show quality speckled sussex ?? - Page 109

Martha,

Can you remind me of how old the roos were with the colored bands....  How old were they when the pics were taken?

Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by texaschickmom 

Hi Karen! You are right. I have 5 hens and only 1 isn't gay. That's why I'm encouraged by the lack of white on this guy. What exactly does the rooster and hen bring to the chicks? I've ready somewhere that the roo brings color and the hen size? Is that right?

 

They both contribute to the chicks... For example,  If you mate a large roo to an undersized hen the chicks will run the gambit... Some will be small like the hen,  some will be a little bigger due to the dad's influence, and you will get some that will be large like dad.  I AWAYS use the biggest roo I can find because I only keep one or two roos per breed. 

With line breeding, you re-use the male... First generation,  then to daughters, then to grand daughters. The size of each generation will get bigger IF you cull for size.  However, you started with a smaller roo,  each generation would be held back by his size. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by texaschickmom 

OK, I think I get it. This leads me to another question. You mentioning large roos made me think of it. Do you just put the roos in with the hens when you want to hatch? I've had problems with treaded-on hens in the past. Do you have rooster pens that you keep yours in?

I keep one roo per group of hens.  The roo will have his favorites and those girls can get the treaded-on issues.

I use saddles on his favorites... Try this BYC seller out,  I like her saddles AND pricing!

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/619065/chicken-hen-saddles-aprons-diapers-harnesses-great-prices-check-them-out

Also,  I limit the roo's exposure to the hens...

For instance,  I leave the roo in the pen and let the girls free range. He is in with the girls in the morning and the evenings,  but the girls get a break from him for a lot of the day.  Obviously,  this isn't something every one is going to be able to do...

The only roosters I keep in rooster pens are the ones I am growing out and waiting to decide if I am keeping or culling them. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by texaschickmom 

Thanks for directing me to the chicken saddles. Another question for you. Do you every trim your roosters' nails and remove spurs? I thought that might help the treading issue, too.

Yes and yes,  but not as frequently as you would think.  My roos are over a year old before I do anything to their nails or spurs.  I have a roo that I had to recently remove his spur because he got it caught in the chicken wire while discussing things with the cockerel in the next door pen.  He tore it bad enough that we had to finish the removal process.

Other than him,   we have not removed any spurs.  We have filed and trimmed spurs and nails.   I use a LARGE DOG toe nail clipped to trim the spurs.  One of my older boys has spurs so large that we can not sufficiently clip them with the dog nail toe clippers anymore.  I may remove his spurs in the future...

Typically,  MY hens do not receiving treading damage from the spurs... The spurs are used in fighting, not mating.  The clipping / trimming of the spurs stops them from turning into razor sharp pointy weapons.  I think the concern comes in with the sharpness of them, not the size of them.  JUST MY opinion... someone else may have had a different experience than me.. .

Treading comes from the toe nails.  The rotary dremmel type dog toe nail trimmers make quick and painless work out of trimming and dulling the toenails :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by texaschickmom 

Thanks, Math Ace. I'm not going to worry about the spurs. But I will be trimming some toenails. How far down do you go? Just enough to get the point off? I guess you can go too far and draw blood. Wouldn't want to do that.

Try this web page....

http://ultimatefowl.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/199/