2018 Newbie Chat!

[Cbarr00]

I was given advice on here to peck my bossy chickens back if you a referring to another chick. This has changed my coop dynamic significantly. I was getting charged daily by a bully hen and he others started to follow and it rarely happens now. And when it does i peck back and it’s over. Not sure if that’s the situation you are describing but thought i would share!

He's a 21 week old Rhode island red cockerel. He jumped at me today. He's about knee high to me. I'm 5'2". I have two boys 7 & 9 who go out with their dad in the evenings so I honestly won't waste time trying to retrain them and risk injury to my kids. I had four cockerels and 2 are in freezer camp already. Now the other 2 are waiting their turn.

 

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

He's a 21 week old Rhode island red cockerel. He jumped at me today. He's about knee high to me. I'm 5'2". I have two boys 7 & 9 who go out with their dad in the evenings so I honestly won't waste time trying to retrain them and risk injury to my kids. I had four cockerels and 2 are in freezer camp already. Now the other 2 are waiting their turn.

Ugh ! How frustrating. I have never had any roosters, at least not that i know of ;-) this is my first flock and they are 15 weeks. When i tried it on the Pullet it worked almost instantly though. So even if he is on his way to camp it may make him more tolerable in the process.

 

[CannedMonster]

They are 21 weeks and I have one speckled Sussex laying right now. My husband hasn't built nesting boxes yet so she laid on the floor in a corner. She laid again today and in the same spot as the first egg. I heard the egg song today so went out and she was nesting in the corner.
View attachment 1497242

Ugh then Big Red decided to come at me. I knew to watch him today. I didnt like the way he was eyeing me. I had a bag of dried meal worms and just hit him with that. Guess we have no winners. Oh well I'm sick of dealing with them and stressing about dynamics if it's a no go I'm ok with that.

Ooh you better get nest boxes or she may just keep laying on the floor because she’s used to it!
I just use plastic bins like someone might use for washing dishes or something.

Kitty litter trays work too.
I’m thinking of getting 2 kitty trays with covers for broody hens with chicks.
I can put those on the floor.
They even have ones designed to fit in corners.

Sounds like Big Red was thinking bad thoughts.
I know how you feel.
Loki rushed me from behind this morning and I chased him off but he doesn’t run far.
It’s like he doesn’t respect me.
He regularly invades my space.
Angus doesn’t do any of this.
I tell them all the time that they better watch it because I don’t need any roosters

 

[Cbarr00]

Ooh you better get nest boxes or she may just keep laying on the floor because she’s used to it!
I just use plastic bins like someone might use for washing dishes or something.
View attachment 1497345
Kitty litter trays work too.
I’m thinking of getting 2 kitty trays with covers for broody hens with chicks.
I can put those on the floor.
They even have ones designed to fit in corners.

Sounds like Big Red was thinking bad thoughts.
I know how you feel.
Loki rushed me from behind this morning and I chased him off but he doesn’t run far.
It’s like he doesn’t respect me.
He regularly invades my space.
Angus doesn’t do any of this.
I tell them all the time that they better watch it because I don’t need any roosters

I'll have him stop today and get some plastic bins! Especially because once the other girls start laying they'll probably follow her suit if we wish too long.
I was in the coop watching her lay and he came up to the doorway and when I walked out he didn't budge an inch so I didn't completely turn my back to him so I could watch him. Sure enough I saw him jump up and hit him with the mealworms. He didn't come near me again but he's going into the prefab now. My kids are so excited to collect eggs I can't have him in there. I've read that introducing a cockerel when the pullets are hens is supposed to be easier because the hens will teach him his place. If none work out this year maybe we will try next year. Maybe not...

 

[CannedMonster]

I'll have him stop today and get some plastic bins! Especially because once the other girls start laying they'll probably follow her suit if we wish too long.
I was in the coop watching her lay and he came up to the doorway and when I walked out he didn't budge an inch so I didn't completely turn my back to him so I could watch him. Sure enough I saw him jump up and hit him with the mealworms. He didn't come near me again but he's going into the prefab now. My kids are so excited to collect eggs I can't have him in there. I've read that introducing a cockerel when the pullets are hens is supposed to be easier because the hens will teach him his place. If none work out this year maybe we will try next year. Maybe not...

It’s common for roosters to stay near hens that are laying.
My Brahma bantam Hector would stay halfway between the coop and wherever the other girls were so he could keep an eye on both.
My Cochin would stand at the doorway when Birdie was laying.

Be sure to secure your plastic bin nest boxes so that they don’t tip if a hen steps on the edge.
The lip of ours are sitting right above the 2x4s so the weight of the chickens is actually on the 2x4s instead of the edge of the bins.
If they tip over it’ll scare them and they’ll never use them.
You could probably even screw them to the wall or something.

