New to BYC and the entire scope of Self-Sufficient Living - Page 2

New pics of the run I just built. LOCKED DOWN STYLE.





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So now is the Attack of the Big Bird. We have 3 roosters and 5 hens left after all the "troubles." Lost a total of 4 birds (2 ducks and 2 hens) but now that the playing field has leveled out for the rooster and hen ratio we are experiencing some "domestic disputes" between the two largest Roosters. Booster the Rooster ( as he is properly named ) is the largest of all birds we have has been on a war path fighting the next largest of Roosters - Clyde .

It has gotten so bad that when i release them into the run in the morning, the rest of the flock sits back in the coop and those two go at it for about 30 minutes before the rest will even go outside.

 

my fear is that i have read that if one of my birds gets wounded enough to show blood, the others will pick at it until it is dead . then if the injured bird is removed from the "pack" until healed; when he/she is returned the others will shun him/her as they will not remember the association and think the bird is a stranger.

 

how much of this is true ?

 

how much of this can i not chenge, and should i jut let nature figure its on way with the birds ?

Well ...

   we have been doing this for almost 6 months now and feeling quite a bit more comfortable. After the few problems we had with the death of 2 ducks (one from critters) and a loss of 2 hens (both to critters), we are not giving up.

We just added 5 more hens to our flock. now numbering 9 hens and traded a Rooster plus a few bucks for the trade to "seem" even. i think we paid about 3 bucks each. The hens are supposedly 1 year old and the Silke is 2.

 

i am for sure going to have to post some picks on here. i think the Silkie is the coolest by far. She is so tiny and totally black with little furry feet . i think she looks like no other chicken i have ever seen in person. my GF loves her.

 

The biggest difference in our birds and the new ones i got yesterday is the size (in general) . My birds , even hens, are huge. Almost 1 1/2 in weight and height.

Last night after we added them to our flock there was quite a bit of "pecking order" begin established. i figure that is somewhat normal and it , hopefully, will pass in due time.

 

i just cant see our Orphington Rooster (HUGE) and that little Silkie having much luck in the reproduction aspect . i just dont see how it is anatomically physical. but hey mother nature is one creative force.

1st run didn't do so well, but second time is a charm. Exactly as scheduled.

Up to 6 chicks now with 2 more 'pipping' . I think that's what it is called when they crack open the shell but not outside totally yet. Already holding another set of 41 eggs for our next run at it.

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