2018 Newbie Chat!

[llombardo]

So as someone pointed out its a good possibility I have another boy and I think it's the Oliver egger--what are the personalities in these roosters? Is there such a breed to research? I'm once again in rooster denial but my gut is telling me yes and I will be very surprised if it's not the case. So now I have to rethink the coop build to accommodate 3 seperate flocks. I was going to get rid of the prefab but it's honestly in great shape and I may just use it. So I'm now thinking the original 3 in the prefab and that would be back to back to what I will build(that could change because I will be running electric fence around the whole perimeter and around coops if need be). Both coops will be closer to the house with more access for the dogs as far as protecting from predators. .plan is to build one coop and seperate the other two flocks in there. So I'm thinking the 4 middle girls with Duke. He is now over a year and hopefully hormones are more under control. Then I would keep the 8 now babies together. So that coop will be either 8x8 or 10x12. One side will be 3x8. Other side 5x8, which gives everyone about 5 sq ft. The runs would be for the 3 in pre-fab would be about 10x10 or slightly bigger. The 3x8 coop side would be 5x15 or so and the 5x8 coop run would be 10x15 or so.

This would now eliminate the garden I wanted to start in the new area for the prefab. The rabbits will be coming inside to make more room in the runs.

Ugh. This can all change as I watch the personalities of the girls. I may occasionally switch the boys around. Thoughts on this? Prayers and well wishes for all girls are a plus....

 

[Anna Ranieri]

So as someone pointed out its a good possibility I have another boy and I think it's the Oliver egger--what are the personalities in these roosters? Is there such a breed to research? I'm once again in rooster denial but my gut is telling me yes and I will be very surprised if it's not the case. So now I have to rethink the coop build to accommodate 3 seperate flocks. I was going to get rid of the prefab but it's honestly in great shape and I may just use it. So I'm now thinking the original 3 in the prefab and that would be back to back to what I will build(that could change because I will be running electric fence around the whole perimeter and around coops if need be). Both coops will be closer to the house with more access for the dogs as far as protecting from predators. .plan is to build one coop and seperate the other two flocks in there. So I'm thinking the 4 middle girls with Duke. He is now over a year and hopefully hormones are more under control. Then I would keep the 8 now babies together. So that coop will be either 8x8 or 10x12. One side will be 3x8. Other side 5x8, which gives everyone about 5 sq ft. The runs would be for the 3 in pre-fab would be about 10x10 or slightly bigger. The 3x8 coop side would be 5x15 or so and the 5x8 coop run would be 10x15 or so.

This would now eliminate the garden I wanted to start in the new area for the prefab. The rabbits will be coming inside to make more room in the runs.

Ugh. This can all change as I watch the personalities of the girls. I may occasionally switch the boys around. Thoughts on this? Prayers and well wishes for all girls are a plus....

I've seen quite a few flocks with more than one rooster in, if you do have a male chick would it be possible to integrate him in with either Duke or Prince's flocks?

 

[llombardo]

I've seen quite a few flocks with more than one rooster in, if you do have a male chick would it be possible to integrate him in with either Duke or Prince's flocks?

Not after I saw Duke and Prince challenging each other. I would never feel they were safe if Iwas not around.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

After having first hand experience of multiple roosters in one flock, I can tell you the more roosters you have. The more trouble you’ll have. I have two seperate flocks. In two seperate coops. Each with their own run. I never free range together. My roosters would kill each other if allowed together. If they are raised together at the same time it’s a different story. Not to mention, each rooster needs a minimum of fifteen hens to prevent overmating and aggression. So if you have three roosters, you’ll need a minimum of forty five hens to make it work. That’s a lot of mouths to feed and take care of. If you still need to build an innitial coop and run, you should think of downsizing at least to one cockerel. Just my honest opinion.

