unfortunately we are not allowed roosters in the neighborhood. it was a sad day when "chick" started to crow. the coq au vin was delicious...but I miss my boy :(...and the girls could sure use a protector! if anyone needs to rehome a silent rooster, I'm BEYOND interested!! :)
that run is fantastic! we do have a secure hardware cloth run which provides adequate square footage...they have just been spoiled having the whole yard (and compost bin...man, they love that spot.) I will have to limit the free-ranging to an hour or two when the dogs and I are outside in...
not sure if those links worked...
http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af318/yogashmoga4/Percy.jpg
http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af318/yogashmoga4/SharpShinnedHawkEZ1.jpg
This is my first flock and I have been afraid of hawk attacks. I haven't seen any in the area, but the previous home owner lost a chicken this way (mentioned the "feather bomb"...so I assume the bird wasn't just scooped away.) I usually free-range the girls on our quarter acre; in a neighborhood...
I just culled my first roo and didn't have the guts to render it unconscious. It was my preferred method, but was instructed otherwise by an experienced friend who supervised (cone and bleed.) I saw many posts about people who weren't successful at knocking the bird out, and that freaked me out...
Awesome. Thank you. Glad to know of your success with this. I'm sure there is a degree of individuality from roo to roo...and dominant human to dominant human. I know holding my roo drives the point home. Not exactly "cuddling." But I do reward his cease to struggle with pets. And it's...
Did you have any luck with your rooster? I have read through so many threads on this subject. I remain a little lost. I have an interesting blue Ameraucana mix and I'd love to keep him. This is my first flock and "Chick" turned out to be a "Chico." I am used to dominance training with my dogs...
Thank you, THANK YOU!! So thrilled !!
My barred rock is by far the most friendly. Top of the pecking order (though a just and merciful leader), jumps on my lap, sings to me...lucked out with this beautiful girl!
I don't know where to turn to GLOAT!! Spent about an hour with the gals today, and as soon as I walked into the house my boyfriend heard a bunch of commotion from the coop. He checked on the ladies and found our very first egg!! Happy New Year, Indeed!!
Awe man...I'm SO stoked...it really IS...
So this bird was sold to me as a Lavender Orpington female ("I'm 100% sure"...words to avoid.) The hackles, tail and color definitely had me confused. But this IS my first flock, and I'm unfamiliar with this breed.
Sent this picture to the breeder today. She now thinks it is from her purebred...
Thank you so much for your replies!! She's not at all friendly, despite my best efforts to tame her. How disappointing! Ill try again for a BO next year ;)
Ordered a BO through MPC. She looks more like a RIR now, at nearly 4 mo...but was a fuzzy yellow chick. Looked nothing like the RIR chicks I have seen.
I only have this video of her with the rest of the chickens at this age. She is the third to come into the shot. Any ideas?
Thanks...
WHOA!! So I miscalculated the age of this bird by a month (um...stressful month = bad math. All I'm sayin'.) These pics are just under 14 weeks! I'm thinking the comb and wattles should be more red and pronounced on a roo...after carefully dissecting years of brahma sexing tips on BYC. Yes, I...
Thank you for your comment! His comb is less red than many of the other hens, but it's a mixed breed flock and I'm new to this. This is the only LB. The three rows in the comb are so unpronounced that I wasn't sure. He is definitely gawky and noisy, legs are thick, but his growth has slowed...