- Apr 30, 2012
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I have six pullets, all roughly the same age. Two Barred Rocks, two Delawares, and two White-Faced Black Spanish.
The BR and Delawares have been together awhile, with some tradeouts because I received three roosters of my original four week-old chicks. So they've endured change rather politely over the last several weeks.
Meanwhile, I purchased the two WFBS from another breeder. One had significant feather loss from an aggressive cockerel at the breeder's, so I kept them separate for about a month while the feathers grew in and I made sure they weren't carrying any parasites, etc.
So, I added them Sunday. While the others had been skeptical of the last Delaware pullet added, they got over it after about three days. Completely. And the pecking order process wasn't this persistent.
But with these guys, they're still going strong. Nothing that will hurt them, but they're being super vigilant in guarding the feed and water from these two new "interlopers."
Should I intervene and coop the other girls so they can eat or will that just prolong the process? They're not going to starve--I've been spreading some extra feed around so I know they're eating. Even if they can't get to the waterer, it's been raining.
WFBS are kinda flighty anyway, so it could be that they're not holding their ground at all. They're lighter than the others build-wise. We live in town so I don't really have the room for a second coop and I'd hate to put them back into the big brooder. They seem happy out there. But how long does it take and should I make any interventions?
The BR and Delawares have been together awhile, with some tradeouts because I received three roosters of my original four week-old chicks. So they've endured change rather politely over the last several weeks.
Meanwhile, I purchased the two WFBS from another breeder. One had significant feather loss from an aggressive cockerel at the breeder's, so I kept them separate for about a month while the feathers grew in and I made sure they weren't carrying any parasites, etc.
So, I added them Sunday. While the others had been skeptical of the last Delaware pullet added, they got over it after about three days. Completely. And the pecking order process wasn't this persistent.
But with these guys, they're still going strong. Nothing that will hurt them, but they're being super vigilant in guarding the feed and water from these two new "interlopers."
Should I intervene and coop the other girls so they can eat or will that just prolong the process? They're not going to starve--I've been spreading some extra feed around so I know they're eating. Even if they can't get to the waterer, it's been raining.
WFBS are kinda flighty anyway, so it could be that they're not holding their ground at all. They're lighter than the others build-wise. We live in town so I don't really have the room for a second coop and I'd hate to put them back into the big brooder. They seem happy out there. But how long does it take and should I make any interventions?