 

[llombardo]

After having first hand experience of multiple roosters in one flock, I can tell you the more roosters you have. The more trouble you’ll have. I have two seperate flocks. In two seperate coops. Each with their own run. I never free range together. My roosters would kill each other if allowed together. If they are raised together at the same time it’s a different story. Not to mention, each rooster needs a minimum of fifteen hens to prevent overmating and aggression. So if you have three roosters, you’ll need a minimum of forty five hens to make it work. That’s a lot of mouths to feed and take care of. If you still need to build an innitial coop and run, you should think of downsizing at least to one cockerel. Just my honest opinion.

Prince is not a super mating kind of boy. I am comfortable with putting him with the two he was raised with without issue. I originally got the four additional girls for that reason and after a while I saw it as t necessary. I was going by what everyone said.They can get away from him if needed--he is to big and doesn't go high. Duke may need more then the four, I will have to watch that group. I'm counting on him being older and less hormonal. This possible third boy will have the most girls. I know nothing of the breed, so I will observe him for a while. I'm really hoping it is a girl and I can just worry about two flocks.

I would not mind an all boy flock but I do not want to break up roister fights. I do love roosters.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

So, just out of curiosity if all your new chicks are girls, how then would you decide them between the two - like who will you put with who?

 

[Anna Ranieri]

After having first hand experience of multiple roosters in one flock, I can tell you the more roosters you have. The more trouble you’ll have. I have two seperate flocks. In two seperate coops. Each with their own run. I never free range together. My roosters would kill each other if allowed together. If they are raised together at the same time it’s a different story. Not to mention, each rooster needs a minimum of fifteen hens to prevent overmating and aggression. So if you have three roosters, you’ll need a minimum of forty five hens to make it work. That’s a lot of mouths to feed and take care of. If you still need to build an innitial coop and run, you should think of downsizing at least to one cockerel. Just my honest opinion.

Oh my that is a lot of chickens!
I'm wondering if it depends on breeds also, some of the flocks I've seen have up to four. I asked the owners how they get on and they told me they never fight.

 

[llombardo]

So, just out of curiosity if all your new chicks are girls, how then would you decide them between the two - like who will you put with who?

That is going to be based on who can handle themselves well with the two older girls. Only the confident ones go in that group. The two polishes probably would not do well. Out of the 4 girls now--rose the EE handles herself the best. She gets out of dodge and does not cry, therefore they back off. I may even do 3 flocks--one without a boy and maybejusttheteo older girls if they keep being so brutal. It's more Rain the barred Rock but Precious the RIR will jump in--they don't really go after each other at all.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

That is going to be based on who can handle themselves well with the two older girls. Only the confident ones go in that group. The two polishes probably would not do well. Out of the 4 girls now--rose the EE handles herself the best. She gets out of dodge and does not cry, therefore they back off. I may even do 3 flocks--one without a boy and maybejusttheteo older girls if they keep being so brutal. It's more Rain the barred Rock but Precious the RIR will jump in--they don't really go after each other at all.

You currently have your whole flock indoors don’t you? I’d focus on building a stable coop that can handle your winters before adding more birds. Sounds like chicken math has taken over your life. I couldn’t live that way. So much dust, it can’t be good for you or your birds. Keep an eye out for respiratory infection in your chickens. It happens when overcrowding and inhalation of dust happens for long periods of time. Since they’ve been inside in cages with little fresh air for so long I’d say your at high risk for it.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

I’ve got two broodys. Of course once I’m done hatching, I have girls who want to. They’re on their fourth day of being broody. I think I’m going to let one sit, then break the other. I plan on selling some of my laying hens to make room for any new babies. Around here people will pay $30 for a laying hen. So I’ll be able to make some good money on them. I’ve also been selling eggs weekly. Each day I’ve been getting anywhere from 12-15 eggs. Lazarus, my 7 month old pullet that DH saved in September has yet to lay an egg. Manny her boyfriend is going to freezer camp this weekend. He flogged me again, this time almost getting my face. I will not keep birds that I don’t like, it’s too easy to replace them anyway.