Chicken Myths/Rumors: True or False, Please Share!

[alwaystj9]

I thought the shaving issue was about baby chicks filling up on shavings instead of feed...I grew up using shavings as bedding for every animal I ever owned. Usually just bought whatever flavor was cheaper. Except the tortoise - shavings didn't do well for the tortoise.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Myth: Two roosters put together will always fight to the death.
T/F: False
Story: I have like 7 roosters who never fight. Worse they'll do is kick each other off a hen.

I always try to have two roosters, and one is always older and dominant, the younger kind of hangs back and has a smaller group of hens. I don't see any fighting, just that occasionally the older one fluffy up at the younger to remind him to keep his distance. I have 20 hens and that's too many for one roo to keep rounded up when free-ranging.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My theory -- pure speculation -- is that their hormones are telling them to seek out nests and that the general restlessness fostered by those instincts leads them to look outside the fence

That's a good theory. Mine did not start escaping until they got in the habit of free-ranging. So my theory is they enjoy the goodies and/or freedom they get beyond the fences.

I started with the primaries on one wing. He got out.
Both wings. He got out.
The secondaries on one wing. He got out.
Both wings. He got out.

Hmm. Maybe he's not flying out, have you seen him do so? Maybe he's climbing out or has found a hole to creep through?

 

[troyer]

I always try to have two roosters, and one is always older and dominant, the younger kind of hangs back and has a smaller group of hens. I don't see any fighting, just that occasionally the older one fluffy up at the younger to remind him to keep his distance. I have 20 hens and that's too many for one rooster to keep rounded up when free-ranging.

Plus, if you hatch to replenish the flock you keep better genetic diversity by keeping two roosters.

Hmm. Maybe he's not flying out, have you seen him do so? Maybe he's climbing out or has found a hole to creep through?

I've had chickens do that. They flap their wings really hard, climb up the fence and jump out. My fences were all six feet tall.

 

[Painted Calls]

Yep but somebody gonna chime in about how their great granny's uncle sue made his chickens snort a line of it 3 times daily and they laid 4 eggs a day because of it. They put 3 shots of ACV in the chickens water and now they do college calculus.

You're my new favorite person on here.

 

[SheaLoner]

Myth: If you butcher a chicken within eye-view of another chicken, they will become aggressive
Wherabouts: I read it somewhere on BYC (I believe there was a discussion on it)
True/false: False

I wish they would be disturbed and even scared by watchng butcher day. I have to keep chasing them out of the gut bucket or chase them off the ones bleeding out. Voracious little dinos.

 

[3KillerBs]

That's a good theory. Mine did not start escaping until they got in the habit of free-ranging. So my theory is they enjoy the goodies and/or freedom they get beyond the fences.


Hmm. Maybe he's not flying out, have you seen him do so? Maybe he's climbing out or has found a hole to creep through?

Well, he's under lockdown with Avian Flu in the state -- no uncovered pens -- so it's a moot point now.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Someone once told me that they had 4 hens and got over a dozen eggs a day. I didn't ask how this was. I had no intention of continuing a conversation with crazy.

 

[-Shade-]

Myth: All males are human agressive
True/False: False
Evidence: I have over 2 dozen males that, while not cuddlebugs, are certainly not human aggressive

I agree. I have a head rooster named Pepper who I raised from a chick. I left him alone during his adolescent phase and after about a year he was okay with being picked up and now he loves being snuggled and comes to the back door almost every day to beg for treats.

 

[-Shade-]

Some chickens are really good at math.
True, I have a hen that balances my checkbook.
Full disclosure: It is easy for her since I rarely use checks now days....but still pretty impressive.

That's amazing. Your chicken is genius.