Barred Rocks!!

[saraiquimby1]

My barred rock Cockrel! He's not too friendly lol but boy is he pretty. About 3 months old

 

[DesertChic]

My barred rock Cockrel! He's not too friendly lol but boy is he pretty. About 3 months old

Nice birds! My BR cockerel was super friendly when young, but became a bit too aggressive with me as he's aged to the point that I will probably have to cull him. He's really good about protecting and managing his flock though, which is why I've kept him for over 28 weeks despite the fact that he charges me nearly every time I enter the run. They grow to be beautiful, proud birds!

 

[slordaz]

When my old flocks roosters got like that tethering them for a bit seemed to stop that as had to take it down to the ground to do so, he behaved perfectly after that, the little Japanese one they gave me though where I bought my birds from didn't learn to behave around anybody so it was made into some chicken tamales lol. This time around just taking the broom with me though much less work to get same effect. there's some pretty simple things you can do if you discourage the behaviors as soon as they start.

 

[DesertChic]

When my old flocks roosters got like that tethering them for a bit seemed to stop that as had to take it down to the ground to do so, he behaved perfectly after that, the little Japanese one they gave me though where I bought my birds from didn't learn to behave around anybody so it was made into some chicken tamales lol. This time around just taking the broom with me though much less work to get same effect. there's some pretty simple things you can do if you discourage the behaviors as soon as they start.

Believe me, I've tried them. The support I get on this site is amazing and the suggestions poured in when I posted about my dilemma, but ultimately I just had to tie his feet so he can't run at me. But it makes it harder for him to protect the flock like that, so I'm going to cull him and replace him with another of my many roosters that is not only protective, but people friendly.

 

[slordaz]

sounds good to me, I am trying to figure out why one of my BR pullets seems to think I am for perching on anytime i go into the coop or run, she does have perch in the coop but not in the run

 

[DesertChic]

sounds good to me, I am trying to figure out why one of my BR pullets seems to think I am for perching on anytime i go into the coop or run, she does have perch in the coop but not in the run

She loves you! One of my BR girls follows me around the run until I sit down on a chair in there so she can sit on my lap to be pet. It's chicken love.

 

[slordaz]

hmm don't remember the hens from my last laying flock acting like that, did have one that thought she should be fed at the table with the rest of us though after following me around and sneaking into the house with one of the kids. Boy sge would get miffed when shoed outside to the coop lol

 

[slordaz]

Got a question for someone with more experience with barred rocks, about what age do they start laying?

Reason I am asking is I have pullets that are between probably 11-13 weeks old we are guessing but could be off as they had been put on hold then the people didn't pick them up, 2 of them are overly motherly to the younger ones but was cleaning the coop shelving yesterday and forgot to put the golf balls back on top of it so they got left in the upper nesting box over night and today when we went in noticed that there were covered up in straw. the top hen is one of the overly motherly, since this incident the top hen in pecking order has been beating up the meat chicks and chasing off the ducks, only ones she allows in the coop are the baby RIR's so she doesn't have to go out to defend them too, she isn't staying on the nest but staying close to coop which in unusual for her. these are hatchery chicks we brooded. At this time none are laying eggs currently.

 

[DesertChic]

Got a question for someone with more experience with barred rocks, about what age do they start laying?

Reason I am asking is I have pullets that are between probably 11-13 weeks old we are guessing but could be off as they had been put on hold then the people didn't pick them up, 2 of them are overly motherly to the younger ones but was cleaning the coop shelving yesterday and forgot to put the golf balls back on top of it so they got left in the upper nesting box over night and today when we went in noticed that there were covered up in straw. the top hen is one of the overly motherly, since this incident the top hen in pecking order has been beating up the meat chicks and chasing off the ducks, only ones she allows in the coop are the baby RIR's so she doesn't have to go out to defend them too, she isn't staying on the nest but staying close to coop which in unusual for her. these are hatchery chicks we brooded. At this time none are laying eggs currently.

Mine started laying at 18 weeks.

 

[slordaz]

does this mean though that she is getting close to laying or she is gonna be a brooder more than a layer when she is old enough, She is at the top of the pecking order of the chicks but has never terrified anyone of the chicks or ducks before today, we did move boxes around and pulled the golf balls out of the coop to see if this changed her attitude cause she's got like I said even a duckzilla scared of her right now and normally she is as sweet as can be, only ones she is tolerating are the really young chicks.

I don't want to have to isolate her really but if this is how she is going to act she will be, and allowed out for free ranging with the others. Don't know what else to do, so if you have any suggestions let me know please.