This was a wonderful video. My wife and I have 3 mean girls and 2 new adult hens to introduce. The 2 new hens are so kind and gentle and will hop on your lap, the 3 other hens are the mean ones. We will be trying the feeding together and breaking up the mean girl group by having one at a time with the new hens.

Omgosh girl you have a knack for fun content! This is not only informative but hilarious. Lol. Also I love how attentive you are to your chickens. So sad how you lost the others. : (

@thefeatherbrain

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Winnie. It was a horrible loss. And I no longer free range my chickens because of it.

Not only useful, but a very entertaining video as well! Thanks a lot!

This was, by far, the BEST integration video I’ve ever seen and quite possibly the most entertaining KZread video I’ve ever seen! Great work! Subscribed!

I followed your imprinting techniques and they have worked phenomenally well so far. These babies (2.5 weeks) are really attached to me and totally view me as their mother. I love them so much!

It's lovely how you are friends with your flock. I'm that way with my ladies. They all love me just as I love them, and you're so right, they listen and learn quickly...especially when they're loved, yes?

@thefeatherbrain

Жыл бұрын

Yes! :)

This is the most beautiful chicken video I’ve ever watched. Thank you so much. You have to be a real chick whisperer.😊

Great video. I love the way you use music. Showing the chickens and seeing your demeanor as you solve a real problem is valuable! Nice work!

All chickens aside, girl you look like Kate Hudson😍 Thank you for blessing us chickie mommies with your content and beautiful face!

@thefeatherbrain

9 ай бұрын

Every once in a while someone tells me I look like Kate Hudson, and that's the best compliment, so thank you! I also hear from time to time I look like Peter Griffin (the chin, apparently), so Idk.🤣 You look gorgeous yourself with your fabulous hair. Thanks for brightening my day, fellow chicken mama!

I hope you haven’t stopped making videos these are great and very informative !

@thefeatherbrain

6 күн бұрын

Thanks, I'm hoping to get back into making them more regularly.

VERY well edited video. I can tell that you worked hard on it, just as hard as you work on your flock. You're a Very good Momma-Hen!

Eggcelent advice! Love the Mama Hen approach!

Subscribed just from seeing the first 20seconds, had me smiling and laughing and Im only here for chicken info! Love it.

All I can find is people bringing ruffly 5-10 new chickens into the flock but I haven't found anybody bring a large amount of 55 new chickens to a 49 old flock this is what I will be doing, so I am looking for ideas on how to bring both flocks together peacefully. I love your choices of music clips 👍

Thank you sooooooo much for this vide!! We have 9 existing girls and integrated 4 girls last year. We tried the sharing space separated by a wire fence. We had them that way for over 2 weeks and there was a lot of fighting. We got 9 more chicks this year and tried the feeding/snacks and it only took a few days. We only have one of the older girls who is not being nice to the little girls. I think it’s because she’s the lowest on the pecking order with the big girls. I’m very happy at how quickly everyone is getting along and the little girls are happy to be out of the brooder with space to run

Im jealous you have your chickens so tame. I just dont have that kind of time. Enjoyed the video! I'm in the middle of introducing two different groups of babies to a 3 tier (different age groups) of 7 hens! Including two rooster who are different ages...3yo and 1yo!

Thank you so much for this video. We have been trying to figure out how to integrate new pullets to our flock and this is perfect. We had 4 hens, and 3 were killed by a hawk, so it is very similar to your mean girl situation. Super helpful!

Love her property out in the wild. Wish my coop was that big. ❤

I have 6 laying pullets around 8 months old. That's my main flock. We have 4 up coming 4 months old pullets. Of the older flock the biggest hen is also the sweetest and at the bottom of the pecking order. I'm thinking about letting her free range with the 4 younger girls. This gives them some space yet gives them time together. If she warms up to the new chicks, and doesn't get too bossy, I can gradually introduce the rest of the flock one at a time while out in the yard. Then eventually have them roost in the same coop but run free during the day. Eventually they should be OK being together in the same run.

You approach of exposure therapy worked so well for Speck. It’s great to see how much you care for them. I really do appreciate your content. It’s good to see this knowledge compared to other content I’ve seen related to chickens.

@thefeatherbrain

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your kind words. My goal with all my content is to help people see chickens for the smart, social, emotional beings they truly are.

Excellent video ❤

What a well produced video packed full off useful tips!! Hats off to you. You are such a wonderful ‘momma hen’ !!!

Such a good video ... No, great!

