Arizona Chickens

[DesertChic]

It look's like he's growing some big spurs there. Do all of the Black NN roosters have that red in the wings?

Most do, unfortunately for those who are trying to breed to SOP. It's very hard to get clean blacks. I even crossed to a Black Australorp in the hopes of getting a clean black and instead wound up with a gorgeous birchen:

 

[DesertChic]

@MagicChicken I'm making decisions too. So based on experience, as I have very limited experience with roosters, how do you decide whether they are mean or nice? How long do you typically wait to make such decisions? I have 3 boys, one that's about 8 1/2 months, and two that aren't 2 months old yet. My big boy takes good care of the girls, but he can be...challenging.

I spend A LOT of time handling my birds, and especially the boys, so I get to know their personalities pretty well. All cockerels, beginning as young as 8 weeks, may start nipping at hands as their hormones start to kick in and they begin to feel possessive of the pullets and territorial. That's the first sign to watch for. Are they nipping because you startled them, when you try to handle them, or do they nip every chance they get? When they look you in the eye and watch you, what's their stance like? Do they seem relaxed and curious, or ready for a fight? And how do they behave when you handle the pullets? I've had some get VERY upset over a pullet getting attention, but some were upset because they themselves wanted affection while others just wanted to get the pullets away from me. Keep your own movements calm and not too quick, holding your hands out to them even to peck at a little since that's how they investigate. If they peck your hand and don't get harmed in response, a non-aggressive cockerel with then simply investigate more, whereas an aggressive one may peck harder, fuss about and complain loudly.

When the hormones REALLY start to kick in, around 12 weeks on up to about 22 weeks, the nipping can increase significantly. This is when you can really tell if your boy is just hormonal or actually aggressive. They should run excitedly to you in anticipation of food or treats, not as if they're going to fight you. They'll probably start dancing around you more, dropping their wing as if they want to control you as they would the pullets. If you reach for them do they run away, turn and try to fight, or immediately chomp down? I had one boy bite down HARD on my wrist, breaking the skin and causing me to bleed. It hurt like hell, but I didn't react at all. I didn't yell, try to pull my arm away, nothing. Instead I remained still and quiet until he let go and then just looked up at me, completely perplexed. Then I gently scooped him up and carried him around with me, snug against my chest, while I continued with my chores, talking to him calmly and quietly, stroking his neck and back, using his name frequently, and then finally setting him back down on the ground gently. He walked around me cooing, calling me over for treats, and from that point on I've been able to pet him, feed him from my hand, and pick him up without protest. In fact, he ASKS to be handled. Body language is everything with these boys, both theirs and yours. Creating trust and showing that you're the boss, but you're not a threat or a danger to them can go a long way. Sometimes it's enough to just sit in the rooster pen, surrounded by the boys, and doing nothing to harm them. Not always, but with most birds it's worked for me.

A truly good rooster doesn't have to become affectionate, but he does need to be respectful and calm about the owner's handling of the flock. Being attentive to your actions is fine as long as he shows absolutely no hint of aggression towards you. Standing there watching....not a problem. Ushering his hens away from you when you're done with them...not a problem. Sometimes they'll even walk around near you, flapping their wings, crowing, and seeming completely unhappy. Don't get nervous and don't leave. Stay longer and talk to him while you observe his behavior. He should grow less nervous, not more, especially if you give his girls and him treats, which creates positive reinforcement for your presence. Rushing you, biting you, spurring you....welcome to dinner. You can try fighting back once, but if his behavior recurs there's probably no fixing it. And no matter how good he is to his hens, if he's mean to his caretaker he should go. YOU are the alpha in the pecking order, not him.

I hope this helps.

 

[igorsMistress]

@Diannastarr my big boy was an accident. He's an EE with a pea comb so there's potential for the blue egg gene and I want that. However, 2 of the Aussie chicks I got from BlueBaby are cockerels. One blue, one black. That's 2 too many.
My coop maxes out at 9 maybe 10 chickens. Before I got the chicks I had 5 pullets and the ee cockerel.
I don't know that I would be able to breed the Aussies as my husband isn't agreeable to the constant rotation of chicks and the potential need to cull regularly.
The big boy has been free ranging with his girls his whole life, but he has chased my youngest grandson and has been aggressive with me more than once. He also crows a lot and to be honest that's mire an issue because I can stand up to him. If he won't back down I refuse to waiver, but I'm concerned nonetheless. Obviously there's no guarantee that any of the others will be any better, but I'm torn.

