Hen turned into roo!

[Parront]

Over 100 parrots, wow! Different varieties? Could we get you to post some pics? I have always wanted an African grey, but at my age (mid-60's) it's a safe bet that one would outlive me. Sad face, lol.

Dylan might out-live me, but she needed a home. She is 25.

 

[Eggscaping]

Ok, so fairly new to the world of chickens. I raise parrots but decided to get a couple of hens for my outdoor enclosed aviary with the intention of them helping keep some of the wasted pellet food and seed mix cleaned up. They still get their own food and lots of other healthy food items. They are now around 18 weeks old and I woke up to what sounded like a newly learned crowing sound. I had my suspicion that one was starting to look more like a roo due to the size and growth of the wattle and comb. I had named the two Lucy and Ethel due to one being a red head and one white with brown and black spots. The breeder told me they were mixed since she has various species and they are all free range so she isn't sure what they are mixed with. I am a little upset since I did not want a roo at all. With that being said, I have become very attached to both and can in no way imagine getting rid of Ethel who is now going to be Ricky. So, what can I expect and is it OK to leave the two in the aviary together. They are always together and get along great, so far. I'm now preparing for the fact I will possibly get baby chicks now. So what do I need to do to have everything ready for that? The Aviary has a concrete floor, is enclosed so predators can not get in, and has a tin roof and outside awnings to protect from the elements. It is in a shaded area of our property, that consist of 3 wooded acres. I thought about letting them free range but I would worry about them becoming dinner for another wild animal since we are in the country. We had three large insulated plastic dog houses that we weren't using so we put one in there, added a flat 2x4 for them, attached it to the inside of the dog house to roost on, along with hay on the floor of it. But, now that summer is here, they sleep on top of it or in their dusting pan I put in. Will the hen go in it when she starts laying eggs or will I need something else for her? I do have incubators that are for my parrots but are also for chickens if needed. I prefer to let momma raise her own if possible. Sorry about the lengthy post, I just wanted to answer any questions someone else might have about their living conditions. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. Thanks in advance!

Welcome to BackYardChickens! So glad to have you here in our wonderful community of friendly, helpful, knowledgeable people!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Dylan might out-live me, but she needed a home. She is 25.

Is Dylan the bird in your avatar? She's gorgeous! We have cats ... I pity the one that gets hold of a parrot, though!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Welcome to BackYardChickens! So glad to have you here in our wonderful community of friendly, helpful, knowledgeable people!

You always have such pretty graphics!

 

[mhoney6943]

Over 100 parrots, wow! Different varieties? Could we get you to post some pics? I have always wanted an African grey, but at my age (mid-60's) it's a safe bet that one would outlive me. Sad face, lol.

Yes, just no African Greys unfortunately. I raise smaller parrots. I have Indian Ring Necks, Quakers, Sun conures, Green Cheeked conures, red rumps, bourkes, cockatiels, love birds, parrotlets and I have one Alexandrien male and looking for a female for him, they are just hard to find around my area. I'm in my late 60's so I know the feeling about them out living me, lol. I don't have any pics on my phone that I can post. But will try to get a couple.

 

[Parront]

Is Dylan the bird in your avatar? She's gorgeous! We have cats ... I pity the one that gets hold of a parrot, though!

Dylan owned a cat in her past, she "Meows". I am allergic to cats.

 

[Parront]

Yes, just no African Greys unfortunately. I raise smaller parrots. I have Indian Ring Necks, Quakers, Sun conures, Green Cheeked conures, red rumps, bourkes, cockatiels, love birds, parrotlets and I have one Alexandrien male and looking for a female for him, they are just hard to find around my area. I'm in my late 60's so I know the feeling about them out living me, lol. I don't have any pics on my phone that I can post. But will try to get a couple.

I had a flock of 11 cockatiels at one time. My last chick passed away about 6 years ago, age 23. Had to wait a few years before I could get more birds, got Dylan about 2 years ago. I had over 50 chickens in the '80s. (Along with the 'tiels) -- chickens are just bigger. They are all birds!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

She meows, that's too funny!

 

[Parront]

She meows, that's too funny!

Also, barks. We do not own a dog, she used too though. Car alarm, does that too. We have had her almost 3 years now, and are still discovering more things she can say and sounds she can make. If you are eating, she says, "Want more!"

 

[mhoney6943]

Another owned by a parrot person here. A chicken incubator sounds like it is in your future. Best wishes, I also think chickens would be a great way to clean up expensive rejected parrot pellets!

It is, but I think I need at least 100 chickens to keep up with the 100 parrots, lol. The pelleted food I use is just about identical to chicken feed. I use to use it on my parrots but it's so dusty I gave it up, lol. My chickens still get their own feed that is appropriate for their age. I think they eat better than I do, lol. I started meal worm "farming" a few months ago and having a blast doing that. My chickens think they are crack and will try to fly up on me to get them when they know I have brought them a container of them.
I do have two incubators now that are for chickens but I use them in emergency situations when I have to incubate eggs due to birds that will sometimes abandon their nest. I can also use them as brooders so they are double duty ones, lol.