Maine

[chickenneighbor]

My neighbors have a leghorn in with silkies, sex links, a jersey giant, and a white crested polish. Stevie Chicks, the leghorn, (yes, I know, but they let me name her and I'm a child of the seventies!) gets along great with the flock. She's usually one of the first to get to the snack lady (me), but does not like to be touched. She does have a habit of flying out of the pen, which has four foot wire fencing, and is dangerous with a fox in the neighborhood, but I think she is quick enough to get air bound should the red devil show up.

 

[Heatherschix]

Does anyone know where I can score some gorgeous super dark laying French copper marans?

The ones I got this spring turned out to be roos...

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Who in Maine has Leghorns? If you have some, how old are they and are they in a mixed flock? If so, what other breeds do you have? I've talked with a person on an other thread who tells me that my leghorns will turn into the devil's spawn after they reach full maturity, and they'll make the rest of my flock rue the day they were hatched. Experience, anyone?? Right now, they're afraid of their own shadow, and I couldn't imagine them ever getting to a point of flock dominance.

I had 4 hatchery leghorns for a number of years. I adored them. They were some of the sweeter chickens that I had, both as chicks (handled often) and adults. Two of them were lap chickens. None were devilish although they were high up on the pecking order. The biggest issues I had with them were the fact that they were very prone to flying over the fence and free ranging all day (which isn't a big deal to me, they were fast enough to get away from predators) and all of them died from internal laying issues prior to their 4th birthday. Their large combs and wattles are also sometimes an issue in really cold weather. Couple of mine had some damage from dunking in the water and then freezing but nothing significant. I would certainly get them again, but likely try to get non-hatchery genetics in the hopes that they are healthier.

 

[suzMEchicks]

Hi Lazy Gardener. I have 2 White Leghorns with 2 RIR and 2 Sexlinks. They are the smallest of the bunch but have shared the highest status since they were babies. They were the first to fly out of the box and first to fly up in a tree. They are the only ones who let me pet them easily on a regular basis so they are more social to me although they all come running when they hear me open the back door. (Treats!) They have been the most consistent layers. Even through that nasty winter. I agree with the above when she said they have problems dunking their wattles in the water in the winter. They got few specs of frost bite. I would get them again. They are my favorites. Dont tell the others. Ya know I'm not supposed to have favorites!!! I forgot to answer your question. I have seen no evidence of aggressive behavior