Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Sudsy Chick]

Quote:
I'd love to purchase a six pack of eggs from you! But won't be able to get that far south until this weekend.

So if anyone is headed north from CRs place - please think of me!

It has now been four days, she is very committed and was flat as a pancake when I closed up her coop tonight, so cute!

 

[CarolynF]

Ohhhh I'm so happy tonight!!! The coop & run expansion is finished (except for painting and a few details). No more pooping on the nest box from the perch. And room for more birds! I can't believe it got done more than a MONTH ahead of schedule!! My DH is such a super guy!

It still needs to be painted but here's what it looks like right now.... The section on the right is the extension, it's a darker color. One of the big improvements was to put the door hinges on the sides. Originally they were on the bottom.






The secure pen was enlarged, too. It's the section to the left of the white/clear tarp. Now I won't be feeling guilty when they have to be locked in for a week when we're away. Lotsa room to waddle around.

 

[SweetSilver]

Quote:
Wasn't there a thread not too long ago about the odd things we say? I'd say this is a fine candidate. I'd like to ask that one to people who know nothing about raising chickens and see what they think......

 

[itsren]

I know you don't want to hear this, but maybe Drama needs to go with Blackie. I have my aggressive girl in isolation until later this week, then she will go back into the flock. If she has not changed her behavior, she will be going to the pot. Today all the other chickens were in the run and mingling great, no chasing or anything like that.

I would have to get rid of Caunnie and Rhodie, too, which would wipe out my entire laying flock. Not what I want. Caunnie and Rhodie are a LOT meaner than Drama. Both of those girls have bloodied Latte's face up pretty good. Drama is the least aggressive - but she does has passive-aggressive mastered. I never realized how hard it would be to integrate one pullet into a flock of 3. It doesn't help that Latte is extremely timid. She's even scared of us, and we've handled her from day one.

Our only other thought is to maybe try to integrate Latte in with the 8-weekers. But, I don't want those babies hurt by Latte. The babies will have a coop and run of their own, so there is no worry about where they will be living in the future. Latte is about 16 weeks. Is that a bad idea?

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote: Maybe putting Latte in with them now would be best. She will peck a little to establish herself at the top of that flock order. It will prolly give her a confidence booster and better integration for when you put all of them together.

 

[itsren]

If the young ones are still peeping then it's not going to get much better for awhile. I don't put mine together until the younger ones stop sounding like chicks. And I have tried the putting them in the same coop once. I have better luck with giving them their own little coop, then after a few months or so when everyone is getting along, I move the young ones into the big coop with the others. usually just before POL. I know it's hard to keep birds seperate for too long, as they get bigger and bigger. So just be patient. It took mine like 3 months to start liking each other. I liked being able to give the younger ones a place of their own to sleep in. They had to fend for themselves during the day out with the other girls in the one run.

Yes, both Blackie and Latte still peep, although their voices are deepening. It's funny, not what you'd expect from a chicken that's taller than my Light Brahma! Blackie is really good in the coop - he makes Latte sleep up against the wall and he takes the 3 big girls attacks. But - if he leaves for any reason, they peck at Latte and she will usually get hurt.

The reason I put them in with the big girls is because the minute Blackie crows, he HAS to be out of here. I didn't want Latte in little coop all by herself and have to figure out how to integrate on her own. I think she's about 16 weeks - and my 8-week-olds are almost as big as she is. Her tiny size isn't doing her any favors.

 

[itsren]

Maybe putting Latte in with them now would be best. She will peck a little to establish herself at the top of that flock order. It will prolly give her a confidence booster and better integration for when you put all of them together.

I'll try putting her in the tractor with the 8-weekers tomorrow and see what happens. Blackie likes to stand by that tractor and play Papa anyway. He spent most of the day today standing in front of the tractor teaching them how to scratch. The come up close to him and everyone coos back and forth to each other.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Yes, both Blackie and Latte still peep, although their voices are deepening. It's funny, not what you'd expect from a chicken that's taller than my Light Brahma! Blackie is really good in the coop - he makes Latte sleep up against the wall and he takes the 3 big girls attacks. But - if he leaves for any reason, they peck at Latte and she will usually get hurt.

The reason I put them in with the big girls is because the minute Blackie crows, he HAS to be out of here. I didn't want Latte in little coop all by herself and have to figure out how to integrate on her own. I think she's about 16 weeks - and my 8-week-olds are almost as big as she is. Her tiny size isn't doing her any favors.

I know you know I'm no expert BUT, IMHO, I would immediately bring 4 of the baby boys to the auction with Blackie. Then I'd put Latte in with the remaining 3 pullets and the extra boy. If they're all big and she's small, they've gotta be fairly close in size. I don't think she'll hurt them other than establishing a pecking order. Plus, 8 week olds are more than old enough to go outside with her into the other coop/tractor you just bought off that lady.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote: x2

Quote: Pig Pen does that with the chicks in the tractor. He is interested in them for sure. I am going to put our orphan LF chick in with the big kids by the end of the month. He will be too big to "play" with the Silkies then.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Guys I had such a great evening! I am a member of another online forum and have known (online only) another lady for 3 years now and we really feel like we already knew each other. She called me tonight to pick my brain on getting chickens! She has 4 small children and wanted to talk about breeds, feed, coops, kids, etc. It was great! We talked for an hour and a half and she was so happy to get some more stuff figured out for what they want and are going to do this spring. I love talking chickens!!