well this is the weekend

[FrannyLW]

I have 2 Easter eggers, I believe they turned 2 this past summer. Time flies. So I wanted more of course. I got 3 Ayam Cemanis, I think they were 3 months old then. They are living in a large long cage with a hutch as their home, for the past 4 weeks inside my coop with the other chickens.. So they (old and new) are getting aquainted by stealing each others lettuce lol. This is the weekend I want them together. Helpful hints? I am thinking of leaving the smaller hutch in there in case the "vultures" as I call the cemanis lol want to escape. Should they meet and greet in the large coop? I also have a space used for my vegetable garden in the summer of course that we thought of putting the Vultures inside first then the older hens. Or should I just throw lettuce and treats all around the coop and hope for the best. Of course I'll be there to supervise.

 

[Alaskan]

if you can do a super clean of the coop, and while doing so shift about some of the "furniture" (feed and water locations, or anything else mobile) and THEN let everyone out, yes, with a bunch of lettuce.. thst would be best.

The point of doing a super clean and rearrange is that then the old group are a bit off balance, things are not quite as they should be, so they feel less possessive of the area, since the area is new.

Since you have a vegetable garden to also use (if it has safe night housing)..... that can be used if they do not get along right off.

Then you put the old girls in the vegetable garden for 2 days, with the new girls in the coop, then put the old girls into the coop... all of that mixup helps.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would put the old girls where you have the new birds for a day, while letting new birds out so that they can move around the coop/run, get familiar with it without being chased. I would let them roost in the coop, keep the old girls where you have had the chicks.

Then pretty close to dark on the 2 or 3rd day, throw out the lettuce and let everyone together.
I would really not expect much trouble with this, you have good numbers, and you have been patient.

mrs K

 

[FrannyLW]

Well I believe it was a success. No fights just a little bossiness. I still have the chicks little house in there and last night had to move the chick’s to the older house to roost.I see they go there for protection and naps how long should I keep that house there or should I take it away.

 

[SulkyBantam]

I'd leave it for a while. They should graduate to the larger coop in time.

 

[FrannyLW]

well, I noticed the babies are going into the bigger coop BUT, they are sleeping in the nest box area. I remember my older ones, I closed that off to them, and opened during the day. I feel like I should keep them like that for right now, too young to lay and my older ones are not laying right now for the winter. And they still all do not hang together, the chicks keep to themselves. Am I doing the right thing or should I make them roost overnight and close the nest area?

 

[SulkyBantam]

I think you are doing just fine, there can't be much harm done and it actually helps them lay in them in time. Good luck!

 

[aart]

well, I noticed the babies are going into the bigger coop BUT, they are sleeping in the nest box area. I remember my older ones, I closed that off to them, and opened during the day. I feel like I should keep them like that for right now, too young to lay and my older ones are not laying right now for the winter. And they still all do not hang together, the chicks keep to themselves. Am I doing the right thing or should I make them roost overnight and close the nest area?

You don't want them to sleep in nests.
I close off nests an hour before roost time, then open them back up when I lock up after dark.

Do the youngers have a separate, and slightly lower, roost?
That can really help.

They youngers will stay a separate 'sub'flock' until they start laying,
then they will work their way in to the main pecking order.

 

[FrannyLW]

You don't want them to sleep in nests.
I close off nests an hour before roost time, then open them back up when I lock up after dark.

Do the youngers have a separate, and slightly lower, roost?
That can really help.

They youngers will stay a separate 'sub'flock' until they start laying,
then they will work their way in to the main pecking order.

That is interesting about the sub flock. I can start closing the nesting area on the weekend, unfortunately during the week I get home after 5, and you know its pitch black by the time I get back there. Maybe by doing it on the weekend it'll be enough for the chicks to realize its a no-no to sleep. I have enough roosting area for everyone, low and high.

 

[aart]

Maybe by doing it on the weekend it'll be enough for the chicks to realize its a no-no to sleep.

Maybe....or if your older birds are not laying just block them off 24/7?