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

[Ridgerunner]

Nothing useful to add but it just slays me how often I read Symptom: Death - when looking at chicken diseases. How very useful.

If you are talking about one chicken, yeah. But if you have a flock that is sick and you are trying to figure out what is going one, knowing if some are dying or none are dying might help narrow it down.

 

[ejb3810]

An editorial comment that probably will not be much appreciated here. I almost didn't post this thinking what's the use? I have not viewed this thread in some time until just now. I have gone back a few pages and determined that the majority of initial over 20 year contributors seem to be gone, and that the majority of entries have reverted to idle comments and the like. Initially this was by far the best thread on BYC. It is remarkable how so many people have to say something just to have done so.

 

[flocksalot]

An editorial comment that probably will not be much appreciated here. I almost didn't post this thinking what's the use? I have not viewed this thread in some time until just now. I have gone back a few pages and determined that the majority of initial over 20 year contributors seem to be gone, and that the majority of entries have reverted to idle comments and the like. Initially this was by far the best thread on BYC. It is remarkable how so many people have to say something just to have done so.

 

[Beekissed]

Great post! Very insightful and well spoken.

I know many of the OTs have left the thread and even have left the forum since the change. I like the thread to stay true, if I can get it, but I know it cannot because of lack of OT participation and lack of common sense of others. All one has to do is read the first post and it explains the tenor of this thread....if you have practical, common sense advice to give, give it~but please indicate how long you have been raising chickens so that someone can get a feel for how long you have put that into practice and gauge the method and results based on consistency of methodology.

If a method works for you but you've only had flocks for 1-2 years, then it may have validity but it may also not stand the test of time. For someone who only wants to raise chickens for a few years, it may indeed work and that's okay too...they can then use the advice knowing it may work for the duration of their husbandry efforts. It may last for longer and it may not...and that is their own risk as mileage may vary.

Speaking of myself, I've tried all kinds of different things the last few years that my ancestors didn't know or try...nothing major that changes the standard practices we've used for many years, but still valuable additions or methods that I plan to incorporate into my husbandry. Just the little things that I've tried and found useful. Did those things all come from the advice of OTs? Some of them but not all.

Everything we learn is somewhat useful...even if we don't use it.



Sideline: I am doing a new meaty batch this spring but I won't have one of my trusty broodies to help me so it ought to be interesting. I'm getting 40-50 chicks. I'm going to construct a cattle panel, portable coop structure to accommodate the chicks, grow out the birds(they will free range) and then it will be converted into a coop suitable for laying hens. The only wood I will use in this structure will be the wood framing at the base and the roosts. Should be interesting and I'll take some pics of the progress if anyone is interested. I'll start a new thread for all that.

 

[JK Farm]

Edited/Deleted: After I hit post I realized how much of a nutcase I sounded like.

Just ignore me. =)

 

[fowlman01]

An editorial comment that probably will not be much appreciated here. I almost didn't post this thinking what's the use? I have not viewed this thread in some time until just now. I have gone back a few pages and determined that the majority of initial over 20 year contributors seem to be gone, and that the majority of entries have reverted to idle comments and the like. Initially this was by far the best thread on BYC. It is remarkable how so many people have to say something just to have done so.

Good post!
A lot of seasoned OT's don't post here for a number of reasons. I don't because there is nothing lately that I have found that made me think I might be able to contribute to. My expertise is in breeding and showing poultry. (Chickens and waterfowl). In real life I don't talk to hear myself talk either. I have commercial chicken experience, but it does not interest me at this point of my life, so I don't get into those discussions.

Walt

 

[galanie]

I find it interesting that no one has anything informative to say now at all, just comments on how the comments are not informative.

I have a question though: Are all cockerels dangerous to baby chicks or are some good with them? I have heard many times that a "young rooster" is dangerous to them but I wondered if that's always true.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Teenage roosters are as impractical as teenage boys. Every once in a while there is a great one, but usually they have to grow up to learn any manners.
Mature roos are generally respectful of broodies and learn to tolerate offspring. If there is no broody in the picture, it may take a while for the feathers to settle since " someone" has to show the youngsters flock management. In my experience with free ranging, the young ones go off in their own foraging flocks and other than sleeping in the main coop, don't comingle much until they reach egglaying. The mature roos generally ignore them.
Our roo who was demoted to #2 status by a new roo, does take up with the broodies and youngsters and keeps a bit of an eye on them. This may just be his personality because he is a staunch defender against predators and will sacrifice for the flock.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've never had a problem with a dominant rooster hurting chicks, no matter how young or old the chicks are as long as they are chicks. That changes when the younger roosters become old enough to start thinking they are roosters, but I don't think that is your question. I have had dominant roosters help out when chicks get separated from Mama. Not all my dominant roosters actually help out when this happens, but some do.

I consider a non-dominant rooster in the flock to be just like a hen as far as mixing wih the flock. Some hens and non-dominant roosters are brutes toward younger chickens, especially on the roosts after they have been weaned. Most of my non-dominant roosters and hens pretty much ignore the younger chickens.

I've never had a problem with other hens or non-dominant roosters when Mama was still taking care of her chicks. It is after they are weaned that some hens and non-dominant roosters can be a bit rough.

 

[Beekissed]

I've never noticed any contention at all towards younger chicks/birds from the older birds in my flocks. When they attempt to roost they might get pecked on the head a little until they get back down on the "peon" roost but I've not noticed any unnecessary roughness from junior roos, older hens or the mature roo. I must admit, I haven't seen any excessive meanness in any of my flocks....I must have gotten pretty lucky all these years.