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

[Leahs Mom]

Sorry I'm so long posting this after I posted about the waterers on the buckets but I wanted to also link this video that shows how the cup waterers are supposed to be used on the pvc pipes in case anyone was interested.

 

[NikkiMiChickie]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=578908232124681&l=c50aeeaee4

Yesterday, although they were free, my chickens decided to stay on their "porch" all day long to avoid that funny white stuff that was on the ground and still flying in the air. When I got home from work tonight I had a mild panic, bc the girls didn't come running like they usually do. When I walked behind the barn, I found 6 of my girls playing in the snow! The leghorn (not pictured), barred rock, red sex-link, BO, SLW, and black sex-link were all scratching around with the horses. Yay! They came running back in for their fermented feed though

 

[NikkiMiChickie]

Ok... I still can't get pics to post from the iPad... Oh well

 

[Miss Lydia]

Have a question, We have 5 roos one is the old man at 3 years he'll stay, but the other 4 are all this yrs hatches, one game/bantam 3 cochin bantam , I am having the hardest time deciding which of the 4 too keep. I can only keep one since I only have 15 hens right now, I sold 14 hens and pullets and 1 roo this past summer. I would like to keep at least 2 roos with this flock of hens that way they can keep a better eye on everyone, I haven't ever had a problem deciding when it came to roos before but since i have been on Bees 3 threads i want to make the best decision for the flock, what should the criteria be when choosing roos, other than them being good to their girls and not mean to humans? I wanted to get a LF roo for my EE's next spring but my dh has talked me out of it because he thinks a LF roo would kill out Bantam/game roo and he is very partial to Rufus. So I have to decide between these 4. 2 of them are 18 weeks and one is 22 weeks and then theirs Henry who is 6 months. He managed to miss the first culling by escaping the coop when I went to get him. So hes been here the longest. [my grandson named him] Appreciate any advise.

 

[Mountain Momma]

Have a question, We have 5 roos one is the old man at 3 years he'll stay, but the other 4 are all this yrs hatches, one game/bantam 3 cochin bantam , I am having the hardest time deciding which of the 4 too keep. I can only keep one since I only have 15 hens right now, I sold 14 hens and pullets and 1 roo this past summer. I would like to keep at least 2 roos with this flock of hens that way they can keep a better eye on everyone, I haven't ever had a problem deciding when it came to roos before but since i have been on Bees 3 threads i want to make the best decision for the flock, what should the criteria be when choosing roos, other than them being good to their girls and not mean to humans? I wanted to get a LF roo for my EE's next spring but my dh has talked me out of it because he thinks a LF roo would kill out Bantam/game roo and he is very partial to Rufus. So I have to decide between these 4. 2 of them are 18 weeks and one is 22 weeks and then theirs Henry who is 6 months. He managed to miss the first culling by escaping the coop when I went to get him. So hes been here the longest. [my grandson named him] Appreciate any advise.

I'd keep Henry, my son's name is Henry and he seems crafty with really good timing.

 

[Beekissed]

Got pics or any characteristics showing yet that makes one stand out from the crowd?

I look for intelligence, first and foremost. For instance, this donated rooster is one prime example of a rooster that would be a cull in any of my flocks, no matter his breed. He doesn't forage, he doesn't look for danger, he barely takes time to eat....instead, he is relentlessly pursuing hens that do not want to breed with him. He stalks them endlessly...as a result, they cannot forage, they cannot eat in peace, they are distracted from looking out for preds by this overly sexed rooster. The top rooster is always having to fend him off the hens, leaving another danger of HIM not spotting predators either.

This has never happened in any flock I've ever owned. I've never had a second roo that stupid that a few lessons from the elder roo didn't put him into his social standing in the flock. When Toby was a teenager, he didn't relentlessly stalk the outlying hens and chase them down for breeding. He observed the older rooster and copied his moves...pretty soon he had his own set of hens that preferred his attentions and followed him around. The elder rooster didn't seem to mind but still wouldn't tolerate any bold breeding right in front of his face. And Toby learned...want to breed those hens? Take them off somewhere out of reach and do it.

Toby still doesn't have to chase a hen...they follow him around and he just barely has to dance to get one to duck for breeding. This other roo? He'll never get that response and he will always be too aggressive, too clumsy, too busy thinking of his own wants instead of the flock's.

I look for a strong, meaty build and egg laying genetics. I look for hardiness, good feathering, good breeding vigor.

Look for the rooster that is in good social standing in the flock, the one that is learning from the top roo and the one that the ladies choose. They usually have a better sense of strong genetics detection than us humans...my hens prefer the older rooster over this younger any day.

When Toby was his age, the hens were showing a decided preference for Toby over my smaller and older rooster, Sue. They finally had it out and Toby won the top spot and the remainder of the hens switched allegiance to the victor. I didn't need two roosters at that time and I couldn't stand to see Sue de-throaned...it was pitiful to see him on the lower roosting and on the fringe of society, so I culled him in the next culling. He was a great little rooster!

