Hey fellow Minnesota Chicken Addicts - HELP

Plymouth Barred Rock Rooster and Hen OR Lemon Cuckoo Orpington Rooster and Hen?

Are all Roosters noisy? LOL - I am naive (or dumb)

My idea about getting a rooster is that the hens might be a little safer free ranging. Is this true?

I'm not from Minnesota, but I hope I can answer your questions.

Not all roosters are loud, some are actually quieter then hens. It depends on the individual, the breed, and how many roosters you have. It also depends on the time of year, I think they crow more during the spring and summer breeding seasons.

My roosters certainly protect my hens, and make them feel special too. I've watched them attack what they see as predators to help hens as well as yell alarms when hawks are coming for them, sending them running for safety. They are always watching, the only time my rooster rests is when I am out, since he knows I will keep them safe.

Thank you! I have the barred rocks and the roo seems really nice. The whole flock is melding very nicely. I hope he stays this nice.

My gentle rooster is a barred rock too! He started out kind of mean, which is how he got the name Dominator. I ended up falling for him and kept him over his brother, who was friendlier. However, Domni has turned out very well.

GitaBooks said:

My gentle rooster is a barred rock too! He started out kind of mean, which is how he got the name Dominator. I ended up falling for him and kept him over his brother, who was friendlier. However, Domni has turned out very well.

Click to expand...

So far the rooster hasn't been like some of the stories I hear. This morning he got me with those legs. First time that has happened to me. I kick him to push him away and tell him to be nice to the hand that feeds him.

Question: So if I have pullets that have not begun to lay by now, does that mean that they won't lay until next Spring? I have another that was laying and now has stopped. She just did 3 to 4 eggs a week but it has been a month since she has given me one. So out of five pullets - two are laying.

lvie said:

So far the rooster hasn't been like some of the stories I hear. This morning he got me with those legs. First time that has happened to me. I kick him to push him away and tell him to be nice to the hand that feeds him.

Question: So if I have pullets that have not begun to lay by now, does that mean that they won't lay until next Spring? I have another that was laying and now has stopped. She just did 3 to 4 eggs a week but it has been a month since she has given me one. So out of five pullets - two are laying.

Click to expand...

None of my hens are laying either, but this is because some of them are too young, some are old, others are molting, and the length of daylight is also dropping. However, I should think that good winter laying breeds would start laying as pullets whether is winter or spring (at least that's what I'm hoping ).

GitaBooks said:

None of my hens are laying either, but this is because some of them are too young, some are old, others are molting, and the length of daylight is also dropping. However, I should think that good winter laying breeds would start laying as pullets whether is winter or spring (at least that's what I'm hoping

).

Click to expand...

My DH has put the electricity into the coop. I did the smaller front portion of the coop with rope lighting and then I added an overhead lamp in the taller part of the coop and put a 40 watt bulb in it. That little bulb gives off alot of light! Anyway, I have noticed that the flock is more active into the night - I shut off the lights around 7 or 8; today I got two HUGE eggs - probably from the two who always lay. Poor hens from the roo mounting them. It does not seem that he rapes and pillages. More like he is training them as to what is coming. The whole flock sure does flock together more since I added him. Five hens / one roo.

lvie said:

Question: So if I have pullets that have not begun to lay by now, does that mean that they won't lay until next Spring? I have another that was laying and now has stopped. She just did 3 to 4 eggs a week but it has been a month since she has given me one. So out of five pullets - two are laying.

Click to expand...

Usually if pullets don't lay by October, they probably won't lay until next spring. Here is a run down of mine from last year, breed and when they started laying (about)

1 - Golden Comet - Born the week of May 1st, started laying midway through Sept. lays 6 out of 7 days. She has never stopped laying. just slowed down this fall to 2 or 3 eggs a week.
2 - Buff Orpington - Born 3rd week in April, started laying midway through Sept. She layed all fall, winter, spring and summer. Just quit a couple of weeks ago, probably won't lay until January or later. In the summer she lays every other day or so.
3 - Silver laced Wyandotte - Born the week of May 1st, Started laying midway through Sept. She layed all year, just quit laying a couple of weeks ago, again, probably won't lay until January or later. Lays every 2-3 days.
4- Silver laced Wyandotte - Born the week of May 1st, started laying midway through Sept. She quit laying last year in November, she was sick (sour crop), then went into a molt, I think because of being sick. She started laying again in the spring, February or March. lays every 2-3 days.
5 - Easter Egger - Born the week of May 1st, started laying in October, quit in November, didn't lay another egg until April. Then layed like a champ all summer, almost an egg a day. She quit laying in October this year.
6 - Easter Egger - Born the week of May 1st. She didn't Start laying until January. She had issues with laying right from the start, soft shelled, rubber shelled eggs. she never could get it right. She was a sweetheart, but she passed away at the beginning of summer, I think it was likely due to the reproductive issues. Either an egg broke inside (I had already had 2 break half way out) or she started laying internally. don't know for sure.

So you can see, all are slightly different. The feed store guy where I got the chicks (Anoka-Ramsey farm and garden) told me if they didn't start laying by November, they probably won't lay until the spring.
Hope that helps!