Just got back from Vacation.
We had no chicken or pig sitter so we loaded the chicks, pullets and guinea pig up with food and went on our annual vacation to to the ocean.
We were gone for 2 days and nights and came home to find all of our animals still alive

Here is a pic of a couple of the locals we saw near the ocean.
This was in the field next to the house where we stay.

I'll be posting an update on the girls later tonight or tomarrow.

Last edited by barg (08/21/2007 7:42 pm)

Week 10
We had hoped that they would be integrated by now but that has not work out yet.
They have been too large for their brooder and have only been in it at night but the combination of our vacation and the events of last week made it enevetable that I had to build them this temporary new home in the garage.
I am going to need to make a few alterations to the tractor before I can start putting them back in, so for the next day or two, this is where they live

Ya figure they are saying "dont put me back out there?" lol

Love the pic from your mini vacation.

I have eggs in the bator, will let u know how that goes.

Jill

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-Laura

I'd never thought of it that way, but it seems like a good idea. I'd even pick one of the chickens at the top of the pecking order, as it would really shake up what seems to be a strong hierarchy...making it easier to introduce change.

barg--- this is a really good option IMHO

Sandra

Thanks
I'll be looking for your reports on Eggs and chickens.

Yes I did have one of the older pullets in with them, for a time, durring the last intro. I am planning more of that kind of thing this next go around but I'm going to play it by ear as I go and see what all I can get to work.
I'll start with the least disruptive things and move on to more extreme mesures if it appears nessicery.

Great Ideas,
The more ideas I get on this the better

Last edited by thndrdancr (08/20/2007 8:41 pm)

It's allot like Mrs.nezbit and Emerald (the Australorps) are sisters and Domineak and Hazel(the Dominique's) are sisters and the 2 groups are best friends.

I'm not sure if Esther and Winnie are more like sisters or best friends, but amoung the older ones there is a definate distinction.
But Id'e hate to have to seperate the "sisters" to get the new ones integrated.
In the end I would like winnie to be lower on the pecking order because I think she will be a disruptive terror otherwise.
Of all the chickens she seems the most interested in being "On TOP" and kicking some booty, she's just to young to do it right now (except when it comes to Esther).

We will see what happens, as it is the Dominique's are very close, and the Australorp's are very close, so if I were to do it, I might take two at a time.

The plan for the moment:
I'm changing the position on the tractor to give the birds a better visiual of each other.
I'm going to bring one from each camp inside and work with them in a controlled space.
Finally, I'm going to have visitations by one or two of the older ones into the tractor.
While all this is going on, the chicks will be getting bigger and more able to handle the older ones.

If this doesn't lead to success, I'll move more toward a total disruption of the flock.

Your input is welcome

Me too.

Last edited by barg (08/21/2007 2:54 am)

It's been six days since the failed attempt at integration. The chicks have been liveing in the garage all day and night since then. Today I screwd a couple pieces of wood on the open end of the tractor and took the chicks out.

I have positioned the tractor , long way, against the coop to allow all the chicks to see each other better(as per suggestion)

The chickens are going back to looking at each other through a wall, until they get closer in size.
In the last couple days, Winnie has been growing allot and has just about caught up to Esther, over the next week I expect her to pass Esther in size.

Domineak, the Dominique, Has started making a new noise, as of this morning, she is makeing a low loud growling sound.
The noise is similar to the noise she has made before but its louder, longer and lower sounding... I'm wondering if this could be a sign of Eggs to come.

Last edited by barg (08/21/2007 10:21 pm)