Your Plans For 2020! (Chat/Discussion)

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Silkie chicks on Christmas Eve!


All fathered by my last rooster before I sold him. It's nice to still have part of him around.

So far 8 have hatched, three gold, three white, one blue/black and one partridge.

Two more still to hatch, most likely on Christmas Day!

Here's the golds and partridge.

Will be keeping a few of these most likely for breeding.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!
​

 

[ValerieJ]

Silkie chicks on Christmas Eve!


All fathered by my last rooster before I sold him. It's nice to still have part of him around.

So far 8 have hatched, three gold, three white, one blue/black and one partridge.

Two more still to hatch, most likely on Christmas Day!

Here's the golds and partridge.

Will be keeping a few of these most likely for breeding.

View attachment 1987396

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!
​

What a great Christmas gift! Babies!!!

 

[CCUK]

Silkie chicks on Christmas Eve!


All fathered by my last rooster before I sold him. It's nice to still have part of him around.

So far 8 have hatched, three gold, three white, one blue/black and one partridge.

Two more still to hatch, most likely on Christmas Day!

Here's the golds and partridge.

Will be keeping a few of these most likely for breeding.

View attachment 1987396

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!
​

Beautiful! That's a precious thing to unwrap! Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[Trevorusn]

I have to do something now. Two cockerels and two pullets at 4 months is not a good thing. Ultimately I want a bachelor pad, but I'm afraid of just putting two pullets in with my hens, especially Surly who can be very brutal. I thought it would be easier for them if I bring them in with the cockerels, but Surly was having none of it, and I had to physically break up the fight. Poor Mad Hatter's comb was bleeding by the time I got him away from her.

Are the four 4 month old chicks getting along??? Or are they fighting each other too?

 

[ValerieJ]

Are the four 4 month old chicks getting along??? Or are they fighting each other too?

They are not fighting, but the dominant cockerel is beginning to feel his hormones and is jumping on the pullets. No one has been injured. The two cockerels are getting along fine so far. Actually it seems like the dominant cockerel would protect the smaller one just as quickly as he would his girls. They have been a strong unit together. I've just been trying to get ahead of any potential injuries when two cockerels are hormonal with two pullets.

 

[AnnaWolf]

I am expanding my coop, becouse i am hoping that i am getting a broody hen this spring/summer so that i can give her some bantam eggs. do you guys have some idea's for some nice breeds?

 

[Trevorusn]

They are not fighting, but the dominant cockerel is beginning to feel his hormones and is jumping on the pullets. No one has been injured. The two cockerels are getting along fine so far. Actually it seems like the dominant cockerel would protect the smaller one just as quickly as he would his girls. They have been a strong unit together. I've just been trying to get ahead of any potential injuries when two cockerels are hormonal with two pullets.

Being raised together is a bit ahead of the game, so that is a big plus. They usually are a bit easier when they have been raised together, the older birds you have however may still be a bit challenging to integration, but it is doable with enough space and "hideout" places, because sadly dominant hens have no qualms about bullying cockerels.

 

[Trevorusn]

I am expanding my coop, becouse i am hoping that i am getting a broody hen this spring/summer so that i can give her some bantam eggs. do you guys have some idea's for some nice breeds?

Sebrights are always striking!

 

[ValerieJ]

Being raised together is a bit ahead of the game, so that is a big plus. They usually are a bit easier when they have been raised together, the older birds you have however may still be a bit challenging to integration, but it is doable with enough space and "hideout" places, because sadly dominant hens have no qualms about bullying cockerels.

I have a huge amount of space, way beyond adequate. It has 4 runs, although the young ones are inhabiting one of them. There are several obstacles and 5 separate feeding stations and 5 watering stations, separate from the feeding stations. I can not emphasize enough how deliberate Surly was in going after my cockerel. She was telling me and him he had no room in her world. It was within 30 seconds of release. There was no chance to dispute feeding stations. She ran a good 10 ft or more, hopped through a pop door and pecked at a pullet to get out of her way to him. Then she lunged at his head and held on. It was quite disturbing actually. I've never seen anything like it.

My question now is, does anyone think these pullets and cockerels can stay together for a few more months without integration? I'm really only interested in integrating the pullets and thought it would be easier for them if I included the cockerels at first. The next day I just tried integrating the pullets. All was well, with the normal chicken pecking communication until dusk. Then the cockerels and the pullets were desperate to be together. Rather than having anyone out in 30 degree temps at night, I allowed them back in. I'm now trying to figure out Plan C.

 

[Trevorusn]

I have a huge amount of space, way beyond adequate. It has 4 runs, although the young ones are inhabiting one of them. There are several obstacles and 5 separate feeding stations and 5 watering stations, separate from the feeding stations. I can not emphasize enough how deliberate Surly was in going after my cockerel. She was telling me and him he had no room in her world. It was within 30 seconds of release. There was no chance to dispute feeding stations. She ran a good 10 ft or more, hopped through a pop door and pecked at a pullet to get out of her way to him. Then she lunged at his head and held on. It was quite disturbing actually. I've never seen anything like it.

My question now is, does anyone think these pullets and cockerels can stay together for a few more months without integration? I'm really only interested in integrating the pullets and thought it would be easier for them if I included the cockerels at first. The next day I just tried integrating the pullets. All was well, with the normal chicken pecking communication until dusk. Then the cockerels and the pullets were desperate to be together. Rather than having anyone out in 30 degree temps at night, I allowed them back in. I'm now trying to figure out Plan C.

The young ones should be fine with themselves so long as no aggressive bullying is happening among them. For plan C, you could always remove Surly and then after integration reintroduce Surly who would be down a few notches on the pecking order ladder.