These numbers your talking about--very helpful, thanks. If I kept all three of the roosters that would put the ratio down to 3.6 hens per rooster which is in the range that you say they would probably fight a lot. But maybe this could possibly work since one of the roosters is a bantam, I don't...
Thanks Bairo and Drumstick Diva. Bairo, thanks for speaking to the issue of having two roosters--been wondering if and how that could work out with 11 hens. That coordinated rooster effort you describe sounds pretty cool.
Now we're up to:
Two votes for keeping both Polish and Barred Rock...
Thank you Illia and Hucklekree, really appreciate your input. If I'm understanding correctly, this is one vote for keeping Polish and one vote for keeping both Polish and Barred Rock.
I don't plan to breed and hatch out chicks. Am only looking for a flock protector. The birds are mostly...
Now that my flock is maturing it appears there are 3 roosters and 11 hens. (Already culled a fourth rooster). The current roosters are: 1 White Silkie (General Tso), 1 Black Laced White Polish (Whitey), and 1 Barred Rock (Henri). I don't really want to part with any of the 3 roosters but from...
Thanks all for the input. It sounds like the consensus is that safety appears to be the primary reason behind the high roosting and, it can be a combination of instinct and learned behavior.
Why do chickens like to roost as high as possible? Safety, warmth, dominance, all of the above, other reasons? Any body know of any studies on this? Do all chickens like to roost as high as possible? Currently only one-third of my small flock (5 out of 15) are night roosting on the highest...
Okay fine. The PVC ladder just wasn't working very well especially for the smallest birds. So I built this one on Sunday. Eventually I want them to be able to use it to get to the high roosts in the coop. But right now I have it out in the chicken yard at a more gradual slope to get them used to...
I don't have a solution but I too feel badly for my low girl on the totem poll. I've tried some different ways to get her some of the treats but haven't found anything that reliably works yet.
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In this shot, the aggressive bird (now believed to be the Barred Rock) is in the six-o-clock position. See how similar the color and pattern is to the Cuckoo Marans that's in the 11-o-clock position? This is what threw me plus failing to take more factors into account when trying to...
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When I ordered from the hatcheries I got two CMs and one Barred Rock (plus other non barred birds). I had probably mistakenly decided that this was one of the CMs but i'm no expert at identifying breeds that's for sure. The fact that you identified it as a BR without even knowing i had...
Thanks Rachel--his legs are large compared to the other CM.
Amy, I'd also heard that CMs are relatively docile and that fact along with the type of eggs are what made me include this breed in the flock so I'm surprised too.
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Yeah, I'm thinking your wife was probably right--we're a little crazy with this but hey, i can come up with at least a half dozen worse things without even giving it much thought. I'll be looking out for your chicken swing thread and ready to post a photo of two or three chickens...
Thanks all for the input. TSG--the resemblance between Poppy and my Henri/Henrietta is striking. Henri is much bigger and has a far more prominent comb than the other Cuckoo Marans that he was hatched with. The input on this thread plus the visual and behavior factors have me convinced he's a...
This Cuckoo Marans was sexed by Meyer Hatchery as female when hatched about 7 weeks ago. A few days ago he/she started attacking other birds in the flock (all are the same age within a week). Is it a rooster?
Took some of your suggestions and added wood limbs to the lower rungs in between the PVC and even replaced one low PVC with a branch. This did the trick. So far one bird got up to the third rung from the top and three have been climbing at the same time. They're using a combo of wing action and...
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That's what I was thinking about--maybe bolt a board to the underside and rough up the rungs with either sandpaper or some kind of anti-skid material. I was trying to avoid using a board for cleaning purposes but maybe it's necessary.
What would you do to make this ladder more usable? It's for a flock of fifteen 5-week and 6-week old standards and bantams. They have no problem getting up and using the swing (pictured to the left of the ladder) but they don't like seem to like the ladder rungs. The ladder has only been up for...
CMV and TheOldChick, thanks much for your responses. I was discouraged with so little visible improvement but it sounds like it's just going to take more time. CMV, i don't know if all the joints are working as i'm afraid of messing with the leg and forcing something in a way that might cause...