Well I think the worst is over with the hen pecking. I still have one of the Wyandottes being a little mean but I think all will survive. They all seem to be getting along better. Some Still hang out with just their own kind.
Others will mingle with the old hens. The reds seem to be generally pretty mellow about the invasion of the new hens. They do get a bit territorial and possessive if I throw a tomato into the run for them. I hav to make sure I toss in several so they all can share.
They are starting to develop their personalities as as they do I have started to name them. This is Sally. She is a Wyandotte that has a wonky toe. It does not seem to bother her and she can move it so I am not worried about it being bent sideways. Sally likes to talk and talk and talk. Quite the gossip she is.
Fuzzy of course is one of my oldest hens. She is one of my first Easter Eggers. She got pecked some so I sprayed her butt with the purple spray then she just had to preen herself so now she also has a purple face. Goofy chicken.
Honey is a sweet Easter Egger that is inquisitive.
I keep checking inside the coop every few hours for eggs. A few of the new layers have caught on and are laying in the nest boxes while one insists on laying in the corner of the coop under the nest boxes. So far I have 3 Easter Eggers laying. I suspect it will be any day now for the rest of them to start. They Wyandottes and Australorps are as big as the old Reds. Any day now....
The grass is coming back nicely in the brooder run. We plan on putting in permanent poles and extending the existing run out to include what was the brooder run to give them more room.
I try to spend time with the hens every day. I spend time inside the run and coop with them so they get used to me and will come up to me. Taming them will make thing easier if I have to doctor them in any way. It also makes for a more fun flock. I have two chickens now that will submit to me. Fuzzy and now one of the Wyandottes submit to me by squatting in front of me and spreading their wings out inviting me to climb on as a rooster would do. I generally just pat their back and pat them in the butt when they do this to me. They seem satisfied with it - or disgusted with me that I have no clue how to hit home with this open invitation! I am going to go with satisfied...yeah thats it..... They shake and fluff out and go about their merry way.
Silly silly chickens.
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