Colorado

[Robilyn81]

@Auntie Moose I looked up the Iowa Blue, really like the penciling! Can't wait to see how yours turns out. Some day you'll need a roo to help preserve the breed ;-)

 

[Auntie Moose]

@Auntie Moose I looked up the Iowa Blue, really like the penciling! Can't wait to see how yours turns out. Some day you'll need a roo to help preserve the breed ;-)

Sadly, we are prevented from having roos in our town. I think she'll be really pretty. I'm sincerely hoping all of them are girls! I'd be heartbroken to have to give one away at this point.

 

[COChix]

@Latestarter wanted to comment on your roo attack. First I am glad that you didn't get hurt worse than it already was. I like your handling of the sistuation. How old was your roo? I ask because, i think you got your birds around when we did. Anyway, my experience with our BO roo is that as he has matured, into the two-year-old rooster that he is, he has become more possessive and more protective over his flock. Sure we raised him from day one, and up until about 8 months ago, he was rather friendly, would eat out of your hand, etc. Now you don't trust him enough to try and let him eat out of your hand. You continually have to watch your back when you are anywhere near him. My BF had an interesting experience the other day, Rocco became super aggressive after one of the young cockerels got out of the enclosed run and was running around the free range pens. My BF had to chase him down to catch him and I guess he had to battle Rocco who became super protective over the little guy. Rocco didn't go after him and try to kill the young roo, but instead protected him. We found this behavior interesting as the young cockerels have only been around the flock and roo for a week and they are not integrated and are separated by the run. Seems like our roo has definitely taken his alpha role to the next level, anything in the chicken domain is his to protect apparently. who knew.....

Also for those talking about roosters and certain breeds being docile. I think that is all a relative term, our roo is a BO roo and they are suppose to be a more docile breed. Sure he is more docile than say one of the young Rhode Island Reds that we had in that he doesn't chase you right away, but most roo's from my experience are to never be completely trusted. I do like that our BO roo is huge in size and is a good deterrent for predators.

 

[Latestarter]

Thanks @COChix I'm healing up nicely. The main puncture has finally scabbed over and sealed. It's mighty tender all around the areas that took hits. Found another big bruise up on my bicep that I didn't even see at first, so he got me in a total of 4 places in under a second. Not happy about getting nailed, but even less happy that I didn't see it coming/wasn't paying proper attention. The roo was from my first batch and was right at 25 months, so yeah, 2 years old.

My BO roo went through a "challenge the food giver" stage for a while back at about a year, but now he backs off and pretends I'm not there and makes a big display of scratching around for food in the litter when I'm in there feeding or collecting eggs or whatnot. I believe his challenge time was because at that time I had 2 BO roos and the beta roo was in rough shape (and declining, so he became soup). So I believe he felt he had to protect all the time. Now he knows I'm no threat to his harem, but I don't doubt for a minute that he could have a stupid moment and do something he'd regret.

My other worst attack offender is the Deleware roo... He has tried to flog me several times, and charged the chicken netting after I've left the enclosure on multiple occasions. He has run out of strikes. One more and he dies as well. He's in with my White Wyandotts and a WW roo. They have only gotten into a serious fight once, and I broke it up and they coexist OK. The only reason he's still here is he's real gentle with his ladies where the WW roo is a rapist... When the WW roo mounts, he's VERY rough and uncoordinated and the girls scream bloody murder. I may end up removing both of them and letting the girls be by themselves.

I originally got the roos because I had thought I would be incubating/raising/selling chicks. Turned out It was easier selling hatching eggs at the time. Now I'm trying to sell and move, so will not be increasing the flock size and in fact will most likely be selling all of them once the place is under contract. I'll start over once I re-settle someplace. Next time around, I think I'll go breeder birds vice hatchery. Might also try a few other breeds just for eye candy and lawn ornaments

My favorites of the 5 breeds I've had are far and away the New Hampshires. Easy keepers, large sized birds, best feed to egg conversion rate, gentle inquisitive birds, best foragers, largest eggs (2nd year almost an egg a day and extra large to jumbo sized) The roo has never challenged me but is not friendly either. MY BO's are the gentlest and friendliest (the hens), but they don't produce as many eggs and size is not as large (bird or eggs).

 

[maggiemo]

Happy Weekend Colorado.

I have a few un-needed roos, like everyone else....and I thought I would post some pictures of a couple and see if someone might want them.
These are from Cathy (Percheronchick) and I believe they are rumpless araucanas roos. Cathy will hopefully stop by and tell us what breeds she might think they are if my guess is wrong. These guys are free, just come and get them.
Cathy, I have a couple roos for you from my fowl stuff order if you still want them.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Nicely done there 21Hens! I'm assuming the eves front and rear are open for ventilation under the overhangs. Love the use of the cattle panels for the run also! Gonna be some safe and happy chooks there!

Glad the coon(s) (there are ALWAYS more than one!) didn't gain access!

I did leave the eaves open both front and rear. The way I did it if a raccoon was to try and go in that route they would either get stuck in the 2 inch gaps or cut up by the roofing nails. I like the ease in which the cattle panels went together to make a 6 foot tall run too. I also have 3 windows and close 2 of them at night. the one in the run I leave open for more air movement.

You are dead on with there being more then one. This morning bright and early there was a rather loud coon fight in the neighbors front yard. Of course I had to go out there as did a couple other neighbors. It sounded like something had a poor rabbit in dire straights. It was in fact 5 raccoons having quite a fight. Cannot shoot em in town so gave them a lot of encouragement to "move along".



Cricket sure seems happy in there. She spends an inordinate amount of time in the "tub". Probably wondering where the bubbles are.

Glad you are healing up after the flogging by the way.

 

[Robilyn81]

@COChix and @Latestarter Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge, it is very valuable for those of us just starting out. Even if it's rough news! Latestarter, glad again that you are on the mend and didn't sustain worse damage.

 

[intangible04]

Hi Everyone,

I hatched out some quail not too long ago and I'm looking to sell some. I also have some adult quail for sale too.
Adult quail (almost 8 weeks old) - 1 male, 3 female laying about once a day with the smallest egg weighing about 9g, largest 12-15g, $35
Quail chicks (almost 6 weeks old) 8 or 9 males and 7 or 8 females available, these eggs should consistently weigh 12+g and more likely closer to 15g - Should start laying any day, $7ea
Hatching eggs, $13 / dozen, will need about a week of lead time to gather them depending on how many you order. They will not be cleaned and will be put into the turner.
All birds from James Marie lines, they are JMF Pharaohs.
Message me for inquiries. Located in Pueblo.

 

[snmarchi]

Welcome! I have found this forum to be very helpful, too. I am just south of Denver in the suburbs, and have 5 10 week old layers (i hope). Our city only allows roosters up to 6 months.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Welcome! Glad you are here.