When can I put them outside??

[ssbs]

Quote:
The hens are extremely docile.. The roos are a lot smaller, only very slightly bigger than the chicks are right now so I seriously doubt that they will try and cause problems

 

[Rainwolf]

Quote:
The hens are extremely docile.. The roos are a lot smaller, only very slightly bigger than the chicks are right now so I seriously doubt that they will try and cause problems

It is not really the size that creates problems. I also would never add juveniles to a adult pen. The ranks (pecking order) are established after introduction and if you have even a iota of issues the juvenile is dead even if it is the biggest bird in the pen.

I have button quails who will and can kill juvenile coturnix that are 2 to 3 times their size.

I introduce the new birds at the minimum age of 7 weeks or if they are laying or show that they are breeding.
I have a brooder to acclimate them to outside then a grow out pen until they are adults/breeding. Once breeding then I either add to my breeding stock, sell, or cull.
I also have a bachelor pen that I throw the known roos in once I find them in the grow out pen. I mainly have MGold, Ranges and whites. The MGolds are the only one I can color sex so when I find a roo in white or range I have to separate right away.

Just so you know my birds are very docile too. They try and climb up my arm or into my lap when I open the cages. They even just sit on my shoulders if I put them there and hang out while I work on something in their pen. That being said they will still kill the young ones if it messes up the order of the pen.

 

[mhwc56]

Quote:
The hens are extremely docile.. The roos are a lot smaller, only very slightly bigger than the chicks are right now so I seriously doubt that they will try and cause problems

It is not really the size that creates problems. I also would never add juveniles to a adult pen. The ranks (pecking order) are established after introduction and if you have even a iota of issues the juvenile is dead even if it is the biggest bird in the pen.

I have button quails who will and can kill juvenile coturnix that are 2 to 3 times their size.

I introduce the new birds at the minimum age of 7 weeks or if they are laying or show that they are breeding.
I have a brooder to acclimate them to outside then a grow out pen until they are adults/breeding. Once breeding then I either add to my breeding stock, sell, or cull.
I also have a bachelor pen that I throw the known roos in once I find them in the grow out pen. I mainly have MGold, Ranges and whites. The MGolds are the only one I can color sex so when I find a roo in white or range I have to separate right away.

Just so you know my birds are very docile too. They try and climb up my arm or into my lap when I open the cages. They even just sit on my shoulders if I put them there and hang out while I work on something in their pen. That being said they will still kill the young ones if it messes up the order of the pen.

EXACTLY!

 

[shelleyd2008]

I have to differ a bit here. I would say it's not only the size that's the problem, I have had a pharaoh-sized adult hen that was beaten up by her jumbo-sized cage mates. They had all been together since hatch, but the big girls just picked on her to no end. I put her in a cage with same-sized oddballs (golden, tux, golden range) and they got along fine.

You shouldn't introduce new birds that aren't as 'mature' as the birds they are joining. This time of year I don't think that would be too much of a problem since they most likely aren't breeding anyway, but I would wait til they are at least 6 weeks old to try and integrate them.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
It is not really the size that creates problems. I also would never add juveniles to a adult pen. The ranks (pecking order) are established after introduction and if you have even a iota of issues the juvenile is dead even if it is the biggest bird in the pen.

I have button quails who will and can kill juvenile coturnix that are 2 to 3 times their size.

I introduce the new birds at the minimum age of 7 weeks or if they are laying or show that they are breeding.
I have a brooder to acclimate them to outside then a grow out pen until they are adults/breeding. Once breeding then I either add to my breeding stock, sell, or cull.
I also have a bachelor pen that I throw the known roos in once I find them in the grow out pen. I mainly have MGold, Ranges and whites. The MGolds are the only one I can color sex so when I find a roo in white or range I have to separate right away.

Just so you know my birds are very docile too. They try and climb up my arm or into my lap when I open the cages. They even just sit on my shoulders if I put them there and hang out while I work on something in their pen. That being said they will still kill the young ones if it messes up the order of the pen.

EXACTLY!

X2!
GIVEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE RANGES, THE AGE OF THE CHICKS, AND THE PROPOSED HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS THIS WHOLE SCENARIO HAS VERY BAD MOJO WRITTEN ALL OVER IT IN BIG NEON PRINT

 

[ssbs]

I'm sure I will get scolded.. But I moved them out on Monday.

I brought the two roos inside and put the young birds out. I figured I'll keep the roos inside until the rest mature.. But I am rethinking that, because they are related to my mature hens.. So, I might end up with my first meal of quail.. Or maybe not "shrug"

The pen is totally covered with a tarp.. The temp got to be lower than expected last night, down to 19. But everyone is just fine.

Those little birds are incredable.. Nearly two weeks ago one of my hens dissappeared. She was gone for 4 or more days, one day it poured rain for over 24 hours. I knew she'd be dead. But the rain let up over night and the hen was spotted pecking at the road looking for food at 8AM (in the middle of the city!).. She'd been living across the street from me in a pile of brush at the edge of the road.. She was happy to have her food back.. 'Course the boys had to "welcome her back" while she was stuffing her face

 

[Sumatra503]

It's all a matter of pecking order. The youngest birds will be at the bottom, same as chickens. They will most often just peck them a bit to assert their dominace and show them their rank in the pecking order. Adding new birds will always upset a pecking order. That's what the little squabbles are.

Size has little baring. It's mostly a matter of age and spunk. Whoever is the most mature has the better chance of being on top of the ranks, because of their knowledge and partly their size. The pecking order is all to do with breeding rights. Which male is more impressive to the females and such.

 

[vfem]

I wait until 6-7 weeks, if its super cold out... I try to get them used to it a little bit at a time during the day for a few days first. Then I take them in at night.... I am such a pansy with babies though... they are my babies until they are finally laying!