Maine

[lazy gardener]

I have a wonderful recipe for chicken pot pie.

 

[islandgirl82]

This is my first rooster that I've raised from chickhood...I don't know how long it takes them to fully mature (I think I read around 18 months somewhere on BYC) but I'm not sure I want to wait until then to find out if he'll mellow out or get even more aggressive. I've had hopes for him, especially after the encounter he had with my Newfie and he learned a valuable lesson in NOT biting me. He's very respectful of people and for that I have to give him credit. He's also a better watchdog than the dogs (recently took in a foster dog who is marvelous with the chickens despite his lack of exposure to anything beyond the bedroom he was locked in for all but a few hours each day for the last 9 years) but I love my girls and don't want them to have to put up with his abuse. He's not trying to woo anyone, just bullies them.

LG, I may have to get that pot pie recipe from you and find someone local who processes.

What ages of cockerels/roosters are people here generally comfortable in knowing what they're dealing with? Should I be giving him some more time to settle down or cull him now before he gets too tough to eat?

 

[buckabucka]

I've had good success with older roosters (two years old) in a pressure cooker, if you happen to have one. The meat turns nice and tender.

I love having roosters, but I think sometimes it is hard to get one that is good both with the hens and with people. Roosters are so abundant, though, so I wouldn't put up with one you don't like. I've had mixed feelings about getting rid of some of my less-than-perfect roosters, but afterwards, I never regretted it for a second.

 

[islandgirl82]

Thank you Bucka. I loved my first rooster. He was respectful of both people and his girls and he died protecting them and bonus...he was gorgeous and quiet (crowing between 7 and 7:30am only). He has left me with certain expectations in regards to roosters and I'm having trouble accepting anything less.

A pressure cooker I do not have but am not opposed to investing.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Anyone want a really sweet pekin mix female? She is all white like a pekin but has "freckles" on her bill. She's 3 years old ish, lays daily and her mate just got eaten by a fox this morning. She's so upset. Adding that last summer she went broody on a bunch of eggs but her ducklings met an untimely demise so I don't know what kind of mom she is. She's very well behaved, knows commands (if you need her to go to bed early just clap your hands), and otherwise goes to bed on time without prompting. She's used to free ranging but has also been okay with being in a run from time to time.

 

[lazy gardener]

Island Girl: You say he's 8 months old? While it's said that some roosters tend to mellow after a year or so old, I'd be for culling long before that. My current roo is a nice boy. He's people friendly. Not wanting to be held, or any thing like that. But, he comes around to talk to me when ever I'm outside, and he comes to investigate any one who comes to the house. He won't allow his girls to fight. He accompanies them back and forth to the nest boxes, tid bit's them, lets them eat first. Occasionally will chase one of the girls, but, who's to know who started it, and what goes on in the dating life of chickens? Some of the girls have feather wear, but I think that may be as much a factor of feather quality as aggressive mating. The one time he contemplated being people aggressive was last summer when my 8 y.o. gdtr. ran across the yard squealing. He may have thought she was chasing his girls. Any way, he gave pursuit, and she reacted with fear. I gave her 5 minutes to cool down, then forced her to come out and learn how to herd a chicken. She spent a couple of weeks training him, and he's been a good boy since. The only complaint I have is that he loves to hear his own voice. You've had a good rooster before. So you know what that can look like. Replace him.

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

It's been a very long time since I've been on here. I ended up having to give away all my chcikens and ducks last year

Now I would like to get some more chickens and maybe ducks. Where should I order the chicks from? I don't really want to wait until June to get some, through Paris Farmers Union. But I do want sexed chicks. I'm also only looking at getting around 12. I way too many last time and don't want to do that again. So where does everyone get their chicks from?? They don't need to be the best of the best but I would like decent birds.

 

[lazy gardener]

Where are you? Just for grins and giggles, check with Perko Feeds in Exeter, if they are within decent traveling distance. They had a decent list of chicks, and real good prices last time I checked with them, but I've never ordered from them.

 

[islandgirl82]

LG, thank you. I've had a love/hate issue with him for a while and I do know that there are some great roosters out there. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and there was quite a while in there that I thought all would be alright but in watching him again this morning during their breakfast, he had all the girls so stressed out; If he wasn't chasing them away from one of the multiple feeders, he was targeting my old girl and ripping out her feathers as she ran from him. She's normally a very friendly lady and though she's top hen, she rules gently. Now she's constantly looking over her shoulder and skittish, not with me but the second she sees him she's gone. He's relentless. His mother is still charging across the yard and attacking him when the rest of the girls have had enough as does one of the younger girls. I'm loving that they are working together and looking out for each other.

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

Sorry, guess I should have mentioned where I am. I live in Gray, Maine.