California - Northern

[Audio51]

Quote:
There was never a question about keeping this one once I knew she would survive. There was a point early on when I almost put her down because I didn't think she would make it and didn't want her to suffer. She has done very well and my Grandson loves her. Once they get a coop set up she will going to live there. I think I finally figured out what caused the injury though. The secure part of the pen I between our shed and back fence. My husband had planted grapevines before we put the pen in but the one at the corner near the exit would have prevent us from fully enclosing that part of the pen so we cut it down low enough that we could get the wire in place and left the stump. I went out a few days ago to let them out of the pen and when I opened the door, everyone ran out...except on who just stood there. I looked closer to see why it had not run out and it had it's leg stuck in the deep-V where the 2 trunks of the grapevine came together and the base. Ironically...it was another blue Ameraucana that looks identical to Stubby but is much younger.....about the same ago Stubby was when she was injured. Needless to say...the grapevine was removed as soon as I freed her and she does not seem to have any lasting injury....

Pulled the egg/chick switcharoo tonight. It went smoothly. We'll see what I wake up to.

What I did discover was my cockerel snuggled down beside the nest boxes rather than roosting with the one non-broody hen. He watched me as I made the substitutions, but didn't seem overly concerned.

I hope he doesn't tell what you did.....

Haven't opened up the coop yet, but I can hear lots of happy sounding clucking from inside. *fingers crossed*

Hurry...tell us what happened!

 

[HighStreetCoop]

No dead chicks! Just happy clucking mommas in a big hen pile with chicks climbing all over and under them. My non broody has carved out her own nest spot in the coop, which is sliiiiightly worrisome. Really hope the chicks aren't tipping her over into wanting her own, LOL! Roo keeps going up to check on everyone and coming back out to talk to me about it.

 

[fowlman01]

I talked with GFF and they said of all their Marans varieties the Wheaten were the best tempered. I'm wondering if that's true of Wheaten/Blue Wheaten in other breeds also? We have a Blue Wheaten Ameraucana that is absolutely the best temperament toward her flockmates - she doesn't retaliate chest-bumping, will avoid conflict at all costs, submits to her Silkie flockmates even though she is twice bigger. She doesn't bully, is not pushy at feed/treats time, and carries on conversations with us humans. Though most chickens are not fond of human petting/handling she is very relaxed when we hold her or pet her. She's not interested in flock politics but is an excellent guardian/sentinel - while others sleep at roost she will awaken to check on nighttime noises.

Deciding how each breed behaves based on its breed name only is not very accurate. If you get a breed from one source they will probably all behave the


same way, but different strains of the same breed can behave in an entirely different way. As an example......a RIR of one strain can be a sweetheart, but one from another strain can be a terror. Because you hear that a breed/variety is calm and nice......that does not mean the same breed from someone else will be calm nice.

Good or bad behavior is strain specific and inherited.......there are some exceptions, but very few.

Walt

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Well, Venetia and Phoebe have stolen all the chicks from poor Babs (aka broody #1). I guess if she doesn't manage to reclaim any and remains firmly in the nesting box I'll have to get her a couple more next week.

 

[ronott1]

Haven't opened up the coop yet, but I can hear lots of happy sounding clucking from inside. *fingers crossed*

I hope you have lots of chicks soon.

 

[Ponyfeather]

Any tips on rooster rehomeing? What I was hoping was a pullet I think might be turning into a rooster. Comb is pink and starting of little pink wattles at not even 5 weeks. There goes my replacement house chicken...

Wish I could keep him I think he'll be a nice friendly one his dad is the most laid back roo and part silkie.

 

[Audio51]

No dead chicks! Just happy clucking mommas in a big hen pile with chicks climbing all over and under them. My non broody has carved out her own nest spot in the coop, which is sliiiiightly worrisome. Really hope the chicks aren't tipping her over into wanting her own, LOL! Roo keeps going up to check on everyone and coming back out to talk to me about it.

Woo Hoo!!! Have you counted them yet??

Quote: Agreed, Walt! Just like any other kind of animal...dogs, cats, etc. Even Golden Retrievers can be aggressive. I wouldn't have believed it, but when I was a Vet Tech we had one that the owner had to muzzle even before he got it out of the car to bring into the Hospital...

Well, Venetia and Phoebe have stolen all the chicks from poor Babs (aka broody #1). I guess if she doesn't manage to reclaim any and remains firmly in the nesting box I'll have to get her a couple more next week.

LOL!!! Poor Babs!

Any tips on rooster rehomeing? What I was hoping was a pullet I think might be turning into a rooster.

Comb is pink and starting of little pink wattles at not even 5 weeks. There goes my replacement house chicken...

Wish I could keep him I think he'll be a nice friendly one his dad is the most laid back roo and part silkie.

I think rehoming roosters is mostly a matter of luck and timing! And what you expect of the new owner. If you o not want him to end up in the stew pot, that can make it harder. I usually post them on the 530 Poultry group in Facebook. Hope you find the right home for him.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

The chicks are now basically free ranging between all three hens. Venetia is kind of being a butt. She pecks at them when they wander by, but when she realizes she doesn't have any, she goes and nudges the other hens aside trying to reclaim some.

 

[Scovy Momma]

Any tips on rooster rehomeing? What I was hoping was a pullet I think might be turning into a rooster.

Comb is pink and starting of little pink wattles at not even 5 weeks. There goes my replacement house chicken...

Wish I could keep him I think he'll be a nice friendly one his dad is the most laid back roo and part silkie.

If he needs a home, I could have a mellow house rooster

 

[Ponyfeather]

I think rehoming roosters is  mostly a matter of luck and timing!  And what you expect of the new owner.   If you o not want him to end up in the stew pot, that can make it harder.  I usually post them on the 530 Poultry group in Facebook.  Hope you find the right home for him.

I'd rather no stew pot, at least at this point if it turns into a punk I'll be less likely to be bothered about that happening. I don't think he'd make a great meal his dad is some silky mix maybe 4 pounds at most counting all his mass amount of feathers. But thanks, I'll be check with a friend of the family before I post him anywhere to tiny to be sent off right now not even 5 weeks old. I have sometime, I'd just keep him but it is illegal here, not that it is upheld. But my dad is like no rooster.

Hopefully someone might want him for a back yard flock. His dad is super quiet and very gentle but protective of his hena. No attacking people type.