While originally we only wanted a couple of chickens, the friend who I got them from offered us 6. We kept 4 and gave 2 to my grandparents, as the 2 chickens they had were no longer laying (due to age). However, while the ones living with us have been laying pretty consistently since the day after they arrives, the ones at my grandparents have only managed 2 eggs in the month or so they have been there. Worried that perhaps they were getting bullied by the other chickens, or maybe not fed as regularly as they needed, the decision was made to bring them here with their siblings now that a larger chicken run has been set up (no way would they have all fit in the coop we first had).
The 2 photos above are of Blondie and Blanch the day we delievered them to my grandparent's house. Below is Lucy and Debra hanging out with our cockatoo.
So as of yesterday Blanch and Blondie have rejoined our existing flock of Lucy, Debra, Pearl and Ruby. We only have 4 roosting boxes, but I have been assured that is fine. The girls often share, or sit underneath or on top of them anyway.
While the chicken run we set up is not huge, the girls do spend most of the day free ranging around the back yard so there is plenty of space for all of them. So far, they mostly hang out in pairs, and the 2 new girls dont venture far from the chicken run, as I think they like to be close to the grain feeder. They are still getting used to the feeding schedule, but seem to approve of porridge in the mornings. Time will tell if they will start laying now they have a hopefully less stressful environment.
Here are Blondie and Blanch today, as you can see, even with the gate open, they don't stray far from the chicken run.... Yet......
Anyone know how to make chickens less flighty? Even after being here a month, both Pearl and Ruby are still very flighty.
Dixie
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