 

[igorsMistress]

@DesertChic thank you so much, it does help and you've reinforced my feelings on this. This big boy was fine until he really started feeling his oats. Never used to be aggressive and most of the time he's respectful. He's unpredictable around me though and once every few weeks he seems to think when I say no it's game on. It's also becoming more frequent so I think he's going sooner rather than later.

 

[Bobby Basham]

@DesertChic thank you so much, it does help and you've reinforced my feelings on this. This big boy was fine until he really started feeling his oats. Never used to be aggressive and most of the time he's respectful. He's unpredictable around me though and once every few weeks he seems to think when I say no it's game on. It's also becoming more frequent so I think he's going sooner rather than later.

I've read that meanness is passed on genetically, and whoever his daddy was, he must have been a piece of work. I would get rid of him before he spurs one of your grandchildren. How would you feel if he caused serious bodily injury or took out an eye? I couldn't get him in a stew pot or frying pan fast enough. It makes no sense for a critter to be so mean. Get rid of him before the situation escalates. You see where this is going. Roosters are something not to be played with, and they can cause some serious physical damage. Just think what they can do to a small child. They just relentlessly attack, attack, attack until they think you're dead. Imagine a small child rolling on the ground screaming for their life while being constantly spurred and flogged by a rooster from Hell.

 

[Parront]

I have never heard of an Instapot. I don't need any more toys, but it sounds interesting.

HA! That is the only reason I did not get one. No more room in the kitchen, or I would have to get rid of my bread machine! Can't do that -- LOL

 

[Parront]

The good thing about older birds is you can stew them for hours and the meat still has flavor. I stew the older birds, either on the stove or in the crock pot, until the meat is easy to pull off the bone. It can be close to 8 hours if the bird had been refrigerated prior to cooking. Then I portion out the meat into one cup portions and freeze it. Also portion out the stock into 2-3 cup portions and freeze those. One rooster can provide lots of meals that way.

I overcooked one that I popped in the crock pot right after butchering him. Had him in for the usual 7-8 hours and the meat fell into tiny shreds when I took it out. I spent a long time picking the meat from the other stuff. So now I reduce the stewing time if the bird was at least room temperature when I put it in the crock pot. Live and learn.

This happens in pressure cookers, too. You can't check while it is cooking, it is easy to over-cook. If it is not tender enough, after 20 minutes, a little while in the oven will finish it off.

 

[cavemanrich]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/homemade-v-s-store-bought.1180448/page-8#post-18928816
Here is a homemade feeder by a BYC member.
BTW that whole thread is interesting read

 

[Diannastarr]

ABOUT YOUR BIG BOY , what kind of challenging are we talking here..? he comes at you with one wing down on the ground & going sideways at you..? & acts like he is trying to chase you away or what ever ..? if thats it ..?he is becoming a bad boy , if you want good boys i would pen them up when they begin to chase all the hens around or better yet pen them up in a good size pen for their own good & just before they start that crazy stuff , leave them in until they are over a year old, that way they wont become mean ,with most roos that is ,and it also all depends on their father and his temperament.! so hopefully by the time you let them out with the hens they will have gotten over the teen age stage were they can be such crazy jerks, but if they are from mean birds they may never be anything other then mean, so thats what i found out works the best, with the least amount of effort, so in the long run they get to spend time with you when you go to feed them , and i take that time to talk to them, so they get to know me, i always use that time & use the same words with my young roos, i tell them they are good boys, so just in case they ever do something bad , my yelling at them will be quite effective HA ....lol....

