BYC Café

[DobieLover]

Good morning, Cafe.
It's dreary here this morning.
I just sold 4 hens and feel like crap about it. I know I have to keep the numbers to within what my setup can comfortably hold and I already have my first broody but I don't like letting them go. I just keep telling myself that I'm helping someone else learn the joys of keeping chickens.
And just to make sure the gods of crappy days have been clear with me, Bella crapped on the deck.

 

[007Sean]

Good morning Cafe

Thanks for the coffee, Shad

Morning Cap, Tonya!

Cold front came through last night, 44°F here this morning, cloudy, wind 25mph outta the North. 1" of rain. Makes ya really miss the 90°F of last couple of weeks!

Everyone make it a great day!

 

[Shadrach]

Good morning, Cafe.
It's dreary here this morning.
I just sold 4 hens and feel like crap about it. I know I have to keep the numbers to within what my setup can comfortably hold and I already have my first broody but I don't like letting them go. I just keep telling myself that I'm helping someone else learn the joys of keeping chickens.
And just to make sure the gods of crappy days have been clear with me, Bella crapped on the deck.

Awww DL.
You've done a great job from a standing start. A lot better than I did when I started here.
If you are going to keep roosters with a flock and you are going to let hens sit and hatch it is inevitable that the flock population increases unless you have terrible predator problem.
I found I was left with three choices. One either eats the surplus, find homes for them, or let them go feral.

 

[Shadrach]

So maybe there's hope for Fabio yet...

What I've found is the males don't fully settle down until they are around two years old.

 

[DobieLover]

What I've found is the males don't fully settle down until they are around two years old.

Yay! Only three weeks left before he transforms into a good boy!!!

 

[Shadrach]

Yay! Only three weeks left before he transforms into a good boy!!!

Hang on, I didn't say a word about being good. It's quite possible to settle down as a recalcitrant. I know, I managed it.

 

[DobieLover]

Awww DL.
You've done a great job from a standing start. A lot better than I did when I started here.
If you are going to keep roosters with a flock and you are going to let hens sit and hatch it is inevitable that the flock population increases unless you have terrible predator problem.
I found I was left with three choices. One either eats the surplus, find homes for them, or let them go feral.

I think the guy felt a little bad for me. He could tell I wasn't quite happy about it and certainly not in it for the money. He was very nice and just wants to start raising chickens on the 30-acre farm he and his wife bought last year. He built a large chicken tractor. The girls will have some adjustments to make.
He texted me to let me know they have eaten and are puttering and scratching around in their new home. He has a lab that has been trained to ignore the daughters guinea pig and he will work on training her to ignore the chickens and keep her leashed when he first tries letting the chickens out of their confinement. I advised he wait at least a week as Sissy is a wanderer.
I sent him off with four hens, three of which Fabio has been over-mating. Poor Cali looks a fright because she is not only one of his favorites, she never molted. I gave him a spray can of 50 spf sunblock for Cali to get her through the summer without getting a sun burn. And gave him 3 dozen eggs.

 

[DobieLover]

Hang on, I didn't say a word about being good. It's quite possible to settle down as a recalcitrant. I know, I managed it.

Don't rain on my parade! Bella already crapped on my deck...
I don't really expect him to change much. I still like him even if he does hate me. I just don't like getting flogged. And bitten! Good thing he's only done that twice.
He's a great rooster and the girls love him. To see the difference in behavior the hens exhibit between Fabio and Cappy is pretty stark. Cappy still has failed to learn patience and the art of courtship. And he is constantly getting run off by Fabio. There are just a handful of girls who will submit to Cappy. The rest run screaming to Fabio. Cappy is all looks and ditzy as hell.

 

[Shadrach]

Don't rain on my parade! Bella already crapped on my deck...
I don't really expect him to change much. I still like him even if he does hate me. I just don't like getting flogged. And bitten! Good thing he's only done that twice.
He's a great rooster and the girls love him. To see the difference in behavior the hens exhibit between Fabio and Cappy is pretty stark. Cappy still has failed to learn patience and the art of courtship. And he is constantly getting run off by Fabio. There are just a handful of girls who will submit to Cappy. The rest run screaming to Fabio. Cappy is all looks and ditzy as hell.

I get frustrated with their behaviour more than anything else. I don't mind the assaults. Most of the time I can see why they've done it. But, about an hour ago Tackle came out of the matenity unit having laid an egg and got into full escort call mode. Then Hurry got of the nest in my house and joined in. Treacle got here pretty fast, but Tackle won't have anything to do with Treacle and neither will Hurry if she thinks she can get Cillin to pick her up.
The pair of them were in full shout mode for at least five minutes. Eventually Cillin appeared at the top of the roof and it all went quiet. Cillin just isn't very quick at responding.
I know he doesn't like to leave the rest of the tribe and getting them all to move with him is a major effort. But if he just rushed over and showed his face that would keep the noise level down.
Notch on the other hand is there in seconds for his hens. He doesn't have as many and they are better at staying grouped than the hens in Tribe 1.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Morning and thanks for the coffee. Sunny with a high near 40F today but it is cold right now.
Enjoy the day!