Arizona Chickens

[MagicChicken]

Quote:
I separate out the young roosters when they start annoying the other birds. Keeps peace in the chicken yard. This year's chicks are 2-4 months old now. I've had four young roosters separated from the rest of the chicks for at least two months now. Their hormones kicked in early and they were stressing everyone else out. I hate keeping them locked up but every time I let them out they raise havoc. They will be swimming with dumplings in a couple of weeks and I will no longer feel guilty about keeping them penned up.

Last time I let the four hoodlums out one of them got in a fight with one of the hens. Probably his momma. He wanted a piece of action. She wanted nothing to do with him. I thought she was another rooster at first - she was standing tall, hackles out, kicking him across the yard like a regular fighting cock. Wish I'd had a camera

The rest of the young roosters are fine with the flock. They work out a pecking order and everybody lives with it.

If you separate out the rowdy birds the rest of them have a chance to eat and grow like they are supposed to. If they are constantly being harassed by the young roosters they will be stressed all the time and they won't grow as well.

 

[K9Dave]

I separate out the young roosters when they start annoying the other birds.  Keeps peace in the chicken yard.  This year's chicks are 2-4 months old now.  I've had four young roosters separated from the rest of the chicks for at least two months now.  Their hormones kicked in early and they were stressing everyone else out.  I hate keeping them locked up but every time I let them out they raise havoc.  They will be swimming with dumplings in a couple of weeks and I will no longer feel guilty about keeping them penned up.

Last time I let the four hoodlums out one of them got in a fight with one of the hens.  Probably his momma.  He wanted a piece of action.  She wanted nothing to do with him.  I thought she was another rooster at first - she was standing tall, hackles out, kicking him across the yard like a regular fighting cock.  Wish I'd had a camera

The rest of the young roosters are fine with the flock.  They work out a pecking order and everybody lives with it.

If you separate out the rowdy birds the rest of them have a chance to eat and grow like they are supposed to.  If they are constantly being harassed by the young roosters they will be stressed all the time and they won't grow as well.

I'll try that tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[maryhysong]

There are 4 of them. RIR, and they run them off of everything that they get into and peck them. I squirted them with water a couple times with the hose but doubt it did anything. They're only about 8 weeks old and the chicks maybe 4 now. Maybe all the young roosters are being more rough because of the competition?

Young boys are juvenile delinquents, in most species ;-) Pen those guys separate so everyone else can have some peace and quiet.

 

[DesertChickens1]

I don't think that would be all that helpful against poultry ticks. First, unless you dust your birds at dusk you are unlikely to affect the ticks. Second, they are notorious for quickly developing resistance to just about everything you can throw at them. Lots of things do not work well against them and sometimes you have to try a variety of agents until you find one that is effective. Repeated and regular treatment may work against you. Nothing beats vigilance--check regularly.

Well I used to get ticks all the time before I stared this. I do dust my birds at dusk. It seems have been working for he 10 months I've been doing it, and I used to get mites way to much. Maybe I just got a good brand of powder?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
I'm just relaying what the folks at the State Veterinary Diagnostics Lab. told me about them (and what I've read in the literature). Because of their strange hiding and feeding behaviors and explosive reproduction, incomplete and limited exposure to the agents people treat with can lead to resistance. I'm glad that dusting at dusk and the dust brand you're using is working in your situation and I hope it continues! Poultry tick infestations are horrific. My tick page is in the BYC Learning Center so I get PMs about personal battles with poultry ticks, most of which take weeks or months to get completely in check.

 

[City farm]

Just waking up.. Hope to catch up on here by tomorrow..
One quick question.. The teacher that we gave out eggs to for the class hatched.. Plus a single duck..

What are the chances it will intergrat with our flock??? We have the Moma hen with two babies about the same age as the duck??

 

[carnivore]

Just waking up.. Hope to catch up on here by tomorrow..
One quick question.. The teacher that we gave out eggs to for the class hatched.. Plus a single duck..

What are the chances it will intergrat with our flock??? We have the Moma hen with two babies about the same age as the duck??

Kind of along the same line...
After the chick massacre Saturday, I only had one survivor, a 2 1/2 week old Black Jersey Giant. I was worried about her, she was listless and wouldn't eat. I went down and bought 3 Buff Orp chicks and 1 Barred Rock this morning to keep her company. She immediately perked up, but I haven't seen her eat yet. She is about 3x the size of the new chicks. She checked them out when I first put them in the brooder, but no pecking or aggressive behavior, so far. Keep your fingers crossed.

 

[a little chiken]

...

Just waking up.. Hope to catch up on here by tomorrow..
One quick question.. The teacher that we gave out eggs to for the class hatched.. Plus a single duck..


Our ducklings and chicks did awesome together and now we have a roo in our duck pen. They are all happy.

 

[a little chiken]

Ok friends what breeds are my two "rescued" pulleys

This whitepullet

And This pretty silver laced lady.

Ty for the help

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Flighty chicks are a huge temptation; more sedate hens and roosters may not be as much so. My dog will go after chicks, but adult birds she pretty much ignores unless they start behaving in a way that attracts her attention (sparring, etc.)