Had to Re-Home my rooster

[jennyg]

Crazy Story, but we got our first 4 chickens in march, (RIR, Barred Rock, ameraucana and black austealop) and my RIR turned out to be a rooster. We decided to get two Ideal 236 (was at the feed store they had them I bought them ...) Sunday my Jack Russell got a hold of one of the Ideals who was 9 weeks old. I saw a Craigslist post about RIR Hens. And I got 1, knowing I would risk getting her killed. Everyone loved her. she is 18 months and molting. Besides the Rooster, or so i though, he is 14 almost 15 weeks and constantly jumped on her back. And I thought he attacked her ... well i saw a video .. so yeah wasnt a mean jumping. However We are renting and weren't able to keep him anyway and also he has been waking my toddlers every morning the past 4 weeks at 4 am so after my husband and a friend talking me into it i finally found him a new home on 2 acre backyard farm where he will mostly free range Just wanted to share a positive story. Cannot wait to have my 18 month old starting laying eggs

 

[TheChips]

Ah yes, those lovely crowing sounds before the crack of dawn! I sleep with a fan by the door to muffle the sounds of my 2 roosters. Surprisingly it works! Never woken up my daughter and I so far (9 months now)

Im sorry you had to get rid of your rooster. But he is in a very big and beautiful free range place to be as free as any bird can be!

But is your been 18 months or 18 weeks? If she is 18 months and not laying that sounds like an issue! Hens lay their first egg around the 18th week or so. Some a little early and some a little late

 

[jennyg]

She is 18 month old RIR she isn't laying. I got her 3 days ago. My birds are 14 and 9 weeks and have shiny feathers. Koko had Matt feathers, the guy told me he is rehoming his hen bc someone has been breaking in at night stealing 3-4 hens a night ... he has 60+
He keeps them 10 miles away at a farm but I picked her up at his house. Brought her home. New flock. Maybe too much stress??? First time.chicken owner! He says she might.be.molting? I added apple cider vinegar to the water and feeding her organic pellets, supposedly high in protein. Free range during the day and veggies, oats and fruit

 

[TheChips]

If she isn't laying with you and you got her thre days ago, I would think it was stress which is normal. Does she have her own nesting box? Maybe try to make a space for her in an area of the coop you know she likes to be in, get her more comfortable.

 

[jennyg]

She poops on.the opposite site of the box, move it? I think it is more stressed and not used to high protein organic.food. I kind of expect her to.molt first and get shiny feathers and then.be happy and layb