Funny chicken story

[catjac1975]

I have 3 young pullets that I let outside with the big birds today for the first time. The yard had a lot of weeds grown up so I was a bit hesitant. When I went to lock them up the hens and roosters were still outside the house and were acting strangely chirping and squawking. I herded them inside which is normally quite easy, but tonight they were reluctant. I looked inside the house and sure enough the 3 chicks were not there. I had to flush them out of the weeds to get them into the house and locked up. I thought it was quite cute to see the adult birds were looking out for the young ones.

 

[baymule]

Awwwww..........

 

[897tgigvib]

Sounds like a good thing! :happy_flower

 

[bj taylor]

that's pretty cool! these chickens are so amazing to watch. they have quite a little society going on.

 

[MontyJ]

That's cute. It's nice to know your older birds are accepting the younger ones. My brother has the opposite problem. Her has two fully grown hens that are a few years old. He tried to increase his flock and bought 4 chicks this spring. He kept them close together with only a fence between them until the chicks were about 8-10 weeks old, tehn he combined them. Now the chicks are about to start laying, but the older hens won't accept them. The hens go into the coop, but the pullets roost on top of it. Even when they are all outside they stay seperated from each other. So now he is resigned to the fact that he has two flocks.

 

[mrcman]

Hi Cat,

Very nice story. It's nice when things work out that way. I've also heard of it going jus the opposite. You are lucky...count your blessings.

Tony

 

[so lucky]

That's cute. It's nice to know your older birds are accepting the younger ones. My brother has the opposite problem. Her has two fully grown hens that are a few years old. He tried to increase his flock and bought 4 chicks this spring. He kept them close together with only a fence between them until the chicks were about 8-10 weeks old, tehn he combined them. Now the chicks are about to start laying, but the older hens won't accept them. The hens go into the coop, but the pullets roost on top of it. Even when they are all outside they stay seperated from each other. So now he is resigned to the fact that he has two flocks.

I guess he can be thankful that the older girls aren't trying to hurt the younger ones. Maybe when they start laying, they will be accepted into the "big girls' club."

 

[Ridgerunner]

Thats a nice story. Its not strange at all to me that the dominant rooster would immediately accept them and try to take care of them but the whole flock? Thats what makes it a nice story.

How did they do this morning before you let them out after their first night together? Its when they are locked in the coop together where the young ones have trouble avoiding the older that I most worry when I integrate. When they are outside with lots of room I dont worry all that much.

 

[catjac1975]

I had locked them together the night before at near dark. I was a bit worried that I would have beaten up chicks in the morning but all seemed fine. The roo was actually the funniest of all buck buck bucking as if to call them in for the night. They are all Lavender Orpingtons. My husband thinks I'm crazy but, it seems they do recognize the same breed. The week previous they were in an enclosure next to the Lavender flock and were hanging out next to the fence with the adults right on the other side. The chicks spend their days flocked together. They came running out first this morning so seem well adjusted to the change. They are rather old to be just coming outdoors. But I have cats that have eaten chicks in the past so I had to let them get big enough where I thought they were safe from the felines. I used to let them out at 2-3 weeks old with out trouble, but no more.