Meanders about Chicken Relationships

I was watching my chickens yesterday and I'm amazed at how well they get along.  The new girls are right next to the year old barred rocks and they run together, they eat alongside each other and you would think they were all the same ages.  I worried about my Polish being picked on.  I did have a bit of worry when Diller had feathers pulled and she wore the apron for a while.  Hazel is still weary of me since I made her wear the sweater, but it was for her own good.  But, no one is picking on Diller anymore.  I worried about Sassy because she seemed terrified by the others and when she got close to a barred rock she would scream and run.  She's a bit standoffish but they all seem to get along fine now.

When I got my chicks last spring I worried they wouldn't get along or be picked on by the other girls.  I read on co-habitation, on putting them in the coop after dark, having them side by side for a while.  I was still worried.  I chose to have them side by side.  We added on to the run and put my makeshift brooder aka small coop in the new section.  I left them like that for a month or so before finally opening it up and letting them comingle.  I left the little coop in the new section for a couple more weeks and finally took it out and made them go in the big coop together.  I am amazed at how well it works, I am happy with the dozen I have. 

I would like more but I have twelve fluffy bodies that are under my feet when I go out.  Buffy the Buff Orpington is literally under my feet.  I stood at the feed trash can the other day and there was a commotion at my feet.  I was standing on her toe, well, if she didn't have to be so darn close to me, it wouldn't have happened! :)  I'm a bit more careful of where I'm standing now.

They all have such wonderful personalities and are fun to watch.  They are much more fun than Koi!  I do not regret taking out the pond at all.  At least I get eggs out of this endeavor.  Well, from most of them.  The barred rocks are laying randomly and it is winter.  Most of them are all feathered in again since their molt and are looking great.  Only 3 of the new girls are laying.  The two Polish are not and neither is Racer the Speckled Sussex.  She's always been a pill so doesn't surprise me she's a late layer.  I'm always finding her inside my fenced in area with my winter garden trying to get the Kale through the chicken wire.  I plan on planting them a new bed this spring with a lid that opens inside their play area.  That is the new section of the pen btw.  No one goes on the swing but they do use the branches and bricks.  Enough meanders for the day.