Chicken bald back

[debbier]

The new chooks are looking bigger now: more tail feathers etc.

 

They are still separated from the older ones, but I've been getting them used to each other gradually. I've been opening up the partition last thing at night, so they can sleep together if they want. The poor little legbar still seems to want to perch on top of the dog crate rather than inside, so is a bit exposed, but it is her choice!

 

They've also been together when I can supervise it, and I've been swapping sides too, so the oldies are in the new bit and vice versa.

 

There is still some pecking going on, but it doesn't seem so persistent. The old ones peck the new ones on the back of the neck if they get near their food (they do have multiple feed stations).

 

Anyway, we are hopefully away for a few days over New Year, so ideally I'd like to fully integrate them and get rid of the partition, but don't want to do it if it's too early.

 

Any ideas on how to know when to go for it?

[Egluntyne]

Sounds like you are at that point now. Inevitably there will be some minor squabbling.

[Plum]

Mine were at that sort of stage when I put them together and you have perches so they can jump out of the way. At least you can get rid of the dog crate so little legbar has to go in with the others with the cold coming.

[debbier]

OK, I'll take a deep breath, cross my fingers and take down the chicken wire partition, and remove the dog crate (which really lowers the tone!).

 

I'll also sort out some extra perches for the newbies. At the moment they retreat to the top of the dog crate, but I'll get some nice alternatives sorted.

 

Must get some tarps too. It's getting pretty yukky out there with all this wet weather we are having.

 

Thanks for the advice.

[debbier]

Update:

 

I took the partition down over the weekend, and put some higher perches up. The young chooks can make it up to them, but not the older ones.

 

They seem reasonably ok together, though the newbies are understandably wary of the oldies. I've seen the gingernut sneak up on the newbies and give them a peck on the bum while they are eating. Not nice. If she persists in this or affects their bums too much I may well resort to bumper bits, though will leave it a while to see whether it settles down.

 

Hope I'm doing the right thing?!

[skye]

Hi Debbier

 

Sounds like you have managed the integration process very thoroughly and gently .

The girls might initially be a little more unsettled than they were before you put them together, but as the pecking has reduced over time, the last little hump to get over shouldn't take longer than a day or two. After that, probably a few weeks of very low level pecking order activity followed by more or less complete peace. Sometimes things seem worse when you're in the run with them, because inevitably you're giving them treats which can be much more stressful than their normal pottering about.

 

It all sounds like you've got it really well under control there, brill!

 

There are some good quality clear glass tarps on ebay which are heavy enough not to flap and let in maximum light. You can see out of the run through them but vision is a bit blurred. Here is a link to some of them at different sizes etc. We are really happy with ours, it's keeping out all the snow and wind and the run is bone dry inside. Much better than a shower curtain which can get very flappy and rip easily.

 

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=clear+tarp&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=clear+glass+tarp&_osacat=0

 

Hope the rest of the integration goes well for you!

 

skye x