Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[hellbender]

My buckeye roos are getting along a little too well! They have started double-teaming the pullets. If one catches a pullet to breed the other comes running and takes his turn too or they both chase down one pullet. They did seem to have the pullets divided up between them, now this. I believe one is going to have to go back to the roo pen!

Boys will be boys...lol If they're doing no physical damage to the hens, I'd just keep an eye on them..it might moderate.

Edited: to say, when I deal with birds at breeding time, I I always wear light gloves and Safety Glasses...In fact, my regular glasses are designed as 'safety glasses' because I lost my left eye in Vietnam.

 

[Regin]

Angelicie and Triple Willow...

Your points are well taken. From my experience, many if not most of my cockerels that challenge me at a young age are just feeling their oats. If I were to try to 'correct' them or to have them fear me, that would be counter productive. Generally, as they mature, their attitude toward me changes from considering me a challenger to their harems to someone who is to be tolerated because their little bird brains come to understand that I'm no threat to their gals but rather a supplier of really good stuff to eat.

This type of cock almost never becomes a pet but stops challenging me and continues to be a good protective overseer of his gals. Additionally, the abundant testosterone makes them valued breeders, hence taking up temporary residence with a bevy of proven hens in a cock station, come spring.

Sometimes, the friendly 'pet' type cockerels do come around but I'm generally more impressed with the ones that come on strong and keep that edge for the duration.

OH...when I said 'counter productive'...if I were to correct them or kick at them, that will generally exacerbate the situation and make them impossible to be around. A bird can always be 'deleted' but once it's done....they can not be brought back.

JMHO

Yeah ... What he said

Mine have tended to go through stages. Right now they are 8 months old and I have no problems handling them. but I've been reading that they continue to mature up to 2 years.

 

[Triple Willow]

Naughty buggers lol least they're getting along? Lol!

Oh yeah that's team work huh? Dang little perverts! lol

 

[Triple Willow]

:cd  Boys will be boys...lol   If they're doing no physical damage to the hens, I'd  just keep an eye on them..it might moderate.

Edited: to say, when I deal with birds at breeding time, I I always wear light gloves and Safety Glasses...In fact, my regular glasses are designed as 'safety glasses' because I lost my left eye in Vietnam.

Very sorry to hear about your eye. I've got two close family members and two friends who have all completely lost sight in one eye and one of them has very little vision in the other eye. Scary! I do feel for you. I am glad to hear that you do take precautions with your good eye!

Yeah they don't seem to be doing any physical damage but I wondered why the pullets were staying up on the roosts so much. lol Chickens aren't very bright... if I were one of those pullets I would call a meeting and plan an attack of our own! Girl power! LOL

 

[Regin]

My buckeye roos are getting along a little too well! They have started double-teaming the pullets. If one catches a pullet to breed the other comes running and takes his turn too or they both chase down one pullet. They did seem to have the pullets divided up between them, now this. I believe one is going to have to go back to the roo pen!

Mine did the double teaming right before a major change in pecking order. I have 3 cockerels, Doodle is just a ditz. But, the other two are now aggressive to each other. At first Rascal was very dominant from very young until about 7 months, but he tolerated and pretty much ignored the other 2. Then Elliott although being slower to mature became more dominant. Elliott challenged Rascal and they had a big fight. Now Elliott is king of the hill and will only tolerate Rascal at night so I have to separate them every morning. I put Doodle out to free range and rotate the other two outside or in with the hens. I let everyone out about 1 to 2 hours before dark. And they put themselves to roost at dark. The good part is that I end up handling them on a regular basis, so they are used to it. Elliott is the most aggressive to the others, but the tamest to handle.

 

[Triple Willow]

Mine did the double teaming right before a major change in pecking order.  I have 3 cockerels, Doodle is just a ditz. But, the other two are now aggressive to each other.  At first Rascal was very dominant from very young until about 7 months, but he tolerated and pretty much ignored the other 2.  Then Elliott although being slower to mature became more dominant.  Elliott challenged Rascal and they had a big fight.  Now Elliott is king of the hill and will only tolerate Rascal at night so I have to separate them every morning.  I put Doodle out to free range and rotate the other two outside or in with the hens.  I let everyone out about 1 to 2 hours before dark. And they put themselves to roost at dark.  The good part is that I end up handling them on a regular basis, so they are used to it.  Elliott is the most aggressive to the others, but the tamest to handle.

These two Buckeyes are around 22 weeks old and were in a pen with 6 roos of other breeds up until about 3 weeks ago. The others would fight but I never saw these two fight with any of the other roos or each other. They seems to be "equals" in the pen together. I don't know what they will do as time goes on. I really do like them except for their perverted ways. lol (I'm anxious to see what a Buckeye X Delaware cross does.)

 

[BCMaraniac]

Boys will be boys...lol If they're doing no physical damage to the hens, I'd just keep an eye on them..it might moderate.

Edited: to say, when I deal with birds at breeding time, I I always wear light gloves and Safety Glasses...In fact, my regular glasses are designed as 'safety glasses' because I lost my left eye in Vietnam.

Hellbender,

Thank you for your service to our country

 

[Triple Willow]

Hellbender,

Thank you for your service to our country

Ditto! Thanks again!

 

[beverly evans]

I'm getting away from FF 'til spring. I will consider re-starting after the spring thaw.

One more thing I'll mention about my feeding process. This would likely make little sense to those with few birds but around here, MANY beef farmers are butchering their own animals. I have them save blood for me (I know...not supposed to do it) but It is one of most nutritious parts of beef, in my opinion, so I manage to collect more than I'll mention here.

I get large tubs, half filled with boiling water, reduce heat to low/med, then pour in the blood. It quickly congeals to a consistency of liver. Oh, I spice the water with a bit of Kosher salt, garlic and Old Bay...

When this cools, I freeze it and add it to the bird food 'til I use up what I have. The birds love it I Never keep any over because I will eventually need the freezer space. I also pressure cook large road killed deer...too much good meat to allow it to go to waste.

This is just one of the several things i do for my birds AND my customers. I know some of you will revolt at the idea of blood, even boiled blood but there humans in this word who live on beef blood.

This helps keep me out of the 'red' and I can sell a very high quality product without gouging my customers.

Another thing, my flock has been out every day, beginning at 8AM...even when the temps. were hovering around zero F...These Turkin/ Naked Necks are far more cold hardy than many would believe.

Merry Christmas to all!!

I still don't want to know about Christmas yet. Yeah, the Masai live off it. But what about blood sausage! Lots of cultures make it and it is tasty!

 

[hellbender]

These two Buckeyes are around 22 weeks old and were in a pen with 6 roos of other breeds up until about 3 weeks ago. The others would fight but I never saw these two fight with any of the other roos or each other. They seems to be "equals" in the pen together. I don't know what they will do as time goes on. I really do like them except for their perverted ways. lol (I'm anxious to see what a Buckeye X Delaware cross does.)

At 22 weeks, they're not doing much 'fighting' unless they have game blood and from your post, they do not. almost all healthy youngsters will 'spar', even the pullets but naturally, the cockerels will be a bit more showy about it. And again, unless their 'perverted' acts begin to cause real damage, just ignore it. With pullets/hens, NO generally does not really mean NO!

I wouldn't worry too much about perversion until the cockerels begin treading each other...on a regular basis.