@Diannastarr my big boy was an accident. He's an EE with a pea comb so there's potential for the blue egg gene and I want that. However, 2 of the Aussie chicks I got from BlueBaby are cockerels. One blue, one black. That's 2 too many.
My coop maxes out at 9 maybe 10 chickens. Before I got the chicks I had 5 pullets and the ee cockerel.
I don't know that I would be able to breed the Aussies as my husband isn't agreeable to the constant rotation of chicks and the potential need to cull regularly.
The big boy has been free ranging with his girls his whole life, but he has chased my youngest grandson and has been aggressive with me more than once. He also crows a lot and to be honest that's mire an issue because I can stand up to him. If he won't back down I refuse to waiver, but I'm concerned nonetheless. Obviously there's no guarantee that any of the others will be any better, but I'm torn.

GOSH yes torn indeed..! no if they are attacking any one , i say pen them up right now, thats not to be tolerated ever..!!! yes i totally understand, its hard to make the choice to kill any live being, i my self wont do it ,especially the babies i hand raise, i recommend what Dsertchick said to slowly Tame them like i did with my a wild horses , but I never had that much time any more ,and especially dont like to get bit...LOL.. so maybe if thats the way your life is like mine its just easier to pen them all up and use your time feeding them to get them to know you and interact with them when feeding and talking to them like you would with your dog or cat, i must say the food helps to create that bond with them, my RIR & NHR i had put them into a giant pen 40x40 feet, they have a fun home with a tree for shade and all kinds of stuff to perch on & a swing , its a rooster environment & not like i keep them in a small pen by any means, they have feelings like we all do & they get to see the whole flock every day and the hens drop by to chat with them...lol. but now when i open their pen door they run over and like to peck at the food bucket...lol.. thats the most aggression i get from them, & they dont mean any harm , they could live their entire lives in this special place we built for them , but they dont mean any harm ,so after the time passes for your roos & you wait and see if any of yours emerge acting mean ..? but one thing never challenge them, it just makes them meaner, they start to think you or all humans are their enemy, but i guess the feeding helps them to see you as their friend & you as their pack leader, my roos i have kept that way , i can go right in and pick them up with out any problems no matter what age and even if i had never touched them ever before they are fine ,no challenges & no bits.! im seen as the head roo, but with your roos this kind of time will give you the time you might need to make up your mind wile they grow older plus they might change..? or which ever you choose to do you had some time to think it over , i had a very dangerous new Hampshire red roo back years ago ,i got him by mistake in a group of sexed chicks , he was ok with me , and i could control him with my voice and certain words that he understood ,but with any one else he tried to kill them and always drew blood , so after all of that he did live in a nice pen big for most of his life, i actually like him & gave him a good happy life ,he was about 4, and things were changing after my husband died , and so i had my hired hand shoot him in his pen wile he was eating , he never knew what happened , so dont feel bad if you choose that way out , its seems the best way to go i have to say they never even hear the bang..! and its over , i buried my roo with respect for his fearless spirit and asked him to keep watch over all of us my flock & land. as im sure he still does . but maybe ask about the temperament of the roo your chicks came from, that will give you a clue about your roos possible future temperament ..?

 

[Diannastarr]

@Diannastarr please do post pics. I think something like that might work. And I love to recycle stuff myself so this might be right up my alley. Thanks so much!

So as you can see i use all kinds of things i recycle into useful stuff, i used old kitchen draws as nest boxes and also crates for the same purpose, So here it is how i cut the bucket for my bucket feeder idea,you can cut the hole any way you need it to be, its up to you, i made these a few years ago , and they are still working fine , but this blue one is showing its age, but very easy to replace that wont brake the bank..! ,so here are my pic of them,

all so very simple, i use to feed wet food in and being plastic they are perfect & wont rot or rust, i feed mostly a wet layer feed mixed with vitamins and all left overs , by mixing water or the boiled water i made vegies in and maybe a few hard boiled eggs i put in the blender, for that added extra protein, ( i use the crumbles kind of layer feed for that it brakes down faster ) and mix it all in one of those dollar store buckets & just scoop it into your feeder bucket , that way of feeding by the way really cuts down on the spilling of feed completely and the birds do love it sooo sooo much ..! it must be good my wild cat like to eat it....lol.... i do like to feed my birds as well as i can , after all they are the ones who do all the work & are feeding me well & taking good care of me in return..!