2 Roosters, 5 hens, 7 pullets

[3SiameseCats]

Eating the saw dust can lead to impaction, so provide some chick size granit grit to allow for better digestion and maybe use an old bedsheet or similar as bedding for a week until they have learned what to eat and how their feed looks

Yeah I’ve been concerned about that. Didn’t know grit would help with that. Will go get some grit as soon as I can then, hopefully today. The grain store is only 8 minutes away so not too hard to make trips over for things I need.

 

[LaFleche]

Yeah I’ve been concerned about that. Didn’t know grit would help with that. Will go get some grit as soon as I can then, hopefully today. The grain store is only 8 minutes away so not too hard to make trips over for things I need.

Rough sand will do in case they don't carry chick size granite grit.

 

[3SiameseCats]

Can you post some pictures? Male meat birds as in Cornish cross, should have died by now... it might be a ranger cross, or more of a dual purpose breed.

As long as things are getting along, you can leave them be. But once they start not getting along you need to do something ASAP. You need that plan B set up and ready to go.

I do this hobby myself, so I have tried to cobble things together, and really that doesn't work too good. Without wood - do you have a barrel or a doghouse? A lot of people keep tethered roosters in front of a barrel with an opening cut out, and a stick inside as a roost. A dog house with a kennel will work too. Ideally, it would be best to be out of sight of the hens, but maybe it would work without that.

How attached are you? I think the easiest thing to do, would be let these boys go. Raise up your pullets and chicks, and get a year old rooster locally in about 3-4 months. Ideally one raised in a multi-generational flock, with the same type of predators that you have. These type of roosters tend to be more aware and have had flock training. It is easy to get roosters, often times with an established multi-generational flock, raise up some boys each year as a spare. One that is such a good rooster, that the owner (who would have culled him if he wan't) is the rooster you should add.

Just being a rooster, does not make for a good rooster. A flock master is largely the luck of the draw but being raised in an proper chicken society can really help, and a lot of roosters never turn out good no matter how they are raised.

Mrs K

Photos attached, plus the hen that’s supposed to be the same breed as them.

Might be able to find something cheap on Facebook marketplace, or could ask some neighbors.

I’d say we’re rather attached, but if stuff gets bad we won’t hesitate to try and rehome. The problem is there are few places that will take them and allow them to live the rest of their life out fully, which is what we prefer. But we do live in an area where it’s rather common to have backyard chickens, so who knows.

 

[3SiameseCats]

Rough sand will do in case they don't carry chick size granite grit.

I’ve bought chick grit from them before so not too worried about that. Semi related question, do you know if I need to supply grit to my adult chickens if they have regular access to the yard? It’s definitely got rocks, just don’t know how many are of the right size.

 

[LaFleche]

They look like Rhode Island Reds to me, a dual purpose breed.

 

[LaFleche]

I’ve bought chick grit from them before so not too worried about that. Semi related question, do you know if I need to supply grit to my adult chickens if they have regular access to the yard? It’s definitely got rocks, just don’t know how many are of the right size.

It would be useful, but more necessary in the winter.

 

[LaFleche]

They look like Rhode Island Reds to me, a dual purpose breed.

I would keep the female and the cockerel in the second picture as he looks to be pure.

 

[3SiameseCats]

Coop isn't an issue for the number of birds you have. The run could be a massive problem if they don't have access to the yard all waking hours as they grow, especially during integration. 4x8 is enough for 3 adult hens. Even if you have a large yard, if they only have access some of the time you will still run the risk of behavioral issues that arise from crowding.

It will be fall by the time they will be old enough to be integrated. They get full access to the yard during the day during the summer. Just not sure of the lowest temp they can be out yet.

 

[3SiameseCats]

They look like Rhode Island Reds to me, a dual purpose breed.

My vet instructor did suspect they were a different breed than what they were sold as. The hen is notably a little bigger than the other two I bought as road island reds though. Also slightly different neck feathers. But thankfully at least the roos aren’t meat birds. I do know the hen and the roos were different colors as chicks. I believe I have a photo too.

 

[3SiameseCats]

I would keep the female and the cockerel in the second picture as he looks to be pure.

I agree, his (goat’s) feathers seem more iridescent compared to the other. planning to keep mumma hen regardless.