coop410silkies,
I always like a mellow rooster. We had a bantam cochin rooster many years ago and he was the bomb. Named him Scooter since he always could scoot away from my grasp under the big hens. I miss having a roo but am feeling very lucky to be able to have hens in town.
He was a mixed in chick when we were trying to get some silkies. Ended up with 5 out of 5 being male. The silkie roosters we ended up with were vile to say it kindly. My son was only 9 or so and they would attack without mercy. Had to put them in rooster jail after they tore into the Japanese black tail roo.
Getting cloudy up here and looking like some rain may happen tonight. Many many bulbs have come up in the flower beds and some are blooming.
Thinking spring has to be coming early this year.
Yes, it's looking like spring thunderstorm weather. Spring bulbs are wonderful - so much beauty for so little effort. My Mom planted them all over her property in California, and I never had to wonder about what to send her for her birthday. Sadly, the soil here in my yard is clay laced with rocks and pebbles, and there are no flowers or even the beginnings of flower beds. Am starting with a few shrubs and trees, but the sheep, chickens, and the bazillion cottontails make growing things an iffy proposition here. The rabbits chew down most everything; I think I should be able to find a few rabbit resistant bulbs, though.
Yes, my Silkie Roos sound a lot like yours. Mine have mellowed in their adulthood, and while they are good around me, there are some here they still attack with intent to kill. They harbor grudges. I think the smaller an animal is, the bigger his attitude is to help it survive. Seems to work for the Silkies. I was thinking that about your little Cochin.
I have - and have raised - a lot of roosters, and only a very few have been social enough to be tolerable, let alone be mellow. The LS Roos are such a pleasant surprise for me, the sidekicks being the penultimate pets of all time. Moses hopped up on my ankles today and made himself comfortable; he seems to be getting up enough courage to be a laproo. His lame leg is not getting any better, and he'll probably have to have some sort of operation. I feel much better about the expense if he's going to be a good pet.
The flock dynamics are unusual here: one of the LS cockerels that cooped themselves up with the Silkies over winter has actually taken up being their protector; he not only hangs out with them, he oversees them as they eat and forage and dustbathe, and he makes sure they all go to coop at night. He helps find food and he keeps the other LF cocks from being intrusive. The Silkie Roos are perfectly happy with this arrangement, and he does not attempt procreation with their hens.
there are a number of different groups and living preference, but two things they all have in common are Abbie and me. We are part of their flocks, like it or not, and, intended or not, we are very much part of the dynamics. The fact that the Flockmaster is an integral part of his flock makes each flock as unique and different as the person keeping it. That's the way chickens are, am just starting to figure it out.
No more coyote attacks and no more late lock ups. Got my fence today, hoping Abbie can get back on duty SOON.
I designed my coop to be raised to reduce the footprint in my backyard and give them a bigger run at the same time. It also gave them more run space that is covered. They would probably be safe if they slept in the run but the coop is even safer. They don't like going up the ramp but they don't really put up a fight when I put them to bed. Most nights they are actually standing at the bottom waiting. Though the day I found my first egg none of them wanted to go back in. I think it scared them.
Here is my coop and run. And one of my dogs, Cody.
. 1 piece of napal (aka cactus from Mexican market), a bit of cilantro - optional, several chunks of pineapple, orange/juice to taste/ttexture to your liking, all goes into blender. you have judo verde
