This is our second "batch" of chicks, and the first straight run we have had. I don't know if these wise guys are roos or if they are just mean, but here is what we have:
3 4 week old Barred Rocks
3 3 week old Buff Orps
2 1 week old Leghorns
and this is what is happening:
So the leghorns (from my daughters preschool, hatched last week) just arrived today. The Barred rocks (who I had noticed tend toward picking on the others, fighting amongst themselves for the favorite spot on top of the food dish and also have Really BIG beaks... hmmm...) seem to be preventing the leghorns from getting to the food. I watched for a few minutes and saw that anytime the leghorns come near the food, a BR would chase it away.
And this is what I did (30 minutes ago):
To give the peaceable chicks (Orps & Leghorns) a little break, I put the 3 bad rocks (i mean, barred rocks...) in with their neighbors, my pair of super sweet gentle 9 week old leghorn pullets.
HA! It certainly shut them up. They seem so surprised not to be the biggest they just stood there, silently, for about 5 minutes. And now the other box (with the little ones in it) is much more peaceful. And the little barred rocks seem to be getting along with the leghorns.
My question is this:
is it okay to leave them together? What should i be worried about? Does the extra big beak mean anything about whether these are roosters or not?
Thanks in advance!!
Sara
3 4 week old Barred Rocks
3 3 week old Buff Orps
2 1 week old Leghorns
and this is what is happening:
So the leghorns (from my daughters preschool, hatched last week) just arrived today. The Barred rocks (who I had noticed tend toward picking on the others, fighting amongst themselves for the favorite spot on top of the food dish and also have Really BIG beaks... hmmm...) seem to be preventing the leghorns from getting to the food. I watched for a few minutes and saw that anytime the leghorns come near the food, a BR would chase it away.
And this is what I did (30 minutes ago):
To give the peaceable chicks (Orps & Leghorns) a little break, I put the 3 bad rocks (i mean, barred rocks...) in with their neighbors, my pair of super sweet gentle 9 week old leghorn pullets.
HA! It certainly shut them up. They seem so surprised not to be the biggest they just stood there, silently, for about 5 minutes. And now the other box (with the little ones in it) is much more peaceful. And the little barred rocks seem to be getting along with the leghorns.
My question is this:
is it okay to leave them together? What should i be worried about? Does the extra big beak mean anything about whether these are roosters or not?
Thanks in advance!!
Sara
