Keeping Chickens Free Range

[LesGus5]

Dang that's about 1100 miles too far to go for a roo.

Agreed. Here are a couple of pics in case anyone else in the San Francisco/Sacramento Area is interested

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

He has just started displaying towrd me and tries to keep me away from the girls.He runs from my husband, but has just started challenging me. From what I have read, it might not be the best idea to keep him around the kids (ages 3 and 1 1/2).


He's doing what Roos do; protecting his girls, showing his dominance over others he finds a threat to his 'Manhood'. (I WANT IT NOTED, I DIDN'T take advantage of the male bashing opening there…LOL).
The 1.5 yr old child may be too young to understand but if the kids don't ACT scared of him, likely the case with your Hubby, he'll learn not to be threatened by your presence near his girls. My Bantam doesn't bother me but when I had family out, (Whiny like folks) I was quickly told how dangerous he is/was. Bantam, 3-4lbs compared to 200+ lbs each person.

Finally, I nudged him when he was already agitated, he pecked my bare foot, I ran over to both my 'guests', bawling @ the 3mm/.011 cut.

That ended the rooster issues AND the Human complaints. They ended feeling threatened, he ended REacting to their feelings of Fear.
Just what I have heard from old cowboys, & exper. To each his own..

 

[K Epp]

Agreed. Here are a couple of pics in case anyone else in the San Francisco/Sacramento Area is interested

Like someone said he is just doing his job as a roo. At those young ages I would keep the kids away from the hens to unless very closely supervised.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

After all my bragging about my dogs here, I have to eat crow....

I lost 6 CX's babies this morning. I went out at 6 am and let them out. (it still gets light here around 5).

I then went to my Mother's house, across the driveway for coffee and see how she was today. At about 7:30 I went back home. I did not let my dogs out of there kennel this morning. I kept them in the house. My dogs are kennel trained, they sleep in their kennel. the kennel is their den.

Normally I take them with me, this morning I did not. Anyways, at 7:30 I went back into the house after feeding chickens and doing morning chores. I still had all my CX's. They were so cute running around playing like big birds. I made myself some bacon and eggs. Watched the depressing news on TV and fed the dogs. At 8:30 I went back outside to see a predator with a chick in its mouth. I actually saw it from my step. I went for a for a gun. I had to decide between my 17 or the 12 ga. I took the 12 gauge.

I opened the door and the predator was looking right at me. That is the last thing the predator saw. It killed 6 chicks in that hour.

Why was I so stupid as to not let my dogs run free like I normally do.

This is not a good day in Minnesota.

Hey, Duluth, we're H-U-M-A-N, meant to make mistakes. Forgiving others is easy when compared to forgiving ourselves. You ridded your hens another predator. The dogs know Now, TO make noise if same type appears? An Ad Lib of Dogs: "Did you hear that loud noise Dad made and what it did to that thing? I think we better make sure those things DON'T come into the yard, keep Daddy from making that loud noise again…"

 

[LesGus5]

Like someone said he is just doing his job as a roo. At those young ages I would keep the kids away from the hens to unless very closely supervised.

Yes. He is doing his job, so i'd just as soon give him the chance to do it somewhere else. The neighbors aren't really happy with his crowing either and city says no roos.... we will likely have to re-home him anyway.

 

[bobbi-j]

Yes. He is doing his job, so i'd just as soon give him the chance to do it somewhere else. The neighbors aren't really happy with his crowing either and city says no roos.... we will likely have to re-home him anyway.

A good rooster protects his hens ("doing his job") without aggression toward humans... And who wants an animal that causes you to have to watch your back all the time?

 

[QueenBubbles]

Sorry for your CX loss! But now you know how valuable your dogs are to protecting your flock. A hard lesson, for sure, though.

 

[HanwellChickens]

A good rooster protects his hens ("doing his job") without aggression toward humans... And who wants an animal that causes you to have to watch your back all the time?

And that is the reason I just rehomed my Easter Egger Roo. He is great with the ladies, but I didn't trust him around smaller kids. I've advised his new owners of his issues.

 

[duluthralphie]

I am happy to report I only lost one chick to the "fur bearing critter". I Thought I had lost 6. It seems they were hiding, and hiding well. They must have been in the scrape iron pile or in tall grass, either way I am ecstatic.

Tonight the CX chicks came out for Chicken TV time for the first time. They were very good, active and mixed with the older birds well. It also appears "King Brutus the First" stepped up to the plate, performing his duties admirably. After the "critter" passed from this world, Brutus assumed a position on the roof of the chicks house. He was clucking an all safe song, I think.

He seemed to be watching over the chicks. He even allowed them to eat off his snacks tonight. There was one lower rooster today that took a swipe at a chick, Brutus had him by the neck and dropped him to the ground. The offending rooster ran, and Brutus gave chase. I was impressed. Brutus seemed to take it personally.

BTW the offending rooster, a red sex link, passed on Chicken snacks tonight and choose to graze in the grass.

Brutus and the babies:

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm proud of that boy. He seems to have his head screwed on straight.