 

[Beekissed]

I'd keep Henry, my son's name is Henry and he seems crafty with really good timing.

No offense...but THAT's the difference between an OTs response to a question about chickens and a newbies response about the same.....

Got pics or any characteristics showing yet that makes one stand out from the crowd?

I look for intelligence, first and foremost. For instance, this donated rooster is one prime example of a rooster that would be a cull in any of my flocks, no matter his breed. He doesn't forage, he doesn't look for danger, he barely takes time to eat....instead, he is relentlessly pursuing hens that do not want to breed with him. He stalks them endlessly...as a result, they cannot forage, they cannot eat in peace, they are distracted from looking out for preds by this overly sexed rooster. The top rooster is always having to fend him off the hens, leaving another danger of HIM not spotting predators either.

This has never happened in any flock I've ever owned. I've never had a second roo that stupid that a few lessons from the elder roo didn't put him into his social standing in the flock. When Toby was a teenager, he didn't relentlessly stalk the outlying hens and chase them down for breeding. He observed the older rooster and copied his moves...pretty soon he had his own set of hens that preferred his attentions and followed him around. The elder rooster didn't seem to mind but still wouldn't tolerate any bold breeding right in front of his face. And Toby learned...want to breed those hens? Take them off somewhere out of reach and do it.

Toby still doesn't have to chase a hen...they follow him around and he just barely has to dance to get one to duck for breeding. This other roo? He'll never get that response and he will always be too aggressive, too clumsy, too busy thinking of his own wants instead of the flock's.

I look for a strong, meaty build and egg laying genetics. I look for hardiness, good feathering, good breeding vigor.

Look for the rooster that is in good social standing in the flock, the one that is learning from the top roo and the one that the ladies choose. They usually have a better sense of strong genetics detection than us humans...my hens prefer the older rooster over this younger any day.

When Toby was his age, the hens were showing a decided preference for Toby over my smaller and older rooster, Sue. They finally had it out and Toby won the top spot and the remainder of the hens switched allegiance to the victor. I didn't need two roosters at that time and I couldn't stand to see Sue de-throaned...it was pitiful to see him on the lower roosting and on the fringe of society, so I culled him in the next culling. He was a great little rooster!

 

[delisha]

Have a question, We have 5 roos one is the old man at 3 years he'll stay, but the other 4 are all this yrs hatches, one game/bantam 3 cochin bantam , I am having the hardest time deciding which of the 4 too keep. I can only keep one since I only have 15 hens right now, I sold 14 hens and pullets and 1 roo this past summer. I would like to keep at least 2 roos with this flock of hens that way they can keep a better eye on everyone, I haven't ever had a problem deciding when it came to roos before but since i have been on Bees 3 threads i want to make the best decision for the flock, what should the criteria be when choosing roos, other than them being good to their girls and not mean to humans? I wanted to get a LF roo for my EE's next spring but my dh has talked me out of it because he thinks a LF roo would kill out Bantam/game roo and he is very partial to Rufus. So I have to decide between these 4. 2 of them are 18 weeks and one is 22 weeks and then theirs Henry who is 6 months. He managed to miss the first culling by escaping the coop when I went to get him. So hes been here the longest. [my grandson named him] Appreciate any advise.

I consider the hens choice. They also look for qualities in a Roo. Someone who sweet talks and shows them where all the good stuff is. A roo who stands back and lets them enjoy. Constantly looks and observes every thing going on while they eat. Talks constantly to them. I usually choose the talker. I have been without a roo all year. I did not need one since my neighbors roo was a regular visitor. I had a hatch out in July and I am keeping one of the roo's.I have so many to choose from. I think I have 8 . I might change my mind this spring and he might be pot bound too. I like both his looks and his talking. He is not the toughest of the group of males, but the girls seem to like him. They are not impressed by his age, but he will have the winter to turn heads. So we will see. He is not the largest, but he must weigh a good 8 lbs. He is quick and alert. One of the first to warn. He has been jumping up on the trailer and warning all to hide. 1 thing I do not like is, he has been aggressive to me. I took a stick after him and it has not happened again, but it has made me wishy washy about my decision. My DH named him black foot and he said black foot stays. We will see.

 

[Beekissed]

He seemed smart enough to learn from his schooling...sounds like a keeper to me!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for the great advise, now I have my work cut out for me. observing. Because Henry has been here the longest and is older than the other 3 he has a following already. He watches over the girls and calls them for goodies. the 22 week old I call Jr. because his daddy is our oldest roo, is just coming into his own. so to speak, the younger 2 don't even crow yet. Thank goodness the weather is going to be much better through the weekend so I can be outside to watch.