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

[holderh]

Thanks furbabymum....i am more worried though that something could get passed thru to the egg and make us sick or the people we sell our eggs to sick...you think thats possible?

 

[Zany Chick]

How the Heck did I miss this thread?
I am on page 3 and will need a couple of days to get caught up.

In the meantime, carry on folks....

I'm only at about 20...but it all looks worth reading!!!

 

[ldutch123]

How do I know if a roo is a mean roo or just being a roo? I'm new to roosters. They are about 14 weeks old now and they seem rough on the others like the girls. Pulling feathers here and there. The girls sqwack and run, I just don't know what's normal or should I get rid of them? Rooster advice please

 

[Beekissed]

Most young roos don't know how to treat a hen...I've had a few that did well but it might have been because they got to see the older roo perform. Monkey-see, monkey-do with chickens, I have found.

As he ages and gets the hang of it all, if he is still excessively rough and isn't seeming to calm down much, you might review his status there at your place.

As far as a mean roo, most folks consider a mean roo one that displays unprovoked, confrontational behavior towards humans on a regular basis. Most of them try it on for size at least once and it depends on the reaction he gets if he wants to continue. An immediate, excessive(over the top) negative reinforcement is needed and shouldn't have to be repeated if you have a smart roo. So far, I've had ALL smart roos...not one really came back for seconds.

I like a cocky roo that will confront cats, hawks and other small animals....nothing wrong with that and he's just doing his job. One that tries to tackle the dogs that are looking after him or the humans who are doing the same? They get schooled rather quickly by both dog and human at my place. There is a hierarchy at my house and roosters fall way down the scale and the sooner they learn it, the better.

 

[ldutch123]

Thank u Bee I he seems very nice to people. I snatch him up every once in a while to try and make him not turn nasty to people( who knows if that works lol ). I have 35 hens that are all full size and the EE roo in question is about the same size as these girls...but these girls belong to my tophat roo. So my question is.....should I put him in with them? I'm partial to my tophat roo and would be devastated if this new roo attacked or killed him. Since Floyd (tophat) is older I would hope this wouldn't be the case but I can't keep the EE roo in with all the bantams forever. He is really a big 14 week old. There were 2 EE Roos together with all the bantams and other new chicks and everything was fine until one day he was on top the other EE and it didn't look like things were gonna get better. I thought if they were raised together they wouldn't fight? a lot of the bantams a silkies and I ended up with a lot of boys there too but they all seem to be doing just fine.

Also the roo in question was showing some aggression towards a lil tophat girl and I whomped him. I wanted him to know that I was the boss not him so him being mean when I was there won't fly lol

 

[Beekissed]

I'd turn him in with your top roo and let them sort it out. Size doesn't really matter in the roo world and I've seen my ancient, small RIR roo put the run on a roo three times his size and I've also seen him stand out in the open and challenge a hawk.

I've never, on the other hand, seen one roo kill another...but then, mine are free ranged and can escape the wrath of the boss roo, so there are only mild and quick episodes.

 

[ldutch123]

Mine are free range too. Well not the youngins yet but all the older gals are. So do u think that the 2 Roos that were fighting will sort it out once they all free range with plenty of hens to go round?

 

[Beekissed]

Yep...they eventually get their pecking order established and you will start to see them settle into it.

 

[ldutch123]

Also the 14 weekers are In about a half acre area with their own large coop. There are bantams in there sikies and tophats. I would love if everyone could eventually run the five areas together but I'm new to this. My layers are some pretty feisty girls lol. They were taken a few hits on that poor roo he was scared to death.

 

[fultzie]

i wish i could free range my gals more ..but the neighbors dogs wont let me ..ive heard some say something about elect. fencing ..not sure how that works or what it is ...would this be cheaper than trying to fencing more erea in for them or no?