Backyard flock near Homer, AK

[BlindLemonChicken]

Is the Salty Dog still there? I have spent some time in Alaska and look forward to hearing about how your little flock handles the winter! They don't have the snowbird option I exercised lol

 

[Kenneth Zweerink]

Welcome to BackYard Chickens. Thank's for sharing the picture's. Your Rooster's are Beautiful ! And a Big Hello from Eastern Nebraska !

 

[Grammy60]

Hello and welcome to BYC

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Fuchsia]

Hello
Welocome to BYC! I’m glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. I believe our very good member Alaskan, also lives in Homer.

 

[cmom]

You will find a lot of good information here Good luck with your birds and have fun...

 

[Grizzly Bird]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Your birds are beautiful but the cockerels will eventually start making life miserable for the pullets. It's best to have a plan B for when that happens and most of the boys need to exit stage left.

I was thinking that from the start and planned on eating the others and only keeping my favorite. But when I only ended up with two hens, now I need the boys to create warmth in the coop. They also have great personality and instinct so I’ll probably move them to a bachelor pad or sell them. I keep wondering when they’ll start harassing the ladies. Their little talons are starting to come in and their second set of tail feathers have just grown in.

 

[DobieLover]

now I need the boys to create warmth in the coop

They won't. You don't want a warm coop; you want warm chickens. Chickens do not keep each other warm. They keep themselves warm. You need lots of ventilation in the coop all year round and it must be kept as dry as possible with no drafts on the roosted birds. Birds will roost closer to each other in cold weather and it will help a little to stay warmer but it is not necessary. Sending them to roost with stuffed to the brim crops (with their regular diet) also helps keep them warm as digesting food overnight generates body heat.
If your cockerels have good personalities, try re-homing them. I'd start now as it takes a long time to find someone to take them. I advertise my cockerels on local and regional FB poultry groups and CL and ask $5 but refuse the money when I find a good home. That's all I want for them.

 

[Grizzly Bird]

Is the Salty Dog still there? I have spent some time in Alaska and look forward to hearing about how your little flock handles the winter! They don't have the snowbird option I exercised lol.

They won't. You don't want a warm coop; you want warm chickens. Chickens do not keep each other warm. They keep themselves warm. You need lots of ventilation in the coop all year round and it must be kept as dry as possible with no drafts on the roosted birds. Birds will roost closer to each other in cold weather and it will help a little to stay warmer but it is not necessary. Sending them to roost with stuffed to the brim crops (with their regular diet) also helps keep them warm as digesting food overnight generates body heat.
If your cockerels have good personalities, try re-homing them. I'd start now as it takes a long time to find someone to take them. I advertise my cockerels on local and regional FB poultry groups and CL and ask $5 but refuse the money when I find a good home. That's all I want for them.

Cheers for the tips. Around what age/stage would you estimate my Icie males would start harassing the ladies? And what would harassment look like? They are six months now and a fairly cohesive team.