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All my roosters are bantams except one who is half Bantam. They are so much easier on the hens and take their jobs seriously. Hens are always accompanied when out foraging. They are good boys. I find the crowing more pleasant too.

Mace sounds like a wonderful little rooster. Love my Bantam Cochin roosters, even if some are occasionally trouble making stinkers. The good traits far outweigh the bad.

Chicken numbers, about 40 in my Bantam flock, about 20 free ranging in my big shed of various standard breeds and a few mixed bantams, the 11 polish and 15 Bantam cochins, I also have some more standard chicks coming in 2 weeks of various breeds, 15 more. We opened up my shed so everything can...

So very sorry Cynthia. I've had them live anywhere between 3 years and 10 years. The hatchery birds do seem to live shorter than breeder birds. I think my oldest hatchery hen was 8 and the one from the show breeder made it to 10. Most seem to pass at around 4-5 years. No idea why. I have a...

Cochins boys sure like strutting their stuff, and have no problem fighting if the mood hits them. I guess I'm so used to it, and I like their spunk. They are definitely a different kind of chicken. They can be frustrating, but more often make me laugh with their antics.

The good roosters are often the quiet ones. Hopefully Axel will respect his brother going forward.

Finn sounds like he's living his best life. Glad he found you. I don't have any large fowl roosters anymore. Just one that's half barred rock, half Cochin. Otherwise they are all bantams. They are easier on the hens, but tend to scrap more. Your barred rock boys were always so gorgeous.

I've already have some broody cochins. They are easier to break currently, but it will become harder and harder. My Bantam flock is quite full, so I can only hatch a few. Hopefully I can control myself. The cats I have come from good hunting stock. They keep busy. If I could squeeze a few more...

Rats are terrible. I had one eat the head off a duckling last year. We always have to resort to poison. Haven't seen any since last fall. We have a bunch of cats now and they like to hunt. So maybe we won't see them now. Sorry Mina and Bonnie aren't doing well. Are you planning to hatch...

How are your chickens doing Cynthia? My naughty Bantam boys have been fighting already due to the warmer temperatures here.

I was looking over my Bantam flock this morning. The hatchery Bantam cochins do seem to have a higher turn over rate on average. I realized I still have all my Bantam Easter Egger, but have lost most of the cochins that came in that order. They are obviously much hardier than the cochins, plus I...

Mace was playing possum? Probably a good idea when you are losing a fight. Hate it when gates aren't latched. Causes chaos every time. Glad you got them straightened out Cynthia. I guess boys are already fighting. Here it was my two older muscovy Drakes rolling around like a pair of Tasmanian...

So sorry Cynthia. That's terrible. We had to put a young kitty down here this past weekend, so we are both miserable. Scarlett was so young.

Sorry I've been awol Cynthia. Last year I lost the best little dog and I mostly shut down. It's been hard on me. Also one of my other older dog became a diabetic so I have been dealing with that too. My dogs are my life. Never meant to disappear. I'm starting to come back now.

I try to enjoy my birds as long as I have them. I do my best by them. There are too many that live short lives, and others live a long time. I started a rooster pen this year. This year's batch of boys are just too pretty to put in the freezer. Plus it's too depressing. We will see how it...

So sorry Cynthia. :( I know you did all you could for her.

I had an old chicken magazine that head advertisements for propane powered heaters. I'd be afraid of making fried chickens using that.

Sounds similar to the heated cat house I use. They don't warm up until they cat sits on the pad. Those I do use. I bought one different kind where the pad stays warm constantly. The cats love that one the best but it makes me uneasy. Good to know there's a safer option for chickens for those who...

Most of my bantam cochins live anywhere from 4-8 on average. I had a few make it to 10. The ones I got from the show breeder guy years ago lived longer on average. My bantam coop is insulated so the coop is a bit warmer than outside. When it's bitter cold I often leave them inside. We now cover...

Axel does have a lot of battle scars. Hopefully he behaves. You have had a lot of luck with long lived birds Cynthia. I used to have some show bred ones long ago and they definitely lived longer than my hatchery stock. I love the roosters best around here too. Probably why I keep so many of the...