California - Northern

[ronott1]

The eggs from my 4 Blue Egg layers were:

44G, 45G and 47G. At the rate they are going up in size they will be in the Medium range(50G) next week.

 

[Nikon]

Anyone have isbar chickens available?

MissMolly and and DebsFlock have Isbars.

 

[Chickengirl1304]

MissMolly and and DebsFlock have Isbars.

Ok thanks

 

[Hangtown Farms]

The petting of the babies? The dead tell no tales.....

well that probably was not the best thing to do

Ya think?

Yup, that's my place. Can't miss it if you turn onto Old Outingdale - ya gotta turn right or left to visit the other five houses on the road.

Yesterday I sold two dozen eggs to Fairplay Hardware (hardware and some groceries for folks who don't want to drive to the Mt Aukum General store) and the owner will buy any I can supply him. He has three other egg suppliers with small backyard flocks, but everybody seems to be suffering from molt and don't have many to sell. He only pays two bucks a dozen, which is a dollar less than I charge other customers.... But those are few and far between. This will be regular sales. I am pretty pleased.

Fairplay Hardware is just about halfway between my place and the new property on Omo Ranch Road, so once the majority of the flock is established at the new location I will be driving past the hardware store at least twice a day. Easy egg delivery "route."

Plus, The Pub in Fairplay is across the street from Fairplay Hardware. I've become one of the "locals" hanging out there several times a week for afternoon meals ....and a nice mug o' beer. (I like an India Pale Ale brewed in Sacramento, called "Rubicon.")

I am a Jack Russell Brewery Guy

Anyone have an article about mean roosters and what their behavior looks like versus normal manly chicken behavior?

Yeah they are mean lol and generally around here publicly disposed of as a example to other wanna be mean roosters

Thanks Jason!!

Just think everyone should no there rights thats all

 

[Nikon]

i'm convinced eggs stay cleaner with shavings than with straw -- my neighbors have straw in their nesting boxes and their eggs are always a bit grungier than mine. but maybe they just have messy chickens.

Quote:

Twice most of the shavings were on the coop floor in the sand instead of the nest box. The last couple days though someone has been in there, but the shavings are still where they should be, as is the wooden egg. If i can get away with it I think I'll keep using the shavings, but if they decide to fling it all over maybe I'll try mixing it as someone else suggested with straw too.

Can't say enough how much I love my NorCal thread chicken family! Thanks as always!

 

[Nikon]

No, but I can give you some tips, as I have had a mean one. (notice I said HAD)

A sideways stance with one shoulder higher than the other is one of the first clues he's challenging you.
Picking up small rocks and dropping them - this happens in close proximity to you.
Wing dancing you is a no-no. That's where one wing goes to the ground and he makes a little circle near or around you. (he thinks you are one of his hens, and thus beneath him)
Facing you with his head down and neck feathers flared. This is a major challenge of dominance.

Lastly, a full flogging. It happens faster than you can blink. I've been hit as high as hip level, and I'm 5'8" tall. And it hurts like heck.



Normal behavior:

I walk through, not around my roosters - they yield to me, not me to them.

A watchful stance nearby, but not challenging. Just erect and on alert to protect the hens. (usually with crowing) I have been charged at a time or two by picking up a hen and she squawked. They will come running to protect their girl. One barnie boy that was the sweetest ever, did bite me once on the hand for picking up a hen to check on her. She squawked and he came through the pop door and lashed out at the first thing he saw, which was my hand. I've been attacked much worse by a broody hen for daring to pick up her chick. (trying to help it figure out the ramp back into the coop.

Awesome! Thanks! Our OE rooster got my big toe a couple days ago for no apparent reason and then a few mins later grabbed the hubby's hand. He pushed him down into a squat and held him there until he quit struggling. Hope that was the right thing to do. Other than that we've had no problems with our 3 roosters.

How about the same question but rooster to hen normal and acceptable behavior versus problem/ mean behavior?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yes, that was the right thing to do.

Rooster to hen is a bit trickier as young cockerels don't have the best manners. They will mate a pullet that is squawking and fighting if they can. With my adult roosters, the hens don't put up a fight, they will submi willingly for them.

The only behavior I will never allow in my flock is gang mating. Thankfully, I've never experienced it in my flocks. If you see multiple cockerels pinning down 1 pullet, this is really bad behavior and they can injure/kill the pullet.

It's also a requirement in my flocks that the roosters are good with babies. I have babies most of the year, and I don't want any issues. I caught my blue barnevelder rooster bringing a grape leaf to one of my broody hens, so she could feed it too her babies. It was so sweet. My roosters will guard the babies, or broodies and their babies, so others don't bother them.

 

[lawatt]

home again, and have gotten my Rcom set up for incubating -- took a photo of the isbar eggs first in their carton, so here they are:


the eggs are a bit on the small side, but a really lovely range of mossy green, minty green, and a light turquoise.

and Maggie the survivor-of-the-bobcat basque is still alive, standing and walking around verrrrrry sllllloowwwwwly -- and seems to be breathing through her mouth, in quiet not-quite-gasps-or-gulps, but not normal. not sure what might be causing that. still not sure she will make it, but alive 48 hours later is an accomplishment.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Have you caught her yet? She might still be in shock.

 

[Chickengirl1304]

Do bears eat chickens?