Colorado

[lomine]

@Robilyn81 I see your coop is this week's Coop of the Week. Very cool!

 

[Robilyn81]

@Robilyn81
I see your coop is this week's Coop of the Week. Very cool!

Ha-ha, wow, awesome! But, I didn't know that was a thing! Where is it at?

 

[lomine]

Ha-ha, wow, awesome! But, I didn't know that was a thing! Where is it at?

It's on the moving banner on the home page. Not sure the technical term for it. On mobile devices it doesn't move. It's a tab.

 

[Robilyn81]

@lomine Cool, I found it, thanks! You'd think they would tell you? Lol!

 

[Latestarter]

More fun to let all your friends tell you...

 

[COChix]

I have another newbie rooster question. What does a rooster who is 'good' with the hens look like versus one who is too 'rough'?

My roo and oldest gals are just shy of five months; the younger girls are about 18 weeks. The older ones look routinely fed up with him and the younger are often downright terrified. He'll chase them across the yard until he catches them. Then he looks offended that they don't like him lol.

I realize it's normal for things to be a little awkward until everyone matures, and that he's probably a little hormonal right now, but this has been going on for weeks.

Chicken love doesn't really seem gentle, lol, but what does a 'gentlemanly' rooster look like?

I know LS answered this question pretty thoroughly but I have a few points add. A good rooster will not come into maturity until around two years. That is when you really get to see what they are born and bred to do. naturally. At least that has been my experience, when our BO roo was younger he was raised with the flock so it was grab and mount at first. Same with his flock mate the other BO roo we got. Both started to mature into more of ceremony by tidbiting for treats and food and the wing drop. It takes a while for everyone to figure it out. He matured into a very good roo, he protects the flock and would give up his life for them. We have a girl that is blind in one eye and he doesn't leave her side. He follows her everywhere. He is much more of a gentleman now, he doesn't even mess with the broody as far as mounting her. We had two Rhode Island Red roo's with our order as well and they were ruthless, much like the behavior you described but they never got out of it, they ended up in the freezer.


Roo update - so our BO alpha roo has pretty much taken the three cockerels from our hatch under his wings now, so to speak. It is like a roo school right now, they are learning the ropes by following him around. He started by allowing the white too, youngest from our hatch into the coop at night about two weeks ago. Now all three are roosting in the main coop at night. So far the almost 5 month old cockerels have not challenged him nor tried anything with the hens. At first he wouldn't allow them close but now he is tutoring them. It all has been very informative and educational to see play out.

Also this am while watching the feed dynamic among the flock a bird flew over and the grey roo signaled the flock and Rocco answered. So they are starting to work in tandem.

 

[COChix]

Got a few pics of the roo's today.

@Percheron chick Does the white one look rumpless? He has a lot less tail feather development and different look in his rump compared to the other two.

@Latestarter
Congrats on the new spot and have to admit a bit jealous. Looks like a nice property for that price, Colorado land prices are a bit ridiculous and only getting worse. I bet you and your crew will love it there!

 

[COChix]

@Robilyn81
I see your coop is this week's Coop of the Week. Very cool!

X 2 congrats!

 

[uzisuzuki]

Been trying to get some decent shots to submit to Meyer Hatchery's cover contest. Unfortunately, between having my nerve pain med dose doubled & work getting worse, these are the only ones I've gotten so far.

 

[Robilyn81]

Thanks for the roo insight, everyone! For now he's in rooster jail, and we will see how he is when he gets out.

In the meantime, look what I found...

The first egg! Squeeeee! Neatly deposited in the nest box and everything. Must be from my older EE, Whiskey. She's 21 weeks. It's the palest of blues. So excited!! It's so tiny!

I just cleaned the whole coop and put fresh straw in the boxes the day before. Perhaps she was waiting for suitable accommodations ;-)