Eggs will still be fertilized for over a week. For breeding they say wait 4 weeks between roosters.I thought about it but I don’t have an incubator and all the eggs are in the fridge. If I can get another from my friends it should be just as good
Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion
- Thread starter LaurenRitz
- Start date
Appalachickens
Crowing
Little update. Got the siding on, made of pine fence pickets. My first attempt at putting on a roof on the forest chicken shelter was a fail because rain came in steadily right onto the roost bar. So I re-designed and added a sloped 3/4 inch plywood roof with a waterproofing barrier and then the metal panels. I checked after a good rain and it seems to be working well. All that is left is putting on the doors, which will stay open after he future chickens figure out this is home. Can’t wait for spring so I can get started!
We all learn by doing (and redoing). It looks good!
Appalachickens
Crowing
Thank you! Carpentry isn’t my strong suit but I am certainly learning as I go.
Update:
I think I last posted about my recently-acquired game cock who tried flying at my knees. I began enforcing my 4' personal space with him, using eye contact, voice, and gesture/movement to communicate that he needed to back off. I spoke firmly or used a sharp voice to warn him. He caught on pretty quickly and we went through a period of testing when he would check to see how close he could get, and I would remind him, and he would concede. Since then, I have not had any trouble at all. He is very respectful--turning aside or moving out of my way without having to be reminded. Even when he is chasing away another rooster, he skids to a stop & walks by me at a respectful pace before racing after the hoodlum again.
He earned his keep early this fall when he successfully engaged & fought off the forest hawk (cooper's hawk?) who had been attacking the flock. He was a bruised and a little bloody, but none of the flock was harmed.
We had a busy spring and summer. Three hens went broody, two of them twice. Total of 24 chicks hatched. At this point, 17 are still alive. I began the summer with 1 rooster and 8 hens; lost 2 hens. Now I have 12 females (7 adults) and 11 males (4 adults). I wonder whether they will continue to raise significantly more males, or whether there is some mechanism which keeps the flock proportions about equal.
I have been--and still am--concerned about the flock dynamics with so many males. So far, so good, though. The three oldest of this year's generation position themselves at strategic points and make excellent sentries when there is an alarm given. The one who was the biggest troublemaker [fighter] in his early days seems to be the smartest. Twice I have seen him round up missing flock members and bring them to the safety of the coop yard when there is danger, and he cleverly chooses to roost with the 4 laying hens in the coop so that he alone has access to them first thing in the morning. (All the rest of the flock prefer to roost in the holly tree.)
My current challenges: 1) what to do with the extra males, 2) how reduce reliance on store-bought feed & broaden their forage territory.
Also, I bought Florida Bullfrog's book--Free Range Survival Chickens--and devoured it. So much good content, no fluff. Having no personal experience with chickens, and knowing no one who free-ranges them, this book made a fantastic foundation of theory and practical advice. I so appreciate all the time and thought that obviously went into it.
I think I last posted about my recently-acquired game cock who tried flying at my knees. I began enforcing my 4' personal space with him, using eye contact, voice, and gesture/movement to communicate that he needed to back off. I spoke firmly or used a sharp voice to warn him. He caught on pretty quickly and we went through a period of testing when he would check to see how close he could get, and I would remind him, and he would concede. Since then, I have not had any trouble at all. He is very respectful--turning aside or moving out of my way without having to be reminded. Even when he is chasing away another rooster, he skids to a stop & walks by me at a respectful pace before racing after the hoodlum again.
He earned his keep early this fall when he successfully engaged & fought off the forest hawk (cooper's hawk?) who had been attacking the flock. He was a bruised and a little bloody, but none of the flock was harmed.
We had a busy spring and summer. Three hens went broody, two of them twice. Total of 24 chicks hatched. At this point, 17 are still alive. I began the summer with 1 rooster and 8 hens; lost 2 hens. Now I have 12 females (7 adults) and 11 males (4 adults). I wonder whether they will continue to raise significantly more males, or whether there is some mechanism which keeps the flock proportions about equal.
I have been--and still am--concerned about the flock dynamics with so many males. So far, so good, though. The three oldest of this year's generation position themselves at strategic points and make excellent sentries when there is an alarm given. The one who was the biggest troublemaker [fighter] in his early days seems to be the smartest. Twice I have seen him round up missing flock members and bring them to the safety of the coop yard when there is danger, and he cleverly chooses to roost with the 4 laying hens in the coop so that he alone has access to them first thing in the morning. (All the rest of the flock prefer to roost in the holly tree.)
My current challenges: 1) what to do with the extra males, 2) how reduce reliance on store-bought feed & broaden their forage territory.
Also, I bought Florida Bullfrog's book--Free Range Survival Chickens--and devoured it. So much good content, no fluff. Having no personal experience with chickens, and knowing no one who free-ranges them, this book made a fantastic foundation of theory and practical advice. I so appreciate all the time and thought that obviously went into it.
Appalachickens
Crowing
That book has been really helpful to me as I plan my forest flock. I’m hoping they can primarily be foragers with minimal food from me. I will put out a 10 gallon waterer like the ones I made for my coop chickens since our creek only runs after it has rained.
- Thread starter
- #777
As long as you can feed the extra males and they're not creating problems, I'd say leave them. Looks like they're establishing a decent flock dynamic, with the roosters doing what they're supposed to do.
When I give them treats first thing in the morning, I scatter it where I want them to forage. This helps them to understand that there is food in these areas, and they expand out from there.
They use a good portion of the yard now, although I do note that they're cleaning out their bowls entirely, which they were not doing two weeks ago.
Middle of December isn't too bad. I'm trying to decide if I should give them more, or just keep an eye on it and trust them to find it.
And keep an eye on that rooster--he may try to ambush you or attack from behind.
When I give them treats first thing in the morning, I scatter it where I want them to forage. This helps them to understand that there is food in these areas, and they expand out from there.
They use a good portion of the yard now, although I do note that they're cleaning out their bowls entirely, which they were not doing two weeks ago.
Middle of December isn't too bad. I'm trying to decide if I should give them more, or just keep an eye on it and trust them to find it.
And keep an eye on that rooster--he may try to ambush you or attack from behind.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #779
They'll warm up to him as he proves he's a good protector and a good provider. Might take a few weeks.
I think they had barely started warming up to the last one
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