Such an adorable video - well done!! Lots of great info and so cute with the choice of music and chicken video shots. I just love all your videos and look forward to every one!! I've learned so much from you and all your research - thank you! 🤗

so glad i found your channel!

Really enjoy your posts. You have a great eye for production.

@thefeatherbrain

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much - I've been working on slowly improving over time.

I'm on my first integration of 2 new pullets being added into my small flock of 4 this week. I have a Rooster, I'm hoping he will assist me in the integration, but I'm going to use your tips with food along the perimeter! I raised the first 4 from chicks so hoping that helps too :)

My six mean girls are literally the ones you showed first when the song started. My novogens just have to attack and bully my Muscovy hens and silkies, satins, frizzle, and showgirls.. 😅b

Really good video. I've got a setup with 6 Pekin Bantam pullets. I'm attempting to introduce 2 Gold Star Chicken pullets but I'm certainly feeling the stress. The two Gold Star chickens are in a large dog crate within the walk in run. I keep letting them out in the afternoon for corn with the Pekins so as to offer a distraction (there are also other distractions such as big perch poles, dust baths, grain toys, etc) but one of the Gold Stars in particular is a bit rough with them and seems intent on pecking any Pekin within the vicinity. I had the main troublemaker out for about 4 minutes today before deciding enough was enough and the other one got to the 15 minute mark. We're only on day 4 of the mixing but as I've not integrated different flocks before it's hard to see how to turn the situation around. I started doing small mixer sessions once a day from day 2 so it's only been three days of mixing but I'm just so worried for the safety of the Pekins (no pinning down or blood being drawn has happened just to confirm). I'm wondering if maybe creating a treat paste and putting the bowls next to each other, letting one out at a time each day and being better at physically guarding the Pekins myself as you've done might be the best option. Would love to know whether other people have had similar situations and how they turned out.

I love the music and extra videos😂😂

Great video and very entertaining! We've gone through integrating hens for the past 4 years and sometimes it's very challenging. Thanks for all the tips!

Very creative video! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

I think you are the chicken whisperer. 🥰🐓😂

@thefeatherbrain

9 ай бұрын

Looks like you are pretty good with chickens too! :)

@duboislegacyfarm

9 ай бұрын

I do love them. 🥰 I’ve learned a lot from watching your videos along with a lot of “KZread University.” Lol I like to just trial and see what works too. Experiment and if it doesn’t work, try something else that might. 😂🤷🏻‍♀️ Raising chickens is a problem solving activity.

Very good tips

You have no idea how this has effected my daughter. WE were Laughing so hard when you put in the mean girls music. You got US GOING GAL! LOL :) I have to say you have a great sense of humor and can teach us all very well. Thank you. By the way can I ask what that song is when the hens come out and and it says, "I don't wanta play nice I don't wanta play nice anymore.? This is sooooo perfect for those of us that have some top hens that do this. THANK YOU!

@thefeatherbrain

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ruby! I had a lot of fun making this video! I used stock music for the video from Shutterstock. Here's the link to that song - www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1225263-don't-wanna-play-nice

@ruby7741

Жыл бұрын

@@thefeatherbrain YOUR THE BEST! Thank you! You really put this video clip and the music together perfectly. My daughter and I came back to smile and dance to it again and again today. Then found your message. Thank you for the Shutterstock link we are jamming and things about your video. :)

@thefeatherbrain

Жыл бұрын

@@ruby7741 You two sound like so much fun!

@ruby7741

Жыл бұрын

@@thefeatherbrain you to The Featherbrain 🥰

You are amazing! I love all your videos.

Great, fun video

Great vid! I like your content.

You are awesome. I've not seen this technique is such a warm and humane manner. Though I've imprinted a bond with them and they all live great together until one of my weaker hens went broody then went through molting. After some ill advice a bullying emerged and the hens just won't leave the weaker girl alone. Separation was the only thing I could do. Now I have 2 runs and have plans to make my little girl a mommy and start a 2nd flock. Wish me luck. I will definitely use your technic when and if it comes time to integrate. Must mention that the weaker girl follows me everywhere. The others only when the weaker girl is separate.

@thefeatherbrain

6 ай бұрын

I love this - good luck!

This is AWESOME ❤❤ So basically you can use normal dog behaviour techniques to gain acceptance

Damn I love the video 😂♥️

You have a beautiful property that is just amazing

@thefeatherbrain

4 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Loved your video!!!! 😂

Ty so well done. I integrated 3 hens abt a month ago. The original flock still pecks at the new girls. Will try these suggestions to see if they will work on my flock. Ty much God bless

The mean girls edits are so fun!

