Chicken Breed Focus Rhode Island Red

[Zackman23434]

When did your RIR start laying? Mine are 24 weeks today, and about half have changed combs

Mine are almost 18 weeks and all but one are waddled, combed, and red so I am expecting any day unless the fall screws them up.

 

[Zackman23434]

Also my cockerels started a new behavior today. It's a twist to what I have read about offering treats to hens. Technically it started with the Deleware cockerel yesterday and the Production RIR followed suit today. Anyways, I heard a funny gargle sound I had never heard before was coming from the deleware cockerel and at the same time I heard it the pullets ran to him quicker then I've ever seen them move as what ever this new noise was obviously meant COME HERE EAT THIS. I thought, Ah finally I'm seeing a gentlemen move I always hear about and he is gonna show them what he sees as a treat. I was excited because I have not seen any gentlemen behavior from a cockerel yet. Well it didn't take me long to figure out that the he was tricking the pullets into coming right to his feet so he could grab on to them(haven't seen successful mount yet). He was literally waking around making this call sound to any ole blade of grass in the yard. It's amazing how they instinctually figure this move out.

Today the Red Roo was doing the same thing which is funny because he either learned from watching the other or figured it out around the same time as the deleware. There was a big difference in their methods though which I found fascinating. The red roo was much more methodical about seemingly showing the hens exactly what it was with his head going back and forth to the hen and the fictional morsal he found. He was doing it so good that I still question if maybe he was actually showing them something he thought was good for them. He never tried to grab a hen either. He actually patiently did this trick a few different times within a couple minutes time before he unleashed his dance move. That was pretty much all that happened with the red. Just amazing social behavior and instincts to watch.

 

[cmom]

Also my cockerels started a new behavior today. It's a twist to what I have read about offering treats to hens. Technically it started with the Deleware cockerel yesterday and the Production RIR followed suit today. Anyways, I heard a funny gargle sound I had never heard before was coming from the deleware cockerel and at the same time I heard it the pullets ran to him quicker then I've ever seen them move as what ever this new noise was obviously meant COME HERE EAT THIS. I thought, Ah finally I'm seeing a gentlemen move I always hear about and he is gonna show them what he sees as a treat. I was excited because I have not seen any gentlemen behavior from a cockerel yet. Well it didn't take me long to figure out that the he was tricking the pullets into coming right to his feet so he could grab on to them(haven't seen successful mount yet). He was literally waking around making this call sound to any ole blade of grass in the yard. It's amazing how they instinctually figure this move out.

Today the Red Roo was doing the same thing which is funny because he either learned from watching the other or figured it out around the same time as the deleware. There was a big difference in their methods though which I found fascinating. The red roo was much more methodical about seemingly showing the hens exactly what it was with his head going back and forth to the hen and the fictional morsal he found. He was doing it so good that I still question if maybe he was actually showing them something he thought was good for them. He never tried to grab a hen either. He actually patiently did this trick a few different times within a couple minutes time before he unleashed his dance move. That was pretty much all that happened with the red. Just amazing social behavior and instincts to watch.

Are these your first cockerels? They are fascinating.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Most of mine started laying 20 to 26 weeks. There are exceptions. My Heritage RIR's generally start laying around 30 to 36 weeks. Usually in the fall after they have molted mine pick up laying. I'm in Florida so that may make a difference.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I don't know where these issues are but most of the time I hear about mean males from hatcheries. I hatch all of my birds so I interact with them daily. When I bathe my boys I'm taking to a show they are good with it.

 

[Zackman23434]

I don't know where these issues are but most of the time I hear about mean males from hatcheries. I hatch all of my birds so I interact with them daily. When I bathe my boys I'm taking to a show they are good with it.

There is probably a correlation here besides genetics. For example, I am brand new to chicken keeping. I bought from a hatchery as I had no idea what heritage breeds were or where to find them. So now I have a production Red. Couple that with my lack of experience with raising roosters would lead to a seemingly higher chance my bird could end up agressive due to my lack of experience or even jumping to a conclusion that a bird is agressive when a experienced chicken owner wouldn't.

I haven't had any issues but hopefully you can see what I mean. Basically less experienced first time chicken keepers are more likely to buy from a hatchery, and also have less knowledge on handiling roosters, which means your production and hatchery birds are most often owned by the new chicken keeper, so it possible this leads you to hear more stories of production bird aggression. Someone with loads of experience and know how is probably buying heritage birds or private breeder birds, not production hatchery birds. And they know how to raise a rooster right.

I know genetics do play a large role but I like thinking outside the box.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I don't know where these issues are but most of the time I hear about mean males from hatcheries. I hatch all of my birds so I interact with them daily. When I bathe my boys I'm taking to a show they are good with it.

that definitely makes sense, they seem to make production a priority. but wow that's awesome

 

[ShrekDawg]

There is probably a correlation here besides genetics. For example, I am brand new to chicken keeping. I bought from a hatchery as I had no idea what heritage breeds were or where to find them. So now I have a production Red. Couple that with my lack of experience with raising roosters would lead to a seemingly higher chance my bird could end up agressive due to my lack of experience or even jumping to a conclusion that a bird is agressive when a experienced chicken owner wouldn't.

I haven't had any issues but hopefully you can see what I mean. Basically less experienced first time chicken keepers are more likely to buy from a hatchery, and also have less knowledge on handiling roosters, which means your production and hatchery birds are most often owned by the new chicken keeper, so it possible this leads you to hear more stories of production bird aggression. Someone with loads of experience and know how is probably buying heritage birds or private breeder birds, not production hatchery birds. And they know how to raise a rooster right.

I know genetics do play a large role but I like thinking outside the box.

that makes a lot of sense

 

[shannonh]

I don't know where these issues are but most of the time I hear about mean males from hatcheries. I hatch all of my birds so I interact with them daily. When I bathe my boys I'm taking to a show they are good with it.

cmom hi, i hope your day is good I stoped in to talk to you about your rir. Can we chat some time

 

[faerlybair]

I am so glad we found this site. Thank you to everyone for all the information, good or bad

, it really does help.