First Hatch 2010-Rocks, Amer's, etc. (FINISHED!)

[Madcap621]

HMMMM Cynthia, If the one good "special BR"w/the excellent genes......do we pray for a roo????

 

[speckledhen]

Hmm, that's a tough question. Dutch will find his position as BR King in some trouble if that is a rooster. My DH is torn about getting rid of Dutch since he's really more of a pet owner than a breeder; it'd probably be better if this one is a pullet. Then Dutch just gets one very fine woman added to his harem.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
BBZZZZZ, wrong answer .....

Correct answer is .>>>>>> Get more eggs!

 

[speckledhen]

@ Kathy. You know, my head is full of chicken stuff, rearranging flock members, how to make things easier on us, etc. And I want some porcelain and/or self blue D'anvers, too. My DH is always reluctant to part with any bird around here, which makes things harder. Can't just add birds forever without prioritizing and letting go. And when I want to talk about any changes, his eyes glaze over, LOL. Was thinking tonight that this has to be the last hatch for quite awhile. Sure, I'll give a few eggs to each broody, but the chicks will likely be sold when she gets sick of them. I need just a handful of Rocks to make up for my aging girls and three or four Ameraucanas for the blue eggs. As I lose the other breeds, I just won't replace them, and eventually, we'll have all Rocks and maybe the bantam flock for pets. Not sure where the Delawares are in all this. Isaac is an exemplary rooster in every way, but I'm really wanting to get down to one large flock of Rocks and the bantams when all is said and done (could be years in the future, though).

 

[kathyinmo]

Really, Cyn, that does sound like a good plan. Yes, it really does.

BUT >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ............... To be continued .. (I'm at work, gotta run) ...

 

[joletabey]

Murphy's law strikes again! I am keeping my fingers crossed for an exceptional BR pullet! I like Dutch a lot!
And you COULD get more eggs. . . . .

 

[speckledhen]

Dutch isn't a bad rooster, don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. He's never flogged me, though I bet he wanted to a couple times. At a year and a half old (he'll be 2 in April) there was a period when we had to remove him from his girls for his own good. We'd take him from the main pen into the little Firetower coop to spend the night then in the morning, put him back for most of the day, then take him out again. Either DH or I would do it and he was very cooperative, would come when called and stand to be picked up. He was just the best boy.

One afternoon, he did just like always, I carried him and place him on the ground inside the Firetower pen and without warning, he whirled around and bit my hand, left a bad pinch mark. From then on, he would occasionally rush me when he thought I wasn't looking. And, call me crazy, but he doesn't look at me the same anymore; the expression in his eyes isn't "soft" anymore. So far, he hasn't flogged me, though he did miscalculate (I think) and slid into my legs. He wants me to feed him out of my hand and he's fabulous with the girls and large enough to defend them as well as any rooster, but if he does start flogging me, he goes. My DH and I are quite sentimental about all of Hawkeye's sons, but I can't have him throwing me off balance and possibly injuring myself. My ankle never quite got back to normal after having plate and screws put in a year ago and doesn't function like I want it to.

Anyway, this is not the usual aggression, being usually mild and only directed at me, and not happening till a late stage; I know what triggered it and can't fix it in his little rooster brain. It doesn't happen all the time, just on occasion, but I don't trust him like I used to, obviously. And I ccertainly cant trust him like I do Suede or Isaac. He never, ever shows any sort of aggression toward my DH. All that said, he is the son of two hatchery parents and though he does have excellent points, especially deep stocky body type, he is still utility grade. I'd like the barring improved on my BRs. Hawkeye and Lexie have produced a couple of roosters whose barring is near show quality, but that is more of a fluke than great breeding. Just need a few better examples of what the breed should be. If Dutch has to be rehomed, he'd probably be a good flock protector for someone else.

 

[joletabey]

You know, if he isn't over his silliness with you, and you get a great little roo out of this hatch, then on to new horizons for Dutch. I don't blame you one little bit. I just still like pullets best!

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, but, Beth, if you had an Isaac or a Suede, you'd be hooked! They are so calm and easy going around both of us, very well-behaved all the time. If either of them ever flogged or bit me, I think I'd melt into a puddle of despair. Suede is over three years old now, so I seriously doubt he'll ever change. Isaac will be a year old at the end of February, so he's also well past the age when they usually become aggressive.

 

[joletabey]

Well, I have to admit Buckshot seems to be on his way to being one of those sweetheart roos- I probably WILL lose my heart totally if he is like Ike! And Ultrasuede settled into my lap the other day and snuggled- after his drama queen protest about being picked up, of course. I really hope my boys DO turn out like their respective daddies. But then I would have to keep ALL of them and make sure they all had girls, and their own pens, and boy, this is how it all expands, isn't it?