Colorado

[trsturself]

Hi, I am new to the Silkies, I have a pair of Patridge now, and looking for some other colors, anyone with chicks or older?

My friend has 2 black silkie roos for sale. they are 9 months old.

 

[Debbie82]

Anyone near colorado springs have sex link chickens for sale? I've had two people sale some out from under me now from craisglist. Feeling discouraged.

I know someone in February sometime but not now.

 

[uzisuzuki]

Okay, so the boards here have got me worried about my little rooster continuing to be "aggressive" and I'm wondering if I should be worried or not.

I know this isn't his usual behavior, at least as far as I can tell since he wasn't acquired from someone with a detailed history. He was very calm prior to my dog attacking him and the hens (the attack only happened about a week ago). I want to believe that he's behaving extra protective because of that incident. He gets a little chippy with me in the pen every morning now, but if I pick him up and carry him around while I get the feed ready, he calms right back down and goes about his business when I let him go. I also have noticed that he's been trying to mate with the hens (who are also stressed out about being moved into a new place with a new rooster just 3-4 weeks ago and because of the dog incident). On top of this, I'm also not sure if he's a cockerel or a rooster since he's tiny and that's as big as he's ever going to get. Since finding him, he has gotten a little fuller/not so skinny and his comb and waddle have gotten redder/slightly bigger; however, I don't know if this is a sign of maturing or just getting a meal on the regular for the past two months.

I'm discouraged because almost every post here says that I should cull him because he's gotten shirty with me more than once (it's never been a serious ATTACK, just some attitude and what I'd equate with a warning shot about messing with the hens). I *want* him to protect the hens. That's his job. I just want to know if this is an indication of a problem or if this is just a reaction to stress. Because of the circumstances in which he came into my life, I know I wouldn't be able to kill him and if I can change our routine - beyond not having the dogs come out with me if I have to mess with them - that's what I'd prefer doing.

So, my questions are: has anyone had a rooster respond like this to a stress inducing situation, did he calm back down after awhile or did he continue to stay or get more aggressive, and is killing a rooster the only option you have if he never goes back to being calm around you?

 

[suncatcher]

You don;t need to cull him if you are willing to work with his attitude....... I never hit, kick or swat at any rooster that comes at me, this will only make them meaner. Instead, be ready to pick him up and hold him, pet him, etc. It worked for me and a young bantam I had, you just have to be ready to scoop him up quickly. Mine even would bite me when I picked him up, OUCH, but after I started petting him he never did that again. I guess it depends on the rooster too, mine was young, around five months of age.

Most roosters get mean after being man handled, but I guess there are some that are just born that way!!! I would at least work with him first, and then cull him if he doesn't change his attitude. Also, somone one mentioned they used a spray bottle on theirs when he started to come at them, they would spray him, I have not tried that one, as the picking them up has worked well for me.

 

[uzisuzuki]

You don;t need to cull him if you are willing to work with his attitude....... I never hit, kick or swat at any rooster that comes at me, this will only make them meaner. Instead, be ready to pick him up and hold him, pet him, etc. It worked for me and a young bantam I had, you just have to be ready to scoop him up quickly. Mine even would bite me when I picked him up, OUCH, but after I started petting him he never did that again. I guess it depends on the rooster too, mine was young, around five months of age.

Most roosters get mean after being man handled, but I guess there are some that are just born that way!!! I would at least work with him first, and then cull him if he doesn't change his attitude. Also, somone one mentioned they used a spray bottle on theirs when he started to come at them, they would spray him, I have not tried that one, as the picking them up has worked well for me.

Thank you. That's what I have been doing (picking up, holding, etc) because I am seriously not down with all these suggestions to hit/kick/brutalize a 1lbs bird. Like, in what world does that NOT make things worse is what's been going on in my head. I have never seen suggestions to treat any animal like that, livestock or pet. That baffled the sh*t out of me, if I may be frank. Of course, I could have been reading the intention/tone wrong on those posts. They left me discouraged.

When I pick him up, he goes very calm, no pecking or struggling. He does what he did before the hens and that's to get comfy and close his eyes. It's just the on the defense every morning when I walk into the pen that I was starting to wonder about and if I should worry about it. I'm the only person who handles the chickens and I don't have kids nor do I know any, so I'm not worried about the potential damage he could do to myself or other humans. It was more just wondering if this is a reaction to stress/possible youth and if it continued should it be a thing I would *have* to kill him for even if he's not doing any damage to me and I'm not looking to him for breeding purposes. He's not hurting the hens, he's just very protective of them now.

Thank you so much for your input. I really appreciate it.

 

[Ashdoes]

We've had Roos get a little aggressive, and then we had one that declared all out hate for us. The last straw was when he ran across the yard, an acre away, and attacked my daughter with no cause. That was when we knew he was a problem. Otherwise, it's an annoyance we sometimes put up with. I've had a Silkie come at me like a pitbull, but they're tiny, so who cares? Lol. These are your chickens, I don't think there are any hard and fast rules you have to follow. Sometimes, you deal with things how you want and ignore what the boards are saying. Everyone has their way, and some people are very adamant about their way being the right way. Some get pretty mad when you disagree, or have a "new" idea.
Work with your boy, if that's what you want. I'm guessing your dog kicked in his rooster instincts, and isn't that what we want? A flock protector, right? I know I do.

