Hey Gang! Whatcha think of my plans and Rooster issue? - Page 13

LOL 

Welcome to BYC! You are like me, a newbie. I obsess over details too. I am getting 25 pullets first week in May. 12 buff orpingtons, 6 barred rocks, 3 golden laced wyandottes, 2 welsummers, 2 new hampshire reds and 1 golden laced wyandotte rooster for my fatherinlaw for fathers day. Since it is my first time with chickens, I decided not to get roosters now, especially since I have young grandchildren that will be visiting. I also was at TS and picked up 2 RL reds and 4 Red stars. I can hardly wait for them all to get here. I plan on keeping the older ones separate for a few weeks. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have been the first 6 I picked up. They are so much fun to watch! The eggs are an added bonus. :) Blessed Be.

My adult flock is mostly BO's. 14 hens and one rooster. I watch my chickens everyday and am amazed at how my rooster controls his hens. If two are fighting, he breaks them up, if one is laying down, he runs over to check on her and then makes her get up. If he here's one singing the egg song, he runs to the hen house, starts singing the egg song and runs around and around the house until the hen comes out. He is so proud!

If he hears a hawk, he runs his girls to safety and always lets them have the treats first instead of himself. I've heard him crow a couple times but my neighbor says they like to hear him. Their two little boys also love to watch them and give them bread. My rooster has never been mean to any human but I believe he did take out the younger roo when he was getting old enough to breed. My flock free ranges all day in a fenced back yard and I let them out to forage on about another 2 acres around 5 pm. They go back in around 7 pm. and go to bed. I have customers that come running when I have extra eggs, so that pays for the feed. You have to be very careful though because they are very addictive!

WELL!  This thread certainly got addictive quick!  LOL!  I was only going to read a few posts and go to bed. 

 

Welcome to the world of Chicken Addiction.  I have been an addict for several years and do not require any intervention, thank you very much.  Right now I have Cochins, Americaunas, Guineas (chemical free pest control) and a couple of Buff Orps.  The Americaunas are egg laying MACHINES and the Orps run them a close 2nd.  Oh and I have a Sebright who is very much NOT skittish.  But it's taken her a couple of years to settle, she was a freak as a baby. 

 

The Cochins are by far my favs for personality and looks.  Maybe Andrew would like a Cochin?  They are very docile and make excellent pets but are not the most prolific layers in the world.  Though, from the number of really good laying breeds you have, maybe that wouldn't be such a consideration?  They're fairly large and pretty good eating when the time comes.

 

I love your coop and run and you've very thoughtfully provided for everyone.  GOOD JOB!  My hubby was the first to want the chickens too and while he loves them, we have decided I have fallen much more in love with the 'girls' than he has.  I really enjoy them a lot. 

 

http://www.google.com/search?q=cochin+chickens&hl=en&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS399US402&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=CU6OT87UL6bS2QW3jLnOCg&sqi=2&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1084&bih=686&sei=Ek6OT-_1FMHa2AXg04ifDA

 

Check out all the various Cochins, they are the most amazingly sweet and beautiful birds! 

 

Again, Welcome to the wonderful and oh so varied world of chickens!

 

Oh, I almost forgot.  The only thing missing from your coop that I can see, is the comfy chairs so you and your wife and kid can go in of an evening and let the girls roost on your laps and 'purr' for you, it's the most amazingly relaxing sound and oh so snuggly.

Edited by dreamcatcherarabians - 4/17/12 at 10:27pm

I'm addicted to this thread and can't figure out why! One thing is for sure, the more I read, the more I want to expand my coop!

I am a newbie too, just finished my coop and awaiting my first chicks...they should come in on May 9! It is taking all I can do not to buy any from TSC....because I have already gone nuts ordering chicks!!
 

Dreamcatcher brings up a great point! Comfy chairs are a must! The dinner table is where we catch up with our four kids, "chicken watching" is time for my wife and I to catch up and relax after dinner.

Yeah, I'm a sap for contented chickens.  I LOVE sitting in the coop with a lapful of happy chickens, cooing and snuggling.  There's just no better end to a day!

 I just read through this whole thread..addicting!!! Also looked at the Seabright's i believe they were called and fell in LOVE!!! OMG sooooooooooooooooooooo pretty! i want i want i want i want.

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