It's been a while since I've posted on Chicken Chat, but it's not because I don't have anything to share, quite the contrary. I have been very busy doing housewife stuff, and dealing with my little pullets, and trying to figure out how I'm going to integrate my little birds in with my big birds. Besides, it takes me HOURS to post an article, and I mean a short article. I spend DAYS or WEEKS on larger articles. That may not the be case for other bloggers, but that is the case for me. So this article has been in the works for a while. Regrettably, as you may know dear | reader, I lost little Lily. What you DON'T know is that about a week later Lily died, I lost Daisy too. This was very hard for me. After a lot of research it appears I lost them both to what was most likely coccidiosis. I have learned a great deal about the disease itself and how to treat it, and as you know dear reader, I hate learning my lessons by trial and error, but then, don't we all? I will save that information for a later time -sorry. For now, the reality is that I have two birds left, and I need to figure out how to get them to be accepted by the existing flock. |
You see, I had planned to release the four new birds in with the four older birds when they got to be four months old. You know, a one on one situation, but that is no longer an option. Well after I had formed my plan, and lost two birdies, then I had read how it's a BAD idea to introduce older pullets to an existing flock, and how much better it is to put younger pullets (eight weeks old) with older birds, as they may "adopt" them. I have also read how that it's a BAD idea to put young pullets in with older birds because they may kill the youngins. Sheesh, with so much contradicting advice out there it's very hard to know what to do.
However, I'm no stranger to this situation, because two years ago, I had gotten Miss Olive on a whim about a month after I had the other girls, so that was a 4 against 1 situation, and Olive came through fine. By the seat of my pants, er, I mean skirt, I thought of a way to give Olive a high roost to escape the mean girls and their pecking order rituals, especially Daisy, where she could also get food and water. I can't remember how long it took for them to all get along, but I seemed to | be more willing to wait; what happened?Was my fortitude due to my naivete? Now that I've been reading more and trying not to screw up so much, I wonder if that approach has only lead me into information constipation, and therefore the inability to make a quality decision and stick to it. I have NO idea what has turned me into such a waffler. Maybe every situation is a little different then the last, at least that's the excuse I'm using to comfort myself. |
At any rate, here is a sampling of my progress, or rather lack there of.
Integration Plan #1
First I just opened the gate that had separated the two flocks and let nature takes its course. Sure the little hens would get hen pecked a bit, but eventually after some time, they would be accepted into the flock, hopefully without any serious blood shed.
However, Olive, of all birds, seems to be top hen, which is a complete surprise to me! She has taken to terrorizing the new little hens. I always thought Myrtle was the head honcho. I think that may have been the case when Daisy the Delaware was around. They seemed to have formed an alliance of sorts. Then when Myrtles "wingman" bit the dust, she may have lost her status in an ensuing coup. It appears that Olive and Buttercup have formed their own alliance and are on the top of the pecking order. When I bring in some treats, those two are the first to chow down while Myrtle and Blossom wait their turn. Blossom seems to be the "middle child."
I couldn't stand seeing Olive and Buttercup bully the youngins and keep them from the food, so I decided to put Olive, the head bully, into solitary confinement to help cool her jets.
However, Olive, of all birds, seems to be top hen, which is a complete surprise to me! She has taken to terrorizing the new little hens. I always thought Myrtle was the head honcho. I think that may have been the case when Daisy the Delaware was around. They seemed to have formed an alliance of sorts. Then when Myrtles "wingman" bit the dust, she may have lost her status in an ensuing coup. It appears that Olive and Buttercup have formed their own alliance and are on the top of the pecking order. When I bring in some treats, those two are the first to chow down while Myrtle and Blossom wait their turn. Blossom seems to be the "middle child."
I couldn't stand seeing Olive and Buttercup bully the youngins and keep them from the food, so I decided to put Olive, the head bully, into solitary confinement to help cool her jets.
The plan was to keep her in this cage for three days, to see if she would lose her overly aggressive attitude. When she was in lock up, I noticed the dynamic in the run change. Myrtle and Blossom were more accepting of the little birds (Rose and Lacey) while Buttercup was the top aggressor. Even so, Buttercup kept to herself more, she acted like she didn't know what to do, which was pitiful. On the bright side, Rose and Lacey seemed to be more at ease. But after a day, I gave in, because I felt sorry for my favorite bird and so I let her out. She quickly went after the little birds after receiving her freedom. So much for that. I should have just stuck to it, but to be honest, Olive didn't look so good, maybe she was just play acting, if so, I fell for it.
Integration Plan #2
Then I decided that the girls should switch places, Olive and Buttercup would be placed in the smaller end of the divided run, while the young ones (Rose and Lacey) would be put in the larger side with Myrtle and Blossom. This seemed to work fine until Rose needed to lay her egg. She is in LOVE with the small coop, and couldn't bear to lay her stupid egg in the big coop. After several tries to get to the small coop by rushing the fence, she started to make a strange purring sound. Exasperated I grabbed her and locker her up in the big coop with Myrtle and Blossom, thinking that she would see how it's done. Nope. She would not have anything to do with it. After more kamikaze style rushes on the barrier, I finally gave up and switched the two pairs back. The little birds are on the smaller side of the run, and the larger girls are on the bigger side of the fence.
I didn't even make it an hour on this plan. I had visions of Rose becoming egg bound and it would be all my fault! So I folded like a house of cards in a fan factory.
Integration Plan # 3
Now I'm just going to wait until I get 4 more pullets (4 month olds I hope) and then set them all free with Rose and Lacey into the big run. That way, I figure Olive will have 6 birds to chase around, which I hope will make her exhausted and less likely to bully any one of them too much. That's the theory anyway. I will have to wait until August to put this plan into effect and see what happens, that is unless I change my mind again. Which is entirely possible, since I've taken to waffling.
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