- Apr 21, 2008
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Last night I added 10 Red Star pullets that are about 4-5 months old to my flock of 3 barred rock roosters and 11 hens which are about all 6.5 months old. Today the new pullets have been avoiding the rest of the flock and wanting to sit inside and eat feed all day instead of foraging outdoors. As the day's gotten hotter and the barred rocks have been coming into the coop, the new pullets have been trying to avoid them by hiding in the nest boxes (and making a huge mess).
I was wondering if this is a temporary thing and if so, how long will it likely take for the birds to all get used to each other? Also I was wondering how much of the behavior I'm seeing from the new red stars is because of age, breed, upbringing, or just the result of being new.
I'm thinking that if the red stars don't start getting out of the co-op more, I might have to try a week or so of locking them outside during the day. But that would involve some logistics, because the barred rocks are starting to lay and I'm trying to get them to use their nest boxes.
I was wondering if this is a temporary thing and if so, how long will it likely take for the birds to all get used to each other? Also I was wondering how much of the behavior I'm seeing from the new red stars is because of age, breed, upbringing, or just the result of being new.
I'm thinking that if the red stars don't start getting out of the co-op more, I might have to try a week or so of locking them outside during the day. But that would involve some logistics, because the barred rocks are starting to lay and I'm trying to get them to use their nest boxes.