Hilarious,love it!!!😂

The Hen Whisperer!😊

Thank you so much for this video. I am dealing with a situation like this now. When we had the polar vortex (BC, Canada) come thru in January, I had to remove one of my hens (I have 12 hens and a rooster) who had exposed skin on her back and head out of the frigid -24 deg C weather and into a 4 deg C draft free basement (puppy play pen). Once it warmed up a bit, I placed her in a small coop with a run along side the main coop and run. I let her out a few days later but the others did not take kindly to her and it was chaos :-( So she is alone again. I have been putting food on either side of the fence like you have suggested so they can see one another and some meal worm treats. I have spent 3 weeks now trying to find answers of how to get the flock back together without chaos. Sami is a salmon favorelle and she was bullied a bit which I have addressed every time I see it, but it still occurs regardless. I saw your previous video on imprinting and did my best! Some were easier than others. However, I have seen the benefits of. doing that. My Question is - should I now bring in another hen one by one for her to deal with? Any other suggestions - I am feeling rather stressed and anxious (and having vertigo isn't helping!)

@thefeatherbrain

3 ай бұрын

So sorry to hear you are going through this - integrating (or re-integrating) can be so incredibly stressful! I'm SO glad to hear you brought your girl in for the cold snap. Of course, this isn't helpful advice now, but for next time, perhaps consider bringing another hen or two into the puppy pen with her (if you have any that wouldn't harm her in that small space) - that may make re-integration go a lot more smoothly. I would work on just getting her used to 1 hen at a time. I think that's going to be your best approach. Then work on a couple at a time, etc. I'm not sure how your rooster is, but if you can get the rooster to accept her, he will sometimes help to re-integrate her too, not letting the hens pick on her too roughly. It may feel hopeless now, but with time, she'll get back into the flock. Best of luck, Bri

Another thing I do when introducing newbies into the flock is put some thing new in their coop to distract their attention from the newbies unto the shiny toy, or a red coffee can that rattles when they peck at it, or a doggie nosey toy, or a seed block, or hang cabbage heads. I have 1 old hen who hides inside the heated coop & only socializes with the rest of the flock when I'm with her. She stays near me & eats her treats I'm giving out to the flock, between my feet. Well I guess she's not really socializing. The rooster hasn't ever approached her, that I know of, but the other hens chase her away. Things were better before but as she's gotten older, things are actually getting to the point she stays away from the flock, hiding in the heated coop all day. In the warm weather she sits in front of the door that I come in, which is made of wire cloth. I don't know what I can do at this point, since it's been 9 months now. Like I said, I introduced them, they did great. Then over time, now their relationship is different. The hens do know to stay away from her when I'm present, (I've done like you, and protected the old gal with my arm or just put my leg between her & them if they started to bully her.) She nests on the ground alone at night. Either she can't perch anymore because of age or they won't allow her to perch. I'm not sure which it is. I'm hoping the new brahma flock will be nicer to her since they're soooo docile.

@thefeatherbrain

3 ай бұрын

Your story of this hen saddens me. I hope she'll be better with the new Brahmas - perhaps introduce her to them first?

@thefeatherbrain

3 ай бұрын

Happy to hear she has a heated coop where she feels protected. I have some Ameraucanas who are super shy and fearful and spend a lot of time in the coop. I'm glad they have that option. :)

the thing I don’t understand is where do the new chickens sleep? I have a decent sized run they can be fenced off in. but only one coop that they all go into at night?

@primitivedaisy

4 ай бұрын

Hello! I am going to be doubling my flock in the spring and I am planning on fencing off half the run during the day, but at night , I’ll just gather them up and let them sleep in the coop in a separate caged off area until it’s safe. At least that’s the plan! 🤞🤞🤞🤞

ngl Mean Girls is my favourite movie of all time.

@thefeatherbrain

4 ай бұрын

It doesn't matter how many times I watch it, it's still funny! :)

My dad says to sprinkle baby powder on all chickens and helps them to start getting along sooner. Makes them all small the same.

Thanks for the tips my hens are soo mean to any chickens that I try to integrate

New Sub

Question: do you think it helps to have a rooster to keep the meaner girls in line? I’ve heard that before but would be interested in your thoughts!

@thefeatherbrain

Жыл бұрын

Yes! That's actually how new hens integrate into a flock in the wild. They find a dominate rooster to accept them and he helps protect them. However, you do need to be careful with that too - if the rooster doesn't accept the new hen or hens, he could kill them. Next month when I integrate 4 hens in with my larger flock (which includes 3 roosters), I will be introducing the dominant rooster to the 4 hens FIRST. After I've worked with him to accept them (which may happen immediately or may take some time), only then will I introduce the new girls to the rest of the flock. I'll be filming it and sharing that eventually.

