Australorps breed Thread

[ronott1]

Quote: That is a very good point! They do try out new foods, so I will keep giving them the re hydrated alfalfa and see if the start liking it more!

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Melabella,
I have seen this before with a young cockerel causing this because he is inexperienced. I have also noticed this with the lowest pecking order pullet that gets picked on by the other hens. I use bluecoat from TSC to stop the picking and for medicinal purposes. If you take her out and separate her it will only get worse with the pecking order thing when you put her back. If it starts bleeding then you are in real trouble with the "little dinosaurs", that's why I nip it in the bud with Bluecoat.

 

[Lobzi]

Oh Heck Geoff,, you had me for a few seconds there, I actually thought you took me seriously! Phew!

I love this latest post. I am sorry for your loss of your d'Uccle roo and girl. My father is gone now, and I feel awful my children never got to know him, your sons and wife are lucky to have you Geoff, I can tell.

I know this is looming out there in the future for me, predator loss, and dread the day I lose one, or more. I KNOW there is a huge fox den in the 5 acre property right next to mine. I have seen one opening of the den on my ride out with my horses. When I first got Jackson, I would walk him the 300 ft out to it, and have him mark right outside of it. I even did what I read one should do, had all three of my sons pee into jar, and poured it liberally all around and even a bit down it. (I hope you all aren't laughing at me out there in BA world) I am not sure why he hasn't come to check out the girls, could Jack just be enough of a deterrent? One day a few weeks ago, I went to this particular neighbors house to give them a fresh dozen eggs, ( they are weekenders who come up from NYC to enjoy the quiet of Upstate NY), and while I was talking to the woman of the house, I saw him, the fox, heading away from my property, from his den hole (not the urine drop hole) on the other side of their property. He was HUGE, and I would call him beautiful if he wasn't my biggest fear for my girls.
As I said, 6 months in to owning chickens, I am surprised that I haven't lost one yet.

I have a question for all you experienced Roo keepers here pertaining to my Columbian Wyandotte Roo Duke.

So in constantly assessing Duke and trying to learn here, read what qualities a good roo is about, I am always watching. I imagine the most important thing a roo can do for his flock is of course, keeping watch and protection. In this respect, Duke seems to be quite proficient, he is always on the lookout. On another front, I have noticed as Duke climbs aboard his ladies, he is using biting their necks seemingly to help in him getting them to submit, and also for balance. I notice a few times that some feathers come along with it, and a few of the girls have started this bare spot thing to the right of their combs, starting down their necks. One of my BA's Dahlia (Is that not just a great name for a BA, as in Black Dahlia?) has really been getting a horrible bares spot, that in this weather, has been very cracked and red, and dry. I have been worried that blood would come, and then we'd have a real problem.
Here is not the greatest picture but it's the best I could do holding her and the camera at the same time.

I was able to get her away from Duke yesterday, and cleaned it up a bit, then covered the entire area with some NuStock.


I really tried to massage it on to the bare, dry cracked skin. I now noticed smaller similar spots starting on two other girls.

Question being, do all roosters do this kind of stuff when mounting hens. I remember discussion on another thread about a roo that does damage to his hens being a culpable offense. I have learned a lot since discovering that I had a missexed roo from my hatchery order, and now see a lot of the good points to having a roo, but in trying to figure out if Duke is indeed one I want to have around, if this keeps happening, should it be something I don't want to have around the girls? Is mating something he will get more proficient at, and eventually stop doing this?

Any thoughts and replies are greatly appreciated!

MB

One of my roos did worse damage to a hen of mine. He scalped her down to the skull. It too time but she grew skin and then feathers back. She had paralysis issues that prevented her from getting away from him and I got to her too late to prevent the damage. Needless to say I was just sick that my favorite roo would do this but he was incredible jealous of my showing attention to other birds. Obviously because of her paralysis I often pick her up and moved her to different place. He must have noted that and when he had the chance he did the damage. Yours will recover just fine.

That was her with the skin grown back



This is right after the incident

 

[DeesHens]

Hi Dee

I will anxiously await your photos! When I recently decided to get australorps, I was only interested in eggs and homesteading. After seeing different breeders' birds on this forum, I have become interested in the SOP myself. This is not a place where you should feel that you have to be in lock step with everyone. BYC seems to have people of all walks of life, with all kinds of reasons for keeping chickens, including pets. There is a place on BYC where a person can get pretty much whatever they want. I suppose that everything a person says can be taken a number of ways, depending on what the viewer is looking for, be it a fight, or someone to agree with. I really don't worry too much about that. As a beginner I'm here to learn and to enjoy meeting and talking with other chicken owners. You have fun with your birds and spoil them rotten! Don't forget to post those photos.

