Coffee Club

[Meg-in-MT]

It is. Unfortunately he's on the eat list.

Agh, that's too bad. I had one I wanted to keep, but I knew everyone would be better off if all of the cockerels were gone. It's amazing how quiet it is without them.

 

[Shadrach]

Agh, that's too bad. I had one I wanted to keep, but I knew everyone would be better off if all of the cockerels were gone. It's amazing how quiet it is without them.

I've got seven rooster. It's the penalty of allowing the hens to sit and hatch.
In the past predation has reduced the population but this years only one chick has been taken.
I would need to build another coop to keep any more roosters than there are now.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I hear ya, I wish there was a way to age limit membership here.

They can definitely be oblivious, but so can some adults.

I call them out on topic threads, but stay away from any of their chat threads.
Gnats is a good moniker.

It seems like the biggest "problem children" are technically well into adulthood.

How's your weather today?

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I've got seven rooster. It's the penalty of allowing the hens to sit and hatch.
In the past predation has reduced the population but this years only one chick has been taken.
I would need to build another coop to keep any more roosters than there are now.

What do you suppose that's due to? Better coops, smarter birds, less predators? I'm back down to six now. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of Cheap Shot. Big of an arse hole as he is I think six will be no issue.

ETA: Six roosters not five, but technically two are cockerels still. They'll be a year in May.

 

[microchick]

I have waaaayyyyy too many roosters but they are nice boys every one of them and I promised myself I wouldn't butcher anymore of them after the big culling I did last summer.

So I'm getting my rooster coop ready to go now. As soon as the weather breaks they are getting moved out so they can beat one another up to their heart's content. I'm keeping the Fayoumi and the Fayoumi cross roosters with the ladies and the Silver Duck Wing bantam boys (I love those little birds)

One of the little SDW bantams who barely weighs a pound likes to sit on my Slogger shoe and peck at the chickens on it. Can't fix stupid but it sure can make you laugh!

 

[aart]

How's your weather today?

Sunny all day.....got up to mid 30's but wind was biting.

 

[Shadrach]

What do you suppose that's due to? Better coops, smarter birds, less predators? I'm back down to six now. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of Cheap Shot. Big of an arse hole as he is I think six will be no issue.

ETA: Six roosters not five, but technically two are cockerels still. They'll be a year in May.

I think there are two main factors. Each generation gets taught by the last and thet've become a lot more predator aware.
The other is a change in feeding routine. A few years ago I used to leave feed out and that encourages movement away from the tribe. I feed at regular times now and supervise the feeds as much as one can with four stations. I can make sure everyone, including the chicks get to eat properly and this in turn makes them less prone to wander and forage.
Because of the mixed breeds there is also more tolerance/cooperation between the tribes.
The bantams while not overjoyed at the presence of Knock and her three are tolerant and she gets some extra protection from them.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I think there are two main factors. Each generation gets taught by the last and thet've become a lot more predator aware.
The other is a change in feeding routine. A few years ago I used to leave feed out and that encourages movement away from the tribe. I feed at regular times now and supervise the feeds as much as one can with four stations. I can make sure everyone, including the chicks get to eat properly and this in turn makes them less prone to wander and forage.
Because of the mixed breeds there is also more tolerance/cooperation between the tribes.
The bantams while not overjoyed at the presence of Knock and her three are tolerant and she gets some extra protection from them.

That's interesting. How many hens do you have? I'm wondering what the difference is between our situations and why you seem to have less male problems then most people do. I don't necessarily care how many roosters I have unless they start to get out of control with their roughery (not sure what word I'm looking for...) I wonder if the problems I had were because they didn't have a "tribe" or "coop family" that they were associated with and so they just ran a muck and tried to mate with anything they could get a hold of. As long as they were fast enough they could get away from a senior rooster.

 

[Shadrach]

Well, things change and being on the list is one thing, being dead is another. If his tribe can make it work, I'm good with that but if he ends up in the trees then I'm a bit nerfed. I don't mind how many live in the trees but the main house complains about the early morning crowing.
He and one of his sisters did have a couple who wanted to take them. rather wisely I thought, they had a good think about it and decided they would get a less feral and flighty pair.

 

[Shadrach]

I've got 16 laying females.
The tribes make an enormous difference because the rogue rooster problem that many people have doesn't occur unless parents of siblings die early. If a tribes rooster dies and no male offspring are the to step up the hens get fielded by one of the other tribes roosters and so far they either joined that tribe, or formed a new one.
I try to keep 1:3 ratios. The problem in the end with tribe numbers is territory. The territory close to the house is seen as safest. Land isn't the problem.