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

Good idea about the shock collar!!! Will check into that this weekend.

Well the girls and boys.got their first real snow today .... they don't like it...lol...staying in the coop....what a Buncha .....chickens

Hope yall have a very Merry Christmas!

I see you mentioned Cornish X rocks for your meaties. I would advise against that. I have some that were hatched Nov 7 so they are 9 weeks old today. Our plan was to breed them here and continue to raise them. The problem is the fast growing genes do not transfer to their young and once mature enough to lay the Cornish X rocks only lay a few eggs from what I have read and then stop laying. To add to the logical parts of this conversation, They eat SOOO much, which means they POOP SOOOO much which is like a 6 wk old babies poop once smell is added. They Eat Crap and sit. They cluck like turkeys about now. In a commercial setting these are harvested at 6-8 weeks, 10 for hens. I dont think your wife will eat 8 wk old babies..... These are 9 weeks old today along with the other one that is in the pic. I am guessing they are over 10 pounds at this point. I have read stories of rooster going up to 20 in a year if you use the broiler booster to strengthen their legs and heart which are known problems with these birds. There ankles are bigger than my size 11 ring finger and to watch them walk is sadly comical, running is only by chasing and is funny as well. I would suggest that you chose a slow growth duel purpose bird, something white since barred rocks leave dark spots on their meat if not harvested correctly.

Try adding a white light to your coop. In the winter months chickens need artifical light to suppliment the sunlight in order to continue to produce eggs since the days are shorter. they need an average of 8 hrs total I think I read somewhere.