What breed and gender

[Peggy-Sue]

Heather I assume you have australorps. Do you have any other breeds mixed in with them? If so do they get picked on a lot? My girls don't like her very much

 

[hdowden]

you have introduced a new member to the flock and thus the pecking order has to be re-established she might be on the bottom for now but later she might become top hen

 

[Peggy-Sue]

Shes the smallest of our hens now!

 

[Lothiriel]

Heather I assume you have australorps. Do you have any other breeds mixed in with them? If so do they get picked on a lot? My girls don't like her very much

Yes, I do. I've got 4 Australorps, along with Barred Rocks, Partridge Rocks, Easter Eggers, and guineas.

you have introduced a new member to the flock and thus the pecking order has to be re-established she might be on the bottom for now but later she might become top hen

My thoughts exactly. She's new, so the others want to make sure they keep their places in the pecking order. One of my Aussies is the top girl - she's 8 years old and always has been the queen. The other 3 I got April 2012, so they are farther down on the pecking order than she is, but seem to be higher than the Partridge Rocks (which I got the same time). So it all depends on how they work it out. Just keep an eye on her and if the others start picking on her really bad you'll have to separate, and let them see but not touch or interact.

 

[Peggy-Sue]

Right now we have her in a metal wire cage in our run. We want our hens to check her out first before letting her run free. Do you think we should try letting her out closer to dark? Or taking our new girl in the house tonight and putting her back out in the run tomorrow so the girls can keep checking her out?

 

[Smoochie]

Smaller flocks tend to have harder time with integration. Usually I introduce new birds in a cage in the coop for a few days then at night put them up on the roost with the others. The I add an extra watering station and feeding station as chickens tend to guard those. Also, I usually add something new in the coop ( straw bail, milk crate) and hang a cabbage ball up for distraction so there is less focus on the new one. Chickens don't do well with change.

 

[Peggy-Sue]

We ended up taking her in for the night and first thing tomorrow morning we will be working with introduction again. Lets hope it goes good!!!

 

[allmychickens]

young cockeral....looks younger then 6 months... like 2-4

 

[Ralph Moyer]

Cockerel

 

[themenagerie]

If Pumpkin was truly born in April, then I'd say she is most likely a pullet, but I agree..those look like saddle feathers to me. I'm leaning towards a cockerel born much later than April.

Edit - posted on the first page..then read entire thread. So long little Roo.