How is your flock today?

[Sally PB]

Congrats on the badges!

Yesterday my cockerel rushed my feet, head down, hackles up. We were in the coop which has about 6" of pine shavings, so he couldn't jump away as fast. I was able to catch him and hold him down. He stopped struggling after about 15 seconds, and I held him down for another 15. I have been trying to teach him I AM the boss of him, but he's fast and I'm not. So maybe I got through. I want to keep him, but I don't want to argue with him. I had to cull two other cockerels at 4 months because they became unholy terrors when hormones hit, to me and the pullets. This guy is good with the girls, mostly ok with me.

I make a point of letting him know the treats I bring are for him too, to give to his lady friends. I thought that was working to smooth out our relationship, but yesterday he was ornery when I was in cleaning the coop.

Today he didn't seem eager to rush me. So maybe he's learning.

 

[BlueBaby]

Congrats on the badges!

Yesterday my cockerel rushed my feet, head down, hackles up. We were in the coop which has about 6" of pine shavings, so he couldn't jump away as fast. I was able to catch him and hold him down. He stopped struggling after about 15 seconds, and I held him down for another 15. I have been trying to teach him I AM the boss of him, but he's fast and I'm not. So maybe I got through. I want to keep him, but I don't want to argue with him. I had to cull two other cockerels at 4 months because they became unholy terrors when hormones hit, to me and the pullets. This guy is good with the girls, mostly ok with me.

I make a point of letting him know the treats I bring are for him too, to give to his lady friends. I thought that was working to smooth out our relationship, but yesterday he was ornery when I was in cleaning the coop.

Today he didn't seem eager to rush me. So maybe he's learning.

Out of curiosity, what breed is he? I had an Australorp rooster that used to try that with me, but I was watching him out of the corner of my eye, so I ended up being faster than he was. He made a good sunday dinner.

 

[Sally PB]

I have three BA pullets and my cockerel is a Buff Orpington. The other two I had to cull were also BOs; never buying straight run again!

 

[BlueBaby]

I have three BA pullets and my cockerel is a Buff Orpington. The other two I had to cull were also BOs; never buying straight run again!

I have heard before that even people who buy newly hatched pullet's only from some places can still end up with some cockerel's in the batch.

 

[Sally PB]

Sure. I was just glad that the three BA pullets were indeed pullets. I wanted six chickens, and was hoping for one cockerel. Well, I do have one cockerel now...

I'm hoping one of my girls goes broody next spring. I'd like to hatch eggs, but don't know what I would do with more males. I couldn't give the two I had to cull away, even to be chicken dinner, some disassembly required. I think I might get two or three BO pullet chicks, and maybe hatch one.

I don't really want to brood in the house again. So. Much. Dust! And then there's integration. Since the girls are taking some time off from laying (partial molt going on), you'd think that one of them could do the brooding job for me.

 

[BlueBaby]

Sure. I was just glad that the three BA pullets were indeed pullets. I wanted six chickens, and was hoping for one cockerel. Well, I do have one cockerel now...

I'm hoping one of my girls goes broody next spring. I'd like to hatch eggs, but don't know what I would do with more males. I couldn't give the two I had to cull away, even to be chicken dinner, some disassembly required. I think I might get two or three BO pullet chicks, and maybe hatch one.

I don't really want to brood in the house again. So. Much. Dust! And then there's integration. Since the girls are taking some time off from laying (partial molt going on), you'd think that one of them could do the brooding job for me.

I both hatch and brood mine in my spare room in the house. I have 2 incubators. As soon as they are feathered, I am more than happy to take them out to the grow-out pen. Some of my extra roo's have found new homes and flocks, and then others have become dinner too. I can't keep them all!

 

[BlueBaby]

My flock is doing good today, and the chicken's should be happy for awhile again now. They got another 50-pound bag of feed, another 50-pound bag of mixed scratch, and a bale of alfalfa hay this afternoon. I plan on cleaning out the nesting boxes tomorrow and putting some fresh bermuda hay in those.

 

[416bigbore]

Congrats on the badges!

Yesterday my cockerel rushed my feet, head down, hackles up. We were in the coop which has about 6" of pine shavings, so he couldn't jump away as fast. I was able to catch him and hold him down. He stopped struggling after about 15 seconds, and I held him down for another 15. I have been trying to teach him I AM the boss of him, but he's fast and I'm not. So maybe I got through. I want to keep him, but I don't want to argue with him. I had to cull two other cockerels at 4 months because they became unholy terrors when hormones hit, to me and the pullets. This guy is good with the girls, mostly ok with me.

I make a point of letting him know the treats I bring are for him too, to give to his lady friends. I thought that was working to smooth out our relationship, but yesterday he was ornery when I was in cleaning the coop.

Today he didn't seem eager to rush me. So maybe he's learning.

Our little Roo Chewy is at the four month old age also and starting to develop a little attitude as well. He spends all day out running around with the rest of the flock and then still comes in at night when the temps drop. He has started to become more vocal with his different little noises he makes while strutting around. Not crowning thank goodness, he only does that briefly in the morning and is quiet the rest of the day.

Chewy even raised his hackles at my GF as she was putting his little dish of treats down on the floor and he actually pecked her hand. His new little nickname is Pecker Head! I sure hope he mellows or he will start to be a permanent member of our flock 24-7 out in the coop.

 

[416bigbore]

I have heard before that even people who buy newly hatched pullet's only from some places can still end up with some cockerel's in the batch.

I have seen different videos on how they sex ducklings and chicks and I think they purposely throw one or two in a batch because they too have a hard time trying to sell just the males.

 

[416bigbore]

I both hatch and brood mine in my spare room in the house. I have 2 incubators. As soon as they are feathered, I am more than happy to take them out to the grow-out pen. Some of my extra roo's have found new homes and flocks, and then others have become dinner too. I can't keep them all!

Once things get a little more settled and I have a little extra time, I would like to start another separate new flock for some eggs but more for a meat bird. I have been researching New Hampshire breed and I think that is the way I want to go for a good overall hardy breed of chicken over a fast growing Cornish cross broiler.

My though on this is, I would not have to process a large number of birds at one time and then I can cull the select few for dinner over time. I personally like a slower growing poultry over fast, because I think it makes for a healthier poultry overall with less fast growth related issues.