Faverolles Thread

[n8ivetxn]

Those are great pics, I can't wait until my babies reach that age! They are 6 weeks old now....

Cloverleaf - at what age do you cull your roos? I'm thinking mostly in terms of temperament, but coloring too....

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Those are great pics, I can't wait until my babies reach that age! They are 6 weeks old now....

Cloverleaf - at what age do you cull your roos? I'm thinking mostly in terms of temperament, but coloring too....

If they are straight up jerks, they go as soon as they start acting that way...and by "go" I mean, they "go" to the chopping block. Nastiness is not a Fav trait, and I don't want someone breeding that. That said, I have never had to cull a youngster for aggressiveness.

For color, you shouldn't cull until at LEAST 8 months old if you can help it. I know sometimes there are just more boys that you have room to grow out, and you gotta do what you gotta do, but the boys don't finish their color until much much older, so 8 months is an absolute minimum.

 

[n8ivetxn]

Thank you, I hear sometimes as they develop physically, their personalities develop and change too. I was just looking for a potential age range to start expecting unwanted changes. I need to call a "processor" and make an appointment for some young men who've lost their minds...only one is SF.

Do you handle your cockerels much? Some breeders speak against it, others advocate for it, where does Cloverleaf stand? I can't imagine not holding my little guys ;( but, if it's for their own good, maybe I should restrain myself...

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

I do not handle my boys, and really don't handle my LF girls until they are laying age either. I am a believer in not letting them think I am a flock mate.

 

[n8ivetxn]

Wow, ok, um, I guess I need to get myself a stuffed chicken to cuddle with

. I understand the logic completely...

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Wow, ok, um, I guess I need to get myself a stuffed chicken to cuddle with

. I understand the logic completely...

Nah, you just need bantams too! LOL

 

[n8ivetxn]

I really need to get a social life! My chicks think I'm one of them - I could potentially ruin their futures. Ok, moving on, from now on I will not hold, carry or let them perch on me....

I'll practice good stewardship of the chickens in my care

-

 

[Puddin Fluff]

So far so good. I would've liked to see better toes on that male, but they're not fused, just not spaced real great. That beard cracks me up though!! Can we say "Abraham Lincoln"?? LOL

Thanks for the look. I didn't take as many pics this am as I did last time for you

. We have a couple of boys that we have narrowed it down to, but we haven't gotten rid of anyone yet. Ours are mostly pets, but will probably make the county fair and maybe regional fair if they do well. They will never make the national stage.

I think they are turning out nicely and mostly we will be choosing by personality, but looks will play a part as well. I can't wait to see all the changes in the boys. They are almost as big as my sexlink hens already. Some are starting to get red/white in their saddle (I think you call it) area, and green in the tails. My son is off to Boy Scout Camp for a week and I know he will see a difference when he returns. And looking at the last posts, I guess we are part of the flock because if my daughter could, she would bring her favorite to bed with her. She carries it like a doll and has since it was fluff.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

I really need to get a social life! My chicks think I'm one of them - I could potentially ruin their futures. Ok, moving on, from now on I will not hold, carry or let them perch on me....

I'll practice good stewardship of the chickens in my care

-

For the record, "my way" is not necessarily "the way", just what I have done, and what works for me. Everyone should raise their own birds as they see fit.

 

[magnolia-1971]

Cloverleaf- they are about 10 or 11 weeks old. I thought they might settle down once they are mature, but they sure do act different than my other 3 chickens. Just goofy

. They are definitely not aggressive or mean, just ski-dish if I try to touch them. They will come and see what I am doing, but then run off.

I will try giving them treats from my hand. I have not found any thing that they love, but I have not tried worms

. Thanks for the advise.