I have to shed two roos. Please help decide?

[elevan]

Quote:
Okay, I let them out tonight. There are coyotes, owls, raccoons and possums that are quite talented at traversing the fence, but the chickens should be fine.

Each person who keeps chickens (or any other livestock) does so in a slightly different manner. As long as you are keeping your animals in a way that is within the laws of your area and providing for them and keeping them safe.

Figure out what's the best thing for you and YOUR chickens.

Now, I will state that IMHO that allowing the chickens to be out at night is very dangerous to their well being. I'm gonna guess that you were joking by this comment:

Thanks smile But I seriously can't tell if they think I'm being cruel to them by keeping them in. I really just wanted to know about the cockerels. I suspect that I'll have to re-home two.

There is certainly a lot to learn about keeping chickens. Read the forums and ask lots of questions.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

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x2 I would keep the BO, but I'm partial. He may step up to the plate just fine with the other 2 gone.
Also, did you say you were leaving them all out tonight?!

I would let them out during the day, with supervision, rather than at night...hope they're ok!

I appreciate your opinion!

Thanks!

Well, I did open their door. After an hour of collecting the chickens, who all seemed pretty darned disoriented and who didn't wander far, I put them back in for the night. How in the world do folks let them free-range 24/7????? Illia, but where do you live that you can do this? It's just not practical where they could be very easily eaten by the wildlife. Day OR night.

 

[Illia]

I live in a pretty wild area I'll admit, and we have raccoons the size of dogs and we do have bobcats, eagles, hawks, and coyotes too, but, the CD's I string up keep the raptors away, and the fencing for some reason keeps the rest away. I did once have a bobcat steal a chicken then spit her out mid-escape, but, the bobcat got in because some Elk knocked part of the fence down.


The girls have a large coop and a run that protects the opening of it, with small holes so the chickens can enter and leave the little run when they please, so if there's an issue at night, the predator will have to come into the pasture, THEN into the run, and finally the coop. . . And find the chickens are on perches 5 ft in the air, no way to climb up there.

I think it's mainly a trust thing. Know your area and what predators are around, and take what measures you need to in order to make things safer. I fear aerial predators here more than raccoons or the sort, and the CD's have really helped keep those in the skies and away.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

Quote:
Okay, I let them out tonight. There are coyotes, owls, raccoons and possums that are quite talented at traversing the fence, but the chickens should be fine.

Each person who keeps chickens (or any other livestock) does so in a slightly different manner. As long as you are keeping your animals in a way that is within the laws of your area and providing for them and keeping them safe.

Figure out what's the best thing for you and YOUR chickens.

Now, I will state that IMHO that allowing the chickens to be out at night is very dangerous to their well being. I'm gonna guess that you were joking by this comment:

Thanks smile But I seriously can't tell if they think I'm being cruel to them by keeping them in. I really just wanted to know about the cockerels. I suspect that I'll have to re-home two.

There is certainly a lot to learn about keeping chickens. Read the forums and ask lots of questions.

Thank you... As far as I had researched, my run was plentiful. I just didn't know about the roo situation. I've spent many hours on these forums, and feel pretty knowledgeable about things. Cured two of my birds. When I don't know something or need specified help, I ask a question. When I'm told by a member who is a "BYC Educator" in so many ways that my run is unfavorable, I guess I take that seriously. But as fierce as chickens can be, their senses seem dull at night, and they shouldn't be out 24/7.

 

[Illia]

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Please, don't take it personal.

I'm a pretty loud-mouthed, opinionated person, I'll admit. I'm just saying I wouldn't do it, but that's me, and as I've said, most disagree. When I say 24/7 though I just mean that their door is always open for them to got to bed or wake up as late or early as they choose.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

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I mean no insult-- you're lucky I think. I have snakes... try to keep them out. I just take issue with sort of... yeeshing my set-up. They are quite happy birds, in my observation. Even with the three roos, but I'm prepared to be more accommodating. I'd think that the 5 families who are no longer buying battery-cage eggs would make my 10 x 30 for 12-14 acceptable (non yeeshable?).

 

[Atomic Ranch]

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Please, don't take it personal.