Dan

Hi Dan.
I have very much appreciated your presence on this thread. You have a way of encouraging others and putting things in perspective. I very much do appreciate your attitudes along with your humor. I think you have a very healthy view of BYC. Your honesty is engaging so you shouldn't be surprised if you become a very popular member.

I have found the BA breeders on this thread to be outstanding folks and have been so thankful to learn so much from them about BA's. I am eager to learn more and share my BA experience here too. Getting so impatient for my chick pick up date. All the sweeter when it arrives. ~Dee~

 

[DeesHens]

They are shipped from Privett Hatchery to our Co-Op. It will be interesting to see what I end up with at any rate. I plan to hand raise my girls as egg laying pets and will spoil them as I do all my pets. It's just how I roll. Cannot wait! I will post pics when I get them. ~Dee~


Please do post pics Dee!! Most hatchery Aussies seem to be closer to standard than most other hatchery breeds, and Privett has some of the better ones. I have had birds from Privett and they were great!! Cemented my thoughts on keeping Aussies. .......stan

You can't know how excited I am to hear that Stan. I hope my chicks will be healthy layers above anything else. If they are great looking too I will be so happy. Thanks so much for sharing that.

Yes. I will post pics on day 1. Only 31 days to go... ~Dee~

 

[DeesHens]

Hey folks,
Dan's right, he and I were just having some fun! I wasn't objecting to the fence or dog talk. If fencing's not a BA topic, none of us'll have 'em long! We share some predators as well as each having unique problems. Sometimes I think I'd better try to reign in my Aussie sense of humor as it may not 'translate'. Sorry to Kurt and others who may have thought I was serious.
Cheers Geoff from Aus

No worries here Geoff. I get your humor and enjoy it very much. You are an outstanding member here and I always miss you when you need to be away. I learn so much from you and feel very fortunate you have spent so much time here sharing your knowledge. Cheers ~Dee~

 

[DeesHens]

mu Australorp has green, blue and purple sheen...she is so pretty when the sun catches her feathers

That is a great pic capturing her colors. Very beautiful! Thanks so much for posting your pic. Enjoyed it! ~Dee~

 

[DeesHens]

Quote: So sorry for your loss. Oh gosh yes Geoff. That is how I felt when the raccoons got my BR last fall. But I am feeling some satisfaction knowing the raccoons will get zapped by the electric wire waiting for them. Heard something squill the other night but not really sure if it was a coon or a deer. LOL I am still cursing those raccoons as they just hang around waiting. Guess we get even when we prevent their dinner plans. We haven't seen any fox around but will keep your special light in mind if they move in. Feeling good my BA's will have a safe area. (staying on subject

) ~Dee~

 

[groche]

Hi folks,
halfway through a post and lost it during a BYC update. Bugger! Can't have been important, eh? Dan, the foxes we have are the same as yours and arrived with the same English 'gentlemen' empire-builders. They brought them so they could don their red suits, mount their steeds and set after the fox with a pack of dogs! I'm not anti-hunting, especially of introduced pests, but I'd like to feed whoever brought foxes here to my chooks! They are by far our worst predators , although we have a few unique ones, like the goanna, a 2m.+ lizard!
Ron, you know why your birds aren't taking to the rehydrated, chaffed alfalfa. You virtually told us, mate! I said I used it as a green feed sub. when there wasn't green pick available. You offering the choice between it and the lovely stuff you're getting, is a bit of a 'no-brainer'! Apologies to any vegetarians, but Ron, if you were offered a choice between hamburger pattie and rib-eye steak............?? But, if you hadn't had meat for a while, that pattie could start to look quite tasty.
Cheers Geoff

 

[ronott1]

Hi folks,
halfway through a post and lost it during a BYC update. Bugger! Can't have been important, eh? Dan, the foxes we have are the same as yours and arrived with the same English 'gentlemen' empire-builders. They brought them so they could don their red suits, mount their steeds and set after the fox with a pack of dogs! I'm not anti-hunting, especially of introduced pests, but I'd like to feed whoever brought foxes here to my chooks! They are by far our worst predators , although we have a few unique ones, like the goanna, a 2m.+ lizard!
Ron, you know why your birds aren't taking to the rehydrated, chaffed alfalfa. You virtually told us, mate! I said I used it as a green feed sub. when there wasn't green pick available. You offering the choice between it and the lovely stuff you're getting, is a bit of a 'no-brainer'! Apologies to any vegetarians, but Ron, if you were offered a choice between hamburger pattie and rib-eye steak............?? But, if you hadn't had meat for a while, that pattie could start to look quite tasty.
Cheers Geoff

Perfectly stated Sir!

They are holding out for the good stuff!