Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[draye]

To all the wise ones a question about a change in rooster dominance in the flock.

We have 65 pullet/hens and 7 roosters. Until mid December the roosters were with their hatch mates, 4 separate fenced/coop area. DH decided to open the areas, mixing all but those that fly over fencing and are independent of the others. (seven EE's, one BA pullet, one SLW pullet)

Naturally there were many adjustments to the pecking order, but the hens sorted it out quickly. Our SLW cockerel has decided that our big, gentle giant Buff Brahma cockerel is his arch enemy and has made his life miserable. We have tried to intervene only when it gets ugly, we have warned the SLW off, and put the SLW in a closed pen. Because it does not have a roof, he flies over and goes right back to where ever the Brahma is and attacks.

The past few days the Brahma has flown over the indoor fencing, and stayed in corners alone. He always chooses to be outside when that is possible, and always alone. Our CO, refuses to fight.

Until this happened the Brahma and two other cockerels share a coop with 29 hens, normal fussing, but no fighting and had quite a harem of pullets.

DH plans to build a covered breeding pen in the early spring, I was hoping to speed up that project and put the SLW cock with some pullets/hens in now. But thinking about what I have read I am not sure that I want aggressive offsprings of this cock.

Any wisdom?

Wanna keep the SLW in the pen? Clip one wing that will amke them unbalaced and cannot fly.
Thats what happens to any escapee from my pens.

 

[flocksalot]

I don't want to start an argument, but I would like to share a tip I learned as a child. When I was young I used to work for a lady that had anywhere from 100 to 600 layers at a time. When I would take care of the young groups she always told me to keep an eye on any young cocks that were roughing up the others or harassing the pullets/hens. If I saw any getting mean we should catch him and she would get rid of him (via the ol axe). Her reason was that she didn't want roosters that would torment other roosters or hens, as the next step was a human aggressive rooster. There was one that I missed or she missed, but he turned real mean. He went after my mother. Bad move dead rooster. I told my parents about the culling of overly frisky roos and my parents said well of course otherwise you risk a really mean rooster.

Anyway years go by and although I've only been raising meat birds my son wants egg layers, so we got some off of CL to start with. We received 6 hens and 4 roosters of unknown age. 2 of the roosters wouldn't let the other 2 even down for feed. One of the more timid ones was really messed up and would try to mate the other roosters. HE had to go! Of the other three I decided to keep the most timid as this is kind of what I had been taught. The 2 aggressive roosters saw the sharp end of an axe.

The rooster I did keep is now known as Rudy the Roo or Big Daddy. He is super as a rooster. He is very attentive to the hens and extremely protective (and very proud) of the little ones. He isn't overly rough on the young roosters, but will give them a smack down if they are tormenting a hen or another rooster. He has even protected his boys from each other. If there is a squabble Rudy comes running to put a stop to it. I've seen him run well over 800 feet just to put a stop to some fighting amongst the hens. He is great for taking out rats and always alerts the hens to danger. He has never attempted to become aggressive with us. He growled once at the farrier and after I yelled at him it never happened again. He is exactly what we wanted in a rooster.

In telling you all this I'm not trying to say that what any of you do is wrong. You know best what you want from each of your roosters. What I just wanted to point out is that the mild mannered (timid if you want) can turn out to be an exceptional rooster. A few years ago we got some RIR's and a cute little Lakenvelder roo came with. He chased the pullets as they grew and tormented the young roos that were twice his size. We kept him anyway. He would growl at us and eventually he attempted to spur me. I whipped him and he left me alone after that. My husband became his new tackling dummy. Smokey was a sneaky and fast little snot. One day he decided to pick a fight with one of Rudy's young boys, Larry. Larry killed him. Larry has never picked a fight with another rooster. He will run off young cocks, but he doesn't go looking for fights. He is as gentle as his pa. The other 13 roosters we have are pretty much the same even though none of the others are related to Rudy. Gentle or we ate em.

Just something to think about the next time your debating which rooster to keep. What do you want out of that rooster? Can he give it too you? You decide. It's all in what you want. I don't like unprovoked aggression.

By the way Rudy is a very lovely Wellsummer. We are unsure of his age, but we got him over 6 1/2 years ago.

 

[scottcaddy]

I don't want to start an argument, but I would like to share a tip I learned as a child. When I was young I used to work for a lady that had anywhere from 100 to 600 layers at a time. When I would take care of the young groups she always told me to keep an eye on any young cocks that were roughing up the others or harassing the pullets/hens. If I saw any getting mean we should catch him and she would get rid of him (via the ol axe). Her reason was that she didn't want roosters that would torment other roosters or hens, as the next step was a human aggressive rooster. There was one that I missed or she missed, but he turned real mean. He went after my mother. Bad move dead rooster. I told my parents about the culling of overly frisky roos and my parents said well of course otherwise you risk a really mean rooster.

Anyway years go by and although I've only been raising meat birds my son wants egg layers, so we got some off of CL to start with. We received 6 hens and 4 roosters of unknown age. 2 of the roosters wouldn't let the other 2 even down for feed. One of the more timid ones was really messed up and would try to mate the other roosters. HE had to go! Of the other three I decided to keep the most timid as this is kind of what I had been taught. The 2 aggressive roosters saw the sharp end of an axe.