I'm a pretty loud-mouthed, opinionated person, I'll admit. I'm just saying I wouldn't do it, but that's me, and as I've said, most disagree. When I say 24/7 though I just mean that their door is always open for them to got to bed or wake up as late or early as they choose.

Me, too. Okay, I get ya.

But they'd all be dead in no time. I sincerely didn't understand your post.

 

[Judy]

You know, about the roos, you could get rid of one and see how it goes with the mating, or over-mating. You mention that you've heard that cochins eat a lot; actually, orps are about the same in that department. Leghorns stay a bit small and slim, and will eat less. It depends on the reason you want a roo. Personally, I'd go with the orp as they lay well, are meaty for eating, and tend to have great personalities. If you feel the ladies will do better with a male around, really, I've found they are quite content without one. Roos are definitely an advantage if you free range, but since you feel that's not really possible where you are, really it's mostly a personal choice. If you keep only one, he should take over the mating, crowing and guarding functions with no other roo to hold him back. You mentioned that the Leghorn is gentle with the ladies. Trouble is, that could change if he's the only one and isn;t prevented from doing his thing by the others.

I have 3 roos and 14 hens, because one of them only recently reached crow / mate age, and because I'm procrastinating. Mine do free range at least part of the time; I have 3 dogs that are somewhat of a predator deterrent, not to mention grandkids and 4 wheelers and visitors some days, and the dogs have been taught not to bother the chickens, but I do have losses periodically, anyway. But my hens are beginning to show the tattered backs of too much mating, so at least one is going soon. Really I should get rid of two, but every time I get down to one, I lose the remaining one and so have no fertile eggs to put under the next broody. So you're not the only one with a decision to make and no clear-cut best answer! For me, about 6 more hens would make a good balance, but I don't need that many eggs.

You're right about chickens being especially vulnerable at night. Evidently they are essentially blind in the dark, and they don't rest well if there is light in the coop. And of course, coons and some of the other common predators tend to hunt at night.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[kfacres]

For what it's worth... here's what we hopefully are wintering over... hopefully in the next couple of weeks- they'll all get combined into one pen.

Pair of Black Silkie crosses
Pair of Black Ameraucanas
4 WLR Cornish hens
Pair of BLR Cornish
Dark Cornish roo
3 cornish cross EE hens, for general egg laying
Pair of broad breasted white turkeys
Pair of guineas (chocolate male, pearl hen)
so according to my count... that's 6 males with 12 females.

In another seperate pen, is 2 silkie hens (which I hope to add another roo and hen to quickly). They will be forced to remain seperated off, as simplily they are too wimpy of a bird to fend their own with the big birds.

and yet in another pen, will be a DC bantam roo, with 4 hens. These pullets should start laying here very quickly, and I plan to hatch their eggs all winter long, so they'll remain seperated off in a breeding pen.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

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Wow, thank you for such a well-thought reply!!!

I really do appreciate everyone here, and value anyone willing to spend time to help.

I acquired chickens because a neighbor had too many, I had a space for them, like fresh eggs, and don't want to perpetuate the bad conditions in cages.

I suppose I'm trying to keep a roo because those were the birds I was dealt. When I adopted them, they were two days old, and I'd like to think that when I take a creature into my care, that I do my best to accommodate then to the best of my ability. Also, I have read (correct me if I'm wrong), that older chickens are tougher to integrate with an established flock later, if I lose a few along the way. If I decide I'd like more birds, I could "have them made" myself and not buy ones bred for sale. And that hatching is a learning experience that I've never had before, so I'm fascinated by the potential down the road. I've also read that they protect the flock. That being said, I ended up with 3 roos. If they make life miserable for my hens, they go.

Sounds like you have the same sort of situation! Do you raise chickens?

I now know what to look for regarding over-breeding... I think. They show no signs at the present time. What breed of roo do you think might be doing the most damage? Can spurs be trimmed or anything? Sorry for all of my questions!

Seriously, they DID seem blind overnight. I'm glad I didn't keep them out. Too many critters go over, under and through my fences.

Thanks again!
Carrie