California - Northern

[TheKeeper]

Its a nice name for every type of leakage on one bird lol. Fezzik is likely fireflys son.

Big breeders HATE the name but its popular with pet chickens cause it looks so spectacular.

When he was little he glowed blue and red. He got pecked in the head as a juvie and got sever wry neck. Needed vits and hand feeding for 3 weeks and then went to a pet home with just 2 chickens.

Then he was a boy.... and came home!

I think the surviving the hard peck as a vaulted scull juvie means he is passing on strong genes and is not prone to meningitis. All his chicks have been nice and strong.

Fezzik!

My sweet boy

 

[caychris]

The training guide says to get a short stick walk right up to him and immediately tap him on the head. If he goes at you, do it again and again until he runs away.

Make sure that the stick is not going to hurt him. I did this with a little roo and he is scared of me now. No more biting.

No stick but that exactly what I did with my hand. I also put my hand over his head like a falcon hood for about a minute while I had him in the football grip.

He wasnt exactly coming after me I was trying to approach him. Nothing serious but the Pitas dont do it. I just think he is a little insecure really. Its really odd there are virtually no squabbles when they are in the coop but let them outside to run around and everyone has to posture. My hens did this too at these ages. I think its an age thing. And especially being near the bigger hens they might be trying to show off a bit.

 

[casportpony]

@TheKeeper , he's cute!

-Kathy

 

[DoubleMM]

No stick but that exactly what I did with my hand. I also put my hand over his head like a falcon hood for about a minute while I had him in the football grip.

He wasnt exactly coming after me I was trying to approach him. Nothing serious but the Pitas dont do it. I just think he is a little insecure really. Its really odd there are virtually no squabbles when they are in the coop but let them outside to run around and everyone has to posture. My hens did this too at these ages. I think its an age thing. And especially being near the bigger hens they might be trying to show off a bit.

I've notice the squabbles in the runs. Saw the same when I moved a group to a new coop and run. First week in the coop everything was fine, even with new birds introduced the evening of the move. Week later let them into the new run area, hackle feathers, stare-offs, chest bumps, etc.

I think it's "King of the Hill" , chicken version.

 

[tridentk9]

I really only have to worry about how my chickens gets along and how hard I have to work with them. Neither eggs, meat nor show are their main purpose. I was having a hard time getting a couple of them to go in their pen and decided it was time they left.

Now I have two groups; the flock I'll keep and the ones leaving. I started a few weeks ago separating stay and go groups. Then I tried the go group one at a time back in with the stay group. Nope, you go!

The stay group has blossomed without the stress of the "troublemakers".

I'm sure I'll have to readjust later in their life. But for now it works.

Sigh, I heard someone in the stay pen try to crow today. The go pen is already 3 cockerels, 1 pullet. So much for buying all pullets.

 

[chiqita]

I really only have to worry about how my chickens gets along and how hard I have to work with them. Neither eggs, meat nor show are their main purpose. I was having a hard time getting a couple of them to go in their pen and decided it was time they left.

Now I have two groups; the flock I'll keep and the ones leaving. I started a few weeks ago separating stay and go groups. Then I tried the go group one at a time back in with the stay group. Nope, you go!

The stay group has blossomed without the stress of the "troublemakers".

I'm sure I'll have to readjust later in their life. But for now it works.

Sigh, I heard someone in the stay pen try to crow today. The go pen is already 3 cockerels, 1 pullet. So much for buying all pullets.

How did they sex em?

 

[tridentk9]

How did they sex em?

I didn't ask. I thought they had experience.

 

[chiqita]

I didn't ask. I thought they had experience.

I keep a list of anecdotal failures of sexing methods when people start talking about how good wing sexing dangling legs spur bumoing etc..etc..etc... are.

It annoys me when people sell them sexed and get what your getting!

 

[fowlman01]

Unless the chicks are coming from a hatchery, it is a gamble on the accuracy of sexing. Most backyard "breeders" have no idea how to sex chicks. Vent sexing is the most accurate, but very few know how to do it.

Walt

 

[tridentk9]

LOL- they are from a hatchery. I just don't know how experienced the person was who picked out my chicks. Or if they didn't read the order and shipped straight run. Out of 13 live chicks it looks like 4 or 5 will be cockerels. Plus the extra was a cockerel.

I know how invested breeders of any species can be in the end result of their hard work and planning. I didn't want to disappoint a breeder if I messed up or decided chickens, my dogs and this house didn't work well together. If all goes well, next year I get to decide on a breeder.