 

[Pozees]

Suncatcher and Ashdoes have it pretty well summed up This is your flock and no one else's. If you reach the point where *you* feel he is too difficult or dangerous, that's when you consider culling. What a person tolerates in his or her flock is up to the individual keeper. Keep in mind that what you tolerate is what you will have. Just a rule of thumb for anyone planning to hatch from what they have. A cockerel is a male chicken under a year of age, a cock is a male chicken a year of age or older. Small breeds are bantams. You may have a bantam cockerel. What some people have encountered with aggressive males is dangerous, a chicken can harm you with its spurs, beak, and wings, but if he is not leaping at you feet first, it probably isn't something to be overly concerned about right now. Be aware. Don't move out of his way, make him move out of your way, when you walk among the flock, to reinforce in his mind that while it is his job to protect the flock when you are not there, you remain the flock leader.

For the person interested in sex links, are you looking for strictly pullets, cockerels, or both? I have a pen that has a heritage-bred Rhode Island Red cockerel over 3 Dominique pullets. If I hatch their eggs, I will have sex linked chicks - reds will be pullets, blacks will be cockerels (which will feather out barred). I have only hatched one so far, am considering hatching more starting next month, if I can find sufficient buyers for the males - they should be decent meat birds, although not ready to process in 8 weeks, more like 12-16. The RIR cockerel is 10 months old and I'd guess he weighs 10 lbs, he is a big fellow. Very calm and kind. I am waiting for some RIR pullets to grow up to join him that are not full siblings, and he was very lonely, so I gave him 3 of Wendell's extra girls and he's been a very happy guy ever since.

 

[suncatcher]

Pozee, I thought you might have some sex links hatching in a few weeks, but was not sure. Pretty sure they will be awesome crosses with your Heritage RIR boy! They should sell like hot cakes, as they will be great layers and meat birds!

Have you processes anyone yet? Curious what they are coming it weight wise...........

 

[KNelly]

Looking strictly for pullets. I was looking to get 2. They are really hard to find right now.

 

[trsturself]

We've had Roos get a little aggressive, and then we had one that declared all out hate for us. The last straw was when he ran across the yard, an acre away, and attacked my daughter with no cause. That was when we knew he was a problem. Otherwise, it's an annoyance we sometimes put up with. I've had a Silkie come at me like a pitbull, but they're tiny, so who cares? Lol. These are your chickens, I don't think there are any hard and fast rules you have to follow. Sometimes, you deal with things how you want and ignore what the boards are saying. Everyone has their way, and some people are very adamant about their way being the right way. Some get pretty mad when you disagree, or have a "new" idea.
Work with your boy, if that's what you want. I'm guessing your dog kicked in his rooster instincts, and isn't that what we want? A flock protector, right? I know I do.

Suncatcher and Ashdoes have it pretty well summed up

This is your flock and no one else's. If you reach the point where *you* feel he is too difficult or dangerous, that's when you consider culling. What a person tolerates in his or her flock is up to the individual keeper. Keep in mind that what you tolerate is what you will have. Just a rule of thumb for anyone planning to hatch from what they have. A cockerel is a male chicken under a year of age, a cock is a male chicken a year of age or older. Small breeds are bantams. You may have a bantam cockerel. What some people have encountered with aggressive males is dangerous, a chicken can harm you with its spurs, beak, and wings, but if he is not leaping at you feet first, it probably isn't something to be overly concerned about right now. Be aware. Don't move out of his way, make him move out of your way, when you walk among the flock, to reinforce in his mind that while it is his job to protect the flock when you are not there, you remain the flock leader.

For the person interested in sex links, are you looking for strictly pullets, cockerels, or both? I have a pen that has a heritage-bred Rhode Island Red cockerel over 3 Dominique pullets. If I hatch their eggs, I will have sex linked chicks - reds will be pullets, blacks will be cockerels (which will feather out barred). I have only hatched one so far, am considering hatching more starting next month, if I can find sufficient buyers for the males - they should be decent meat birds, although not ready to process in 8 weeks, more like 12-16. The RIR cockerel is 10 months old and I'd guess he weighs 10 lbs, he is a big fellow. Very calm and kind. I am waiting for some RIR pullets to grow up to join him that are not full siblings, and he was very lonely, so I gave him 3 of Wendell's extra girls and he's been a very happy guy ever since.

X2. I wouldn't worry about it. He sounds like he's figuring out his job since his instincts just kicked in. Continue what you are doing and he'll probably go back to the way he was before. Since he is not being aggressive after you pick him up, and doesn't do a real aggressive attack, culling wouldn't even enter my mind since he's not a breeder. You'll know when it's time to get rid of one!