L66wlt
In the Brooder
So after a couple of years of consideration we finally decided to go for it. Built our coop ourselves and bought 5 POL's (mix or breeds). Due to it being fairly late at night I just put them in the coop for the night with food and water. The next morning they got into the run to explore. They are fairly skittish around us and only come near if you have food. Picking them up and stroking is a no no unless they really have nowhere to go.
In the afternoon of day one I got another 2 birds as the seller was sold out of two types. They are younger smaller birds and you could see they were unsure of the bigger girls and being pretty submissive. The original 5 would give them little pecks and standing over them. I expected this and it seemed pretty tame so I was fairly happy. The 2 small birds are more friendly and will let you pick them up no problem. One even sits on your shoulder. If you go in the run they stick to you like glue. I'm assuming they see me as a source of security from the other girls. That night the big 5 walked in to the coop and onto the roost themselves, leaving the small newcomers out in the run. I popped them in but they wanted out so I repeated and put them on the roost bars, locked up and left them to it.
This morning when I opened up the bigger 5 darted out but i found the small 2 hiding in the same nest box and wouldn't come out. I picked them up and placed them at the pop door, the big 5 stopped what they were doing and all watched them, even walked up the ramp and the 2 ran back to the nest box. Our copper black stood at the pop door and watched. I picked the small 2 up and put them in the run. Every hen had their peck at them and chased them from food and water. Now they just sit nestled into one of the corners under the coop. They show now blood spots or damage and I hope this passes after a day or two but is there anything I can do to help them or make it pass quicker?
In the afternoon of day one I got another 2 birds as the seller was sold out of two types. They are younger smaller birds and you could see they were unsure of the bigger girls and being pretty submissive. The original 5 would give them little pecks and standing over them. I expected this and it seemed pretty tame so I was fairly happy. The 2 small birds are more friendly and will let you pick them up no problem. One even sits on your shoulder. If you go in the run they stick to you like glue. I'm assuming they see me as a source of security from the other girls. That night the big 5 walked in to the coop and onto the roost themselves, leaving the small newcomers out in the run. I popped them in but they wanted out so I repeated and put them on the roost bars, locked up and left them to it.
This morning when I opened up the bigger 5 darted out but i found the small 2 hiding in the same nest box and wouldn't come out. I picked them up and placed them at the pop door, the big 5 stopped what they were doing and all watched them, even walked up the ramp and the 2 ran back to the nest box. Our copper black stood at the pop door and watched. I picked the small 2 up and put them in the run. Every hen had their peck at them and chased them from food and water. Now they just sit nestled into one of the corners under the coop. They show now blood spots or damage and I hope this passes after a day or two but is there anything I can do to help them or make it pass quicker?