| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| texdane |
Posted - May 21 2016 : 05:27:14 AM
Hi Farmgirls!
I've got a small flock of three hens and a rooster which many of you have read about on the Suburban Farmgirl blog many times.
For my birthday, a bff bought me two more hens. They will be smaller than my current flock which is part Sussex, part Rhode Island Red and part Leghorn. The new girls are Aracaunas (sp?)
Anyhoo, they are now pullets and soon will be going to need to be outside. I have heard different things such as put them in a crate INSIDE with them in it near the coop first, then later stick them inside the coop at night so the others think in the morning that the new ones were always there.
What's your experience? What has worked? What went wrong?
I appreciate any advice! 
Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
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| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| texdane |
Posted - Jul 27 2016 : 09:28:55 AM
Update: the new girls are successfully integrated into the flock. Mr. Roo aka Spot has been behaving himself these days and has been granted a stay of execution for now, lol. I hate to have to get rid of him, he is so beautiful and regal and I love his crowing.
Thank you MJ for all your advice! Did everything like you said and the transition proved to be easier than I first anticipated. The only thing is that now at night the new girls perch on top of the coop until we put them in (no one is picking on them, so not sure what is going on there. No issues during the day. It's okay, I just pick them up, give them a snuggle and then in they go).
Much love!
Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
www.facebook.com/suburbanfarmgirlblogger |
| Beverley |
Posted - Jun 28 2016 : 4:14:10 PM
I had one like that, really beautiful but so obnoxious, so, I know how you feel about getting rid of him but he would attack me everyday!! He had to go..
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett
Beverley with an extra E...
https://sites.google.com/site/bevsdoggies/
http://bevsdoggies.blogspot.com/ |
| texdane |
Posted - Jun 28 2016 : 06:08:14 AM
Hi Beverly,
I know you're right. It makes me sad because he's so beautiful and I raised him, but he's just unpredictable. Sigh...
My new girls are Aruacanas. They are so sweet and really pretty.
Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
www.facebook.com/suburbanfarmgirlblogger |
| Beverley |
Posted - Jun 27 2016 : 7:48:22 PM
Yes I think it is time to let the rooster go. I have had ones like you describe and bye bye they went. I have one now that is very gentle and does not come after me. So, you could try a different breed of one, like the Americanas or Aruacanas, the roosters from that breed have always been nice. you really do not need a rooster at all if all you are wanting is eggs, so unless you want some small chickens that hatch from eggs, the rooster can go bye bye and you do not have to replace him. usually it is a lot quieter without one. hehehehehe
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett
Beverley with an extra E...
https://sites.google.com/site/bevsdoggies/
http://bevsdoggies.blogspot.com/ |
| texdane |
Posted - Jun 27 2016 : 12:13:56 PM
Hi Everyone and MaryJane,
So I got my two little hens about a week ago. They are all set up in a hen crate my friend loaned me that looks exactly like MJ's. The big girls are okay with the new babies. They are almost all grown I think, but still are pullets. The rooster is another issue. He is traumatizing them. He is also bullying my old girls, so they are not happy these days. They stay in the coop alot of times because he is in such a "foul" mood (sorry). But today, he really upset me as he is quite scary to my new little babies and now comes after me too! Is it time to let him go? He is as big as a tom turkey and no matter how hard I've tried, he is so mean. He is so beautiful, but today he really spooked me. His spurs are HUGE. I think the girls will all get along no problem, he is the issue. He had them cornered today and it sounded awful! Can a rooster kill a small hen?
Any more advice is really appreciated.
Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
www.facebook.com/suburbanfarmgirlblogger |
| MaryJane |
Posted - May 21 2016 : 6:20:51 PM
I've used the transistor trick before in my historic flour mill to deter bats and raccoons. The raccoons got hip to it fairly quickly but it seems to keep the bats at bay. I'll have to try it for chickens.
I haven't had any problems integrating large and small chickens (bantams). I keep the new ones in the crate for as long as three weeks if need be until I feel like everyone is well acquainted. I start by letting the new chicks out into the coop for a few hours with the door closed and the big girls outside. When I let the big girls in later that day, the chicks sometimes run back into the crate so I leave it there with the door open for a couple of days before removing it.
Good luck!
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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| texdane |
Posted - May 21 2016 : 10:50:54 AM
Also, sounds like you have a mix of different chickens, too. Will it matter that my new girls are going to be smaller in stature than the old girls? My chickens now are huge! The rooster looks like Foghorn Leghorn.
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
www.facebook.com/suburbanfarmgirlblogger |
| texdane |
Posted - May 21 2016 : 10:39:43 AM
Perfect, MaryJane! Thank you! I have a dog crate that size I can set up.
I just read the other post. I missed that you had a coyote! That's why my girls can't "free range" either. We have too many red tailed hawks and predators like coyote, bear, fox, and fisher cats. MaryJane, do you have a small transistor radio set up? I am the only one in my neighborhood whose chickens haven't been raided by predators. We bought a small FM radio for under $10 and have it softly playing. It's attached to the fence. The sound of the voices and noise keep predators away from the coop at night. Animals think humans are near. I swear that is the only thing that kept my girls safe.
How long do you leave the new chickens in the crate with the "old" girls around?
Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
www.facebook.com/suburbanfarmgirlblogger |
| MaryJane |
Posted - May 21 2016 : 08:45:51 AM
Snapped a quick photo after milking this morning. They all seem healthy and happy and soon I'll integrate them. I'll for sure wait until the weather isn't damp and rainy.
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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| MaryJane |
Posted - May 21 2016 : 07:04:37 AM
Hi Nicole,
Right now I have my 10 new chicks inside my larger chicken coop in a dog crate. I have 15 adult hens. I feed the chicks crumbles and they get their water from a plastic lemonade jug hanging on the side with one nipple in the bottom. I also have a heat lamp on them still.
http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=75979
That's how I've always integrated new baby chicks and never had any problems. The first couple of days, the big girls go over to the crate and scare the daylights out of the babies but then they just get used to them. In a couple more weeks I'll let the chicks out to be with the big girls.
I'll try to snap a photo this weekend.
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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