3 month evaluation

[mossyoakpro]

Lol- I cant wait to hear why RIRs are buttholes. My FAVORITE chicken of all time is Rhodie, my RIR. She was the smartest, most independent, thought she was better than those chickens in the coop and felt she was entitled to hang with the humans. She had personality and made her presence known. I'm here to defend the Rhode Island Reds' honor

They are not friendly at all which is quite strange considering I had to clean their pasty butt 2 or 3 times a day while in the brooder...you would think that if someone wiped your butt several times a day that you would be a little more appreciative? 1 of the pullets will tolerate me if I happen to get my hands on her but the others are wild as a March hare as they say....they are going to be finding a new coop as soon as they start laying in a couple of months.

 

[mossyoakpro]

The one I had was the best, big, proud and new how to strut, yes the hens would squabble among themselves. Everyone hammering my all time favorite American Breed has now forced my hand! I will be getting a dozen Spring 2024! I will keep them segregated from my BLK AUS, I'm dumb, not stupid!

If you were close to me you could start with a flock of 4!! LOL

 

[Iluveggers]

Barred Rock is my favorite breed also!

I have never owned a RIR, only because one of my family members had a bad time with them being agressive.

Sussex is another wonderfully friendly breed.

 

[Beckys Birds]

They are not friendly at all which is quite strange considering I had to clean their pasty butt 2 or 3 times a day while in the brooder...you would think that if someone wiped your butt several times a day that you would be a little more appreciative? 1 of the pullets will tolerate me if I happen to get my hands on her but the others are wild as a March hare as they say....they are going to be finding a new coop as soon as they start laying in a couple of months.

That's so bizarre to me. Mine are such unassuming sweethearts with wonderful personalities. They let us just pick them up, hens and roos alike. All these stories of aggressive behavior from RIRs just seems crazy to me. I have 3 RIR roos and 3 hens, plus 4 RIR mixed hens. That's 10 RIR out of 38 birds, so I don't think it's a fluke. They are all from Hoover's hatchery, so maybe they have bred some laid back birds. Could just be where you all are getting your birds.

 

[holisticliving]

My peeps were 3 months old yesterday and boy have they changed!! Here's my evaluation after 3 months:

1. Rhode Islands Reds are buttholes...
2. Read #1 again...
3. Barred Rocks are delightful
4. They love to free range and are very good at it!!
5. Did I mention RIR's are buttholes?
6. They love watermelon
7. They will eat anything they encounter...frogs, lizards, caterpillars and stuff I have never seen before.
8. There are no boundaries...my wife's garden being the main thing
9. They love to dust bathe in freshly planted flowers...wife hates them.
10. They make some of the weirdest noises...

It's been quite an experience with them I have to say as I have not had chickens in a long time and forgot how neat they are...next up egg laying in a few months I suppose. Take care everyone!!

Ha ha! I've heard the same about RIR's, so never got any. I have added a few new ones recently - six 2-month-olds. 5 Isa Browns, which are all sweet and docile and friendly and calm - LOVE THEM!! And 1 Barred Rock - my first of this breed. Looks like he's turning out to be a rooster, and so far he's kind of mean to the pullets - I'm hoping he's just asserting dominance and will grow out of it, as he's really beautiful and very sweet and friendly towards me! Unfortunately, the 3 older hens are bullying the heck out of him right now, so I hope it doesn't make him meaner... Good luck with your flock!

 

[holisticliving]

Barred Rock is my favorite breed also!

I have never owned a RIR, only because one of my family members had a bad time with them being agressive.

Sussex is another wonderfully friendly breed.

LOVE my Speckled Sussex - the friendliest chicken ever! I swear she would follow me into the house if I let her! Next time I get new ones, I'm definitely getting more of those!

 

[holisticliving]

They are not friendly at all which is quite strange considering I had to clean their pasty butt 2 or 3 times a day while in the brooder...you would think that if someone wiped your butt several times a day that you would be a little more appreciative? 1 of the pullets will tolerate me if I happen to get my hands on her but the others are wild as a March hare as they say....they are going to be finding a new coop as soon as they start laying in a couple of months.

Wait until they start laying before you decide - their personalities can change a lot at that time. My first batch were several different breeds (no RIR's), and most were quite skittish and wild as chicks (despite being handled ALL the time as you mention), but as soon as they started laying, most of them calmed down a lot. Only my Lakeshore Eggers remained little brats.

 

[mossyoakpro]

Wait until they start laying before you decide - their personalities can change a lot at that time. My first batch were several different breeds (no RIR's), and most were quite skittish and wild as chicks (despite being handled ALL the time as you mention), but as soon as they started laying, most of them calmed down a lot. Only my Lakeshore Eggers remained little brats.

That would be very nice if that happened...after I posted the eval, believe it or not one of the pullets actually will tolerate me holding her now. The cockerals on the other hand scream bloody murder if I grab them. LOL

 

[Friendthechicken]

P.S. The California Whites don't seem to interact with the pecking order much at all. They do their own thing -- secure in the superiority of being able to fly.

I have been hoping for more info and posting on California Whites. I have my first pair at about 16 weeks now. They are soooo flighty and independent! Both of them, “Big” and “Little” (who are getting harder and harder to tell apart). Fine by me so far so long as they visit more in the wild grass patch and less in the raised beds…

 

[ShotgunDog]

I'm new to being a chicken mama. I researched a lot before finally deciding to start with 10 RIRs. We got them from our local Ace Hardware (pretty sure they came from Hoover's Hatchery). They are 17 weeks old now, and I have 3 that I believe may start laying soon (one who is really showing signs). I won' t say that ALL are 'sweet' but some are very very sweet, and others are more shy. So far, none are aggressive. They get into little 'spats' from time to time with each other, but those last 2 seconds and done. I cannot even determine a pecking order amongst them. If I pull up a chair and sit with them, the most friendly ones will jump up on my lap (and sometimes compete for their 'lap space'). We do have one that thinks my husband is 'hers' and displays that jealousy to any who have jumped up on his lap. I will say that most will shout their displeasure at being handled without an invitation, but they aren't mean in any way (they don't try to bite--they just cry about it). Maybe we just got lucky. Maybe the time we spent every day with them as chicks built up trust in humans. Maybe their personalities will change when they start laying (maybe even for the better?). Either way, my only regret in choosing 10 RIRs is that I have to put colored bands on their legs to tell most of them apart. Now just waiting on eggs ... waiting ... waiting...