Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[satay]

OK, So I'm feeling pretty proud of myself - went to the hardware shop yesterday and bought a drill, some chicken wire and other bits to create a new home for the girls in half of our garden shed. I covered the back of a wooden IKEA shelf with the wire and fashioned a sliding door partition with one of the panels from the old coop. It's now dry, head height (and I'm a tall girl!) and has a paved floor perfect for cleaning. I had some of those plastic stacking shelves you get from the $2 shop and so stacked three up and filled them with straw for nesting boxes.
Trying to entice them in last night was a nightmare...they just wouldn't go in but huddled around the door and made a break for the house when I tried to bribe them in with food. I had to pick them up and lock them in in the end, and they broke out of the run today at some stage, so no idea how long they were without water (judging by the poo, most of the day I think) No eggs today, either...they've gone out in protest! I'm hoping it doesn't take too long for them to settle in. I will attach the new fancy self opening door next weekend, and when we get our deck built (next week!!) I will extend their run half the length of the garden bed. 

Well done

 

[satay]

Yeah I thought that too when I set mine up, but it didn't stop them getting at each other through the chicken wire. I lost my two best Roos that way. If you have aviary wire that would go some way to preventing conflict. But breeder pens are only a short term thing Lucas , your birds will get some free range time, won't they?

I have had them fight between pens even with corro on the bottom. The will jump up at each other if they are in that kinda mood. They usually get over it pretty quick though.

 

[satay]

I guess anything is worth a try if the alternative is an axe!

True that

 

[satay]

G'Day Luke

I have been lurking in the background, keeping up to date with everyone's news and obviously have not had any silly questions for a while 

I just wanted to mention that I have a friend trying the rooster-collar method.  She made her own out of a knee brace but while it was flexible enough for him to pretty much do what he wanted it was a bit too flexible and he could still crow.  She made a slightly stiffer one that he was not quite so happy with and while he was still able to crow, it was somewhat reduced in volume and length.  Admittedly he is only 4 months old and just learning but she has also ordered one from the lady on Facebook.  If you like I can let you know how she goes?

In general news, still no gender outcomes on Tina and Suzi (4 month old Silkies).  No one is strutting their stuff and no-one is crowing!
Cilla went broody again for the third time in 3 months and I caved!  She is now in her element sitting on 9 Pekin Cochin Bantam eggs; fingers crossed that I get a little 'brown feathered beach ball' just like her 'black feathered beach ball' mumma! 

I hope you have a great hatch. I my pekins. They are a great little bantams to have with huge personalities.

 

[satay]

Ah, interesting Lucas. I had seen them and watched the videos. I thought they were more exspensive than that, $15 and $25 for international postage, I must have read it wrong. That kind of put me off trying one. I did how ever attempt one from a velcro band this morning and it failed miserably, must have had too much flex as the two boys I tried it on still crowed full noise.

Keen to hear how you go.


I was considering the reverse, our boys are in the box overnight so they would not need it then, but the guy over the back works nights so if we are going to keep a feller it would be handy to keep the noise down while he is sleeping.

I had a try at my own and it failed too, must have been too loose or too flexible.

That would be my luck too...would work on the ones I have not been able to sell and not on the roo I want to keep!

I'm not entirely comfortable with using a collar either Satay, but I feel better about that a collar than pretty much ever rooster we hatch ending up in someone pot once they start to crow. It's even harder to sell roosters to a good home in the city than it is too keep them! An option I am considering in order to keep a boy with our girls.

I understand that ben for sure.
Sorry guys I didn't mean any offense to anyone that wants to try them and I hope they work for those that do. I love my roos (more than my hens some times lol) and their noise and could not imagine not hearing them crow... Luckily being on acreage I don't have that issue.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Lucas. Use corrugated iron sheet between the pens. Look at Ash's set up. There is a reason he built them like that.

I thought about it in the past, but it wouldn't work with the horses. Rusty is such a thoroughbred , he's out for at least a month after hurting himself on straight wire. Barb, star pickets and corrugated iron are definately not an option with horses.
Hey Lucas, my daughter held out on her price for the young horse and it looks like it may just pay off. A family from Victoria are flying in to look at him.

 

[SandeeC]

I understand that ben for sure.
Sorry guys I didn't mean any offense to anyone that wants to try them and I hope they work for those that do. I love my roos (more than my hens some times lol) and their noise and could not imagine not hearing them crow... Luckily being on acreage I don't have that issue.

What ever works so that you can keep them
I am like Satay I couldn't imagine NOT waking up to their crowing I think it's a glorious way to start the day, even if it is 4am lol
But I am also lucky, have massive acreage out the back, only 2 neighbours in relatively close proximity and they don't mind Thank goodness

 

[satay]

I thought about it in the past, but it wouldn't work with the horses. Rusty is such a thoroughbred , he's out for at least a month after hurting himself on straight wire. Barb, star pickets and corrugated iron are definately not an option with horses.
Hey Lucas, my daughter held out on her price for the young horse and it looks like it may just pay off. A family from Victoria are flying in to look at him.

Yah that's great news

 

[satay]

What ever works so that you can keep them
I am like Satay I couldn't imagine NOT waking up to their crowing I think it's a glorious way to start the day, even if it is 4am lol
But I am also lucky, have massive acreage out the back, only 2 neighbours in relatively close proximity and they don't mind Thank goodness

Hubby says they crow at 3.30am when he goes to work and my mum says they crow all god darn night when she is up visiting lol She likes the sound though

 

[satay]

I thought about it in the past, but it wouldn't work with the horses. Rusty is such a thoroughbred , he's out for at least a month after hurting himself on straight wire. Barb, star pickets and corrugated iron are definately not an option with horses.
Hey Lucas, my daughter held out on her price for the young horse and it looks like it may just pay off. A family from Victoria are flying in to look at him.

I never knew that about horses and barbed wire until i moved out here.