Chickens update

[chris]

Well, we're *slowly* making progress. If I stand in the run, the old lot will let the newbies out of the coop, and let them eat - the moment I'm away they'll chase them off from the food / water (no matter how many feeders/drinkers I put down).

I'm slowly letting the new lot out in the garden when I'm back from work for 2-3 hours before I put them back in first, and into the coop at night. My light sussex gets on with the others unless she's starving -then will tell the others off for eating, I put her back with the 3 newbies, and they all roost together fine.

My black rock hybrid and magpie on the other hand. Crickey! They will not have *anything* to do with me still, and really do beat the others around (apart from the marans hybrid I have, I think as she looks similar to the BR - until the BR appears, then the magpie will give the marans a boot up the backside too!).

Anyway, this morning, I found them eating together, for just enough time to take this photo:



So, it seems we're slowly seeing progress It'd probably be easier if I could give them all the garden to roam around in, but these new lot are SO flighty, even with both wings clipped (almost lost one on day 1 with 1 wing clipped so made the horrible choice to do the second). They can still fly half the length of the garden about 2-3' off the ground - it's incredible. I hope once they grow some more their weight will keep them flower down!

I've had to fence off the top of the coop, as the newbies were just sitting up there all the time messing over it, and not coming down - but now they'll jump on top of the nestbox to get out of the way.

I initially thought after a week, two max things would be ok - but they've proven me wrong! I guess it is down to the individuals that you're introducing new stock to.

Oh, aye and the one with the broken beak - her beak tip has healed over now, and she's able to peck with a bit more force now, which is good news as I thought she may end up as a big egg in the sky!

[RichmondHens]

Some take longer than others to settle and some hybrids are made up with very feisty bloodlines - marans and rhode island reds have very strong characters and it comes down in the hybrid make up. I have an old rhode island red cross, she is now the oldest large hen I have (in her 6th year and still laying almost every day) and she is a right old bag to everyone. They just learn to keep out of her way.

Re wing clipping, you should only clip one side, to put them off balance. Clipping both wings works with heavy hens as they can't get enough "lift" but with young light hybrids who are relatively small it will have little effect. What you can do is take ALL the flight (long) feathers off on one side, both primaries (which are the ones usually cut) and the secondaries. i have to do this with my bantams else they would be in the next county. It is unsightly but does work with all but the smallest birds. Obviously wing clipping is a big no no if you wish to show your birds but absolutely essential if you don't want to lose them over the fence.

[chris]

I used to keep large birds previously - I've always left the primary feathers on purely for looks - but I really can't believe how much lift they can still get.

Clipping one side worked for my cockatoos previously, baffling!

They're not half a bunch of characters though. Just like kids, they're into EVERYTHING. Under steps, rolling around, running around wings out stretched - comical

[polo]

Exhausting isn't it? I've introduced two lots now, did both differently. Second lot was easier but that was almost certainly down to different 'personalities'

Is the picture showing the two groups of three either side of the feeder?? Makes me giggle if so - that's what mine did.

[chris]

Yep, two groups either side The marans is trying to assert her authority over the other two, and has had a swipe at my LS, be interesting to see how the pecking order pans out when they're fully grown

I love it though, if I had more space I'd probably end up with even more

[chris]

Quick update, on Saturday had my first egg, from what I think is the marans - it's a lovely chocolatey colour. Small but perfectly formed. They're all doing the old squat when I walk past them, couple more than the other one. They're still picked on a bit, but the integration is getting easier.

They'll still roost on top of the coop and poo all over it if I don't prevent them from doing so, which is a bit annoying but hopefully as time goes on that will get less and less

Couple of piccies!

[BarleySugar]

Reading of your experiences Chris makes me a bit uncertain about my plan to add a couple of skylines to my six, if I can find any of course. The others all came from the same flock, but there was still a bit of squabbling to start with, so adding strangers will probably cause upset.

[chris]

I think I made the mistake of keeping them all
Shut up in my run. Next time I'll give them the run of the garden.

Another has started laying today so thy good news

It's not put me off btw - now I know what they're like it's opened my eyes a bit more, I just didn't expect them to be THAT aggressive.

[petal]

they are like feathered velociraptors!

[chris]

Indeed petal!

Sorry to bump this agian, but yesterday we had out first blue(ish) egg. I wish now I'd have bought a couple of them! It's like having a new addition to the family all over again heh.

I think my wife is getting into them now though, as she's already said what chickens she wants next time (which I think are buff orphs? Not sure, it's a fair few years away anyway!).

Am going to have to re-do their coop as it's letting water in from somewhere, so that's my job for today!

Obligatory pic:

[lettucegrow!]

Going to bump again!
How's things? We are in our second week introducing two to my exciting two and hate the pecking/attacking that goes on. At the moment they are separated during day but can see eachother and I let oldies out into garden when home and newbies into big run, then short time together before nighttime.
What I wanted to know is if anyone thinks it would work using an atomiser to spray the bully when she attacks, or is this cruel. I used thiswith the cat to stop him going for the hens when they arrived.
Thoughts anyone? Can they learn ?