One needs to be very careful with the Giana. She will go very fast without you having any idea what is going on. She is everything driving should be. 🥰
Chicken Tax
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You know I too worry about flock dynamics ~ although I have more choices. I am blessed in all 3 of my lead hens. They are pretty laid back. Of my older girls only Patricia really has a nasty streak & it's not bad. It's why I've been so particular in my breed choices though I know much depends on each individual hen. I admire you for coping as well as you have. Your flock shenanigans would distress me no end. I do think it will settle as the girls mature & age & the flock melds. Every integration has started with a small war but over time the outsiders are the flock & everything resolves itself.
They have been living together for almost 10 months now. I would hope things would start to settle in but instead they got worse.

My other fear and it is not rational at all; I understand that. However, lately it feels like every good hen in my flock suffers some tragedy and I'm left with the bullies. This scares me for Hattie. Yes it is irrational. Yet it still lurks there under the surface.
 
I am honestly not sure... I may have to break out dish soap and a hair dryer. I believe they are ground roosters... and this is why he is giving up on the breeding ideas. Because his runs and coops are not cleaned at all. They are bigger than my girls, even of the same age and breed, and far less active. Probably not suitable at all for my breeding program (I am selecting for confirmation, strong legs, activity level, and lack of flightiness in attitude... crazy little flying bowling balls). But at least they will have a decent life here, or I will book them at the abattoir in spring, or cull if it becomes necessary. I know I can do it cleanly (but the guy at the abattoir, Brad, is much better) and I wasn’t trusting the owner to do it well, when he started talking about putting them in the freezer if I didn’t want them.

As to you’re “beauty queen rescues”... I would probably end up “accidentally” taking the cat as well. The chickens I will give the guy a pass on, he didn’t want them and the caretaker probably moved somewhere he couldn’t take them, they look beautiful and well kept. I try not to be too judgmental without actually knowing the people and their situations. But, I am Very prone to taking in strays. There is this cow I want to rescue here, (another long story and a different hobby farmer, and if she was mine I could feed her however I wanted, she could have a herd...) but that’s not a pi**ing match I can take on just yet with the in-laws, as DH keeps reminding me)


Thank you Bob, and you even left out the long-winded! ;) :lol: Its only from a lot of trial and error in a very short time, and so many Roosters! All with different personalities. Remember, I’ve only been actually doing this for two years! And most of what I’ve learned I’ve learned from all the fine people here. I just jump into things and “go big or go home” literally, and I don’t want to go back to the city!
I love the idea of accidentally rescuing the cat as well! And p***ing match or no, one day you should definitely adopt a cow or 4.
 
I did not know about using a red light! And I appreciate the description of the rooster hold too.

Yes, if you use a red light at night with chickens they don't react like they do with a normal white light. They don't start jumping down or crowing like @RoyalChick hens. It makes it very easy to handle them. Most head lamps have a red setting.
 
There is nothing like an opening to talk about my cars! This is going to cost some chicken tax. 😉

I own two Alfa Romeos. A 1985 Spider Veloce (come say hello to the nice people Juliet :frow)

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And a 2018 Giulia Quadrifoglio that took 2nd place at the 2019 AROC National Convention. (Say hi Giana. :frow)

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Right! I had forgotten the blue one! :he
 

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