have had interagtion that has taken about 3 weeks or so before the hens get use to their new man, then things get back to normal. As for the younger birds, acceptance into the flock can take a little while, but you are doing the right thing if one is picked on too much by removing them and trying again later. Sometimes I too have to toss the younger birds out of the coop to get them moving.

 

[Happy Chooks]

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Thanks. Having never done this before, it's as stressful on me as it is them. The only one having major issues is my BR cockeral who is slow on his feet and cannot roost. I've given him hiding spots, but he's still getting attacked. I'm fencing off an area of the run today for him, and I will physically move him to "his area" during the day, and put him back in the coop at night after the others have settled. He's just terrified of my hens. This I hope will give him time to mature more, without removing him completely from the flock. (he'd never be able to be integrated if I did that)

 

[mothergoose]

I know...I will try and get some pictures soon.

Heard that darn groundhog saw his shadow too...6 more weeks of stinking cold crap!

Christie

 

[EweSheep]

I dont always believe the groundhog theory. Hopefully spring gets here sooner!

Here is one of Christie's hens I got from her last year....she is one beautiful girl and so sweet!

She has not laid yet but hopefully soon when weather warms up. My other older Wellie girl laid already two weeks ago.

 

[Happy Chooks]

She's so pretty!

 

[Lensters]

Ewesheep, You have the nicest looking Wellie hens!

Too bad you didn't have that picture for the online show, you may have beaten TailFeathers with it.

 

[mothergoose]

Ok, I got a egg picture for you. The hens are still only laying betweem 1 and 6 eggs a day now...hope it starts climbing soon!

The white egg in there is for contrast.
Christie

 

[Happy Chooks]

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Gosh those are pretty eggs! Now I REALLY can't wait for my girls to start laying.

 

[EweSheep]

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I did!

However Tailfeathers got some goreous ones!