I have 4 older hens and they kick my boys butts!
That doesn’t stop the boys from chasing and breeding them but they’re scared of them too.
Unfortunately my guys haven’t shared food or danced for the girls very much.
They try a little bit but if the hens approach the boys run because they think they’re going to kick them lol.
I’m bothered by Loki chasing my bantam pullets occasionally!
I won’t stand for the LF boys trying to breed little bantams.

I’m sick of cockerel drama too.
It’s pretty hot during the day which tones down their ardor quite a bit.
I really wish I hadn’t gotten rid of my bantam Brahma rooster.
He was perfect!!
A gentleman and not even remotely human aggressive.
If these NN boys don’t work out I’m going to try bantam roosters or a breed that’s extremely well known for being docile, like an Orpington.

 

[Cbarr00]

It’s common for roosters to stay near hens that are laying.
My Brahma bantam Hector would stay halfway between the coop and wherever the other girls were so he could keep an eye on both.
My Cochin would stand at the doorway when Birdie was laying.

Be sure to secure your plastic bin nest boxes so that they don’t tip if a hen steps on the edge.
The lip of ours are sitting right above the 2x4s so the weight of the chickens is actually on the 2x4s instead of the edge of the bins.
If they tip over it’ll scare them and they’ll never use them.
You could probably even screw them to the wall or something.

I have 4 older hens and they kick my boys butts!
That doesn’t stop the boys from chasing and breeding them but they’re scared of them too.
Unfortunately my guys haven’t shared food or danced for the girls very much.
They try a little bit but if the hens approach the boys run because they think they’re going to kick them lol.
I’m bothered by Loki chasing my bantam pullets occasionally!
I won’t stand for the LF boys trying to breed little bantams.

I’m sick of cockerel drama too.
It’s pretty hot during the day which tones down their ardor quite a bit.
I really wish I hadn’t gotten rid of my bantam Brahma rooster.
He was perfect!!
A gentleman and not even remotely human aggressive.
If these NN boys don’t work out I’m going to try bantam roosters or a breed that’s extremely well known for being docile, like an Orpington.

I actually figured maybe thats why he was so bold today. Since she was laying and he didnt know what I wanted with them. It still doesn't excuse that he came after me. I originally wanted a rooster so we could breed and hopefully get a broody hen to hatch. Now I'm thinking maybe we will just order from a hatchery every other year instead. If we hatch our own we might be run rampant with cockerels.

On another note what's up with all the chicken screams lately? I know my pullet who is laying makes this screaming noise when she's laying but do other pullets make the same sound when they're about to lay but not actually laying yet? I heard it last night and again tonight.

 

[Cbarr00]

Found two more today. Pretty sure the second layer is Dak and I know for sure one Lil Taco laying.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

I actually figured maybe thats why he was so bold today. Since she was laying and he didnt know what I wanted with them. It still doesn't excuse that he came after me. I originally wanted a rooster so we could breed and hopefully get a broody hen to hatch. Now I'm thinking maybe we will just order from a hatchery every other year instead. If we hatch our own we might be run rampant with cockerels.

On another note what's up with all the chicken screams lately? I know my pullet who is laying makes this screaming noise when she's laying but do other pullets make the same sound when they're about to lay but not actually laying yet? I heard it last night and again tonight.

Mine scream. I think mostly its Elsa.

Someone also likes to sing the egg song just for fun.

 

[CannedMonster]

I actually figured maybe thats why he was so bold today. Since she was laying and he didnt know what I wanted with them. It still doesn't excuse that he came after me. I originally wanted a rooster so we could breed and hopefully get a broody hen to hatch. Now I'm thinking maybe we will just order from a hatchery every other year instead. If we hatch our own we might be run rampant with cockerels.

On another note what's up with all the chicken screams lately? I know my pullet who is laying makes this screaming noise when she's laying but do other pullets make the same sound when they're about to lay but not actually laying yet? I heard it last night and again tonight.

My Wyandottes are ridiculously loud.
They walk around making what I call the “b*tching” sound lol.
It’s sort of like... kaaa ka ka ka ka ka ka

The egg song is a bagok buk buk buk bagok! sound.

 

[CannedMonster]

Well guys...
I’ve decided to send Loki to freezer camp.
It’s not easy dealing with two cockerels and I can’t find anyone in my area that wants a cockerel much less a Naked Neck. Too many people are trying to get rid of their own.
I’m feeling that it’s just a matter of time before he tries to come after me especially since he constantly invades my space and follows me instead of the girls.
Plus he occasionally tries to breed my bantam pullets which is out of the question for me.
Loki has always had a strange stilted gait which may be a genetic thing that I’d rather not have in any chicks.

Sooo...looks like Angus is our finalist.
I hope he becomes a great roo for my girls.
I’m a little disappointed that one of my Australorp chicks is a male too.
But I have no plans to get attached to him or even name him, especially since he bit me today