The rooster I did keep is now known as Rudy the Roo or Big Daddy. He is super as a rooster. He is very attentive to the hens and extremely protective (and very proud) of the little ones. He isn't overly rough on the young roosters, but will give them a smack down if they are tormenting a hen or another rooster. He has even protected his boys from each other. If there is a squabble Rudy comes running to put a stop to it. I've seen him run well over 800 feet just to put a stop to some fighting amongst the hens. He is great for taking out rats and always alerts the hens to danger. He has never attempted to become aggressive with us. He growled once at the farrier and after I yelled at him it never happened again. He is exactly what we wanted in a rooster.

In telling you all this I'm not trying to say that what any of you do is wrong. You know best what you want from each of your roosters. What I just wanted to point out is that the mild mannered (timid if you want) can turn out to be an exceptional rooster. A few years ago we got some RIR's and a cute little Lakenvelder roo came with. He chased the pullets as they grew and tormented the young roos that were twice his size. We kept him anyway. He would growl at us and eventually he attempted to spur me. I whipped him and he left me alone after that. My husband became his new tackling dummy. Smokey was a sneaky and fast little snot. One day he decided to pick a fight with one of Rudy's young boys, Larry. Larry killed him. Larry has never picked a fight with another rooster. He will run off young cocks, but he doesn't go looking for fights. He is as gentle as his pa. The other 13 roosters we have are pretty much the same even though none of the others are related to Rudy. Gentle or we ate em.

Just something to think about the next time your debating which rooster to keep. What do you want out of that rooster? Can he give it too you? You decide. It's all in what you want. I don't like unprovoked aggression.

By the way Rudy is a very lovely Wellsummer. We are unsure of his age, but we got him over 6 1/2 years ago.

I like the way you think, and Rudy is one very nice sounding bird!

PS, have an egg of his for sale? <BG>

 

[Cass]

By the way Rudy is a very lovely Wellsummer. We are unsure of his age, but we got him over 6 1/2 years ago.

Do you hatch any eggs of hens he has bred? Is he still fertile? I have a roo I absolutely love...and he loves me....if roos are still fertile at 6+ years I will be soooo happy to keep him that long.

 

[Gypsi]

Glad the thread is still up! I've learned so much on here. And glad I didn't cook my hens, they are laying again.

 

[Mum]

Glad the thread is still up! I've learned so much on here. And glad I didn't cook my hens, they are laying again.

 

[flocksalot]

I like the way you think, and Rudy is one very nice sounding bird!

PS, have an egg of his for sale? <BG>

I have no idea how to ship an egg. Right now we are in some COLD weather and way to much snow if anyone would like some. I hate snow. The chickens love their greenhouse this time of year. It's not heated except for solar, but there's no snow and it's got lots of hay to eat.

Do you hatch any eggs of hens he has bred? Is he still fertile? I have a roo I absolutely love...and he loves me....if roos are still fertile at 6+ years I will be soooo happy to keep him that long.

Last summer we took eggs out of the fridge for Ezmeralda to hatch. They were all eggs from Rudy's older girls and his two younger daughters. 10 of the sixteen hatched. My son went a bit over board when giving her some eggs, but she did her best. I'm not unhappy at all with the hatchability of refrigerated eggs from old birds. We will see how well they do this summer.

 

[Cass]

I have no idea how to ship an egg. Right now we are in some COLD weather and way to much snow if anyone would like some. I hate snow. The chickens love their greenhouse this time of year. It's not heated except for solar, but there's no snow and it's got lots of hay to eat.

Last summer we took eggs out of the fridge for Ezmeralda to hatch. They were all eggs from Rudy's older girls and his two younger daughters. 10 of the sixteen hatched. My son went a bit over board when giving her some eggs, but she did her best. I'm not unhappy at all with the hatchability of refrigerated eggs from old birds. We will see how well they do this summer.

Thanks for the info.....I am so happy at the prospect of keeping my favorite roo for 6+ years

 

[CluckyChook]

Hello

I thank all of you for your advice.I have been pretty busy so have just signed in for the 1st time for a while. Your advice is great and has told me what I need to know in regards to my chook.

I wanted advice from experence and although the views were conflicting I totaly apreciate ALL of them, I lack the experience but I am not stupid.

Ist I wanted to figure out if she was an internal layer - weighing up your answers I am not convinced she is
2nd I wanted to know if any chook can survive this - I know from your answers she can't

I am not adverse to culling any chook, they are working animals after all, but I will give them every chance they have while they are still chooking about and looking happy.

So for an update....I have drenched the whole flock and about to start the 2nd part of this. She is less fluid filled than 10 days ago and she has gone back with the flock without any hassels, I treated her with some colidal of silver and the whole flock now have CS in there water also.(one waterer has CS and the other has ACT as every little helps) I can't feel any mass at all inside her, just fluid, she has firmer pooh but it's still not right and she dosn't smell as bad. For the moment she is happy,roosting OK, not being bullied and eating & drinking fine.

So here is my plan of action.....If she doesn't start laying in the next month, or takes a another turn for the worse, or the other chooks start to bully her (always a bad sign) shes history (she is cute but she is just a waste of food right now) I did concider giving her away as a back yard pet but for her welfare it's just not realistic.

I do not want advice on culling thanks I will check out utube and see what I can handle.

Thanks again for your colourful debate
Esther

 

[keenecowboy]

Can someone tell me the right size and height i should have for a roost.
How big, how wide, do they need the edges trimmed. How far off the ground should they be. Do they need a ramp to get to them?