You look exactly like Kate Hudson. Especially her role in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

@thefeatherbrain

7 ай бұрын

I take that as a huge compliment - thank you for making my day. :)

What a terrific video! Thank you. I am going to use your wise hacks when I introduce 4 new pullets to my flock of 11 hens. I am just wondering..... What about a rooster perhaps being a bit of an icebreaker. How would a flock's rooster accept new pullets?

@thefeatherbrain

3 ай бұрын

If you can get your rooster to accept the pullets, he will likely help to integrate them. That's actually how pullets integrate into feral flocks - after weaning (which typically results in them being forced from their flock-of-origin), they hang out on the margins of a new territory and aren't able to fully integrate until the rooster accepts them - he then protects them from his other hens. I always introduce the top rooster to the pullets on his own. You don't want him feeling like he needs to protect the rest of the flock from the intruders. I recommend keeping the hens in the coop when you first introduce the rooster to the pullets. He may be initially vicious or he may accept them right away. Best, Bri

@glendalivingston6236

3 ай бұрын

By showing your you tube folks how to understand from a chicken point of view is tremendously helpful. In keeping livestock, we have full responsibility for their welfare. Thanks for your insights! @@thefeatherbrain

I have just had to reintroduce one chicken back to the flock after illness and they are all chasing her around, she is almost hiding what can I do ? She was accepted before

From own experience with fierce chicken: the chicken wire as divider is not a good idea, because they will hurt themselves when trying to attack through the wire.

@thefeatherbrain

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing this!

my baby sussex chick has survived its second night at its new home :) trying to determine its 'gender' - want to get it a friend :( hoping its a pullet so i can get another one, but if its a rooster, still just need a hen as a companion for it. absolutely loving this ''caring'' and ''nurturing' thing - impossible to get any work done between 06h00 and 19h00 xD

What about adding a rooster to a flock of hens

what do you use for substrate in that run?

@thefeatherbrain

Жыл бұрын

I use sand. I put together a short video about that here - kzread.info/dash/bejne/mWaf07imkcippJc.html

My sweet little babies turned into mean girls at around 7 months. Up until then they only butted breasts. Then they got nasty and mean, and started to peck on the good natured gentle pullets, and ostracized the gentlest, which really ticked me off and broke my heart. Then one of my hens got vision problems. (She's not completely blind but seems to miss the food she pecks at). I don't know if it's related to being picked on, and worse, she became the brunt of the flocks' aggression. This is when I became momma bear for her, by hand feeding 3 times a day with the special foods (sardines, scrambled eggs, meal worms) to the ire of the flock. I'll employ what you suggest in this video. I'm sure it'll help and thank you so much!! It's just what I need at this time. I hope to get back to the way it was with peaceful, cute birds.

@thefeatherbrain

Жыл бұрын

Sorry you are having some issues with mean girls, but it's not unusual. Assertive hens will often pick on non-assertive hens and many hens are aggressive to weak hens. Hopefully some of the tips will help. The good news is that, in general, as hens age, they tend to be less aggressive with each other.

@winniecash1654

Жыл бұрын

@@thefeatherbrain I was hoping to hear they mellow out with age. Thanks for the tips too. This video is so helpful.

❤

Can you please please link the video of where you ADD WATER TO THE FEED MY CHICKENS DON'T SEEM TO LIKE DRY

@thefeatherbrain

9 ай бұрын

I literally just spray a bit of water in so it's very squishy consistency - here's the video where I first introduce this - kzread.info/dash/bejne/nn6rr9WtlJvIgaQ.html

❤❤❤love you 🐓🐔🌈🥰

Can i add them at night and keep them in the dark hen house for a couple days?

@thefeatherbrain

4 ай бұрын

I don't recommend that - if your chickens reject her, she could die by having no place to really get away.

Idk but it look like speckle is wearing eyeliner to me lol😂😂😂

🙂👍👍👍

all of thats soo hard when your working 630-4 n da afternoon

@thefeatherbrain

2 ай бұрын

So true. I am lucky to work at home and so have a flexible schedule, but you're right that integration is SO much harder when you don't. Best of luck, Bri

Very interesting ... but that 'music' in between is so unnessesary, way too much and disturbing. I want info, just info.

To much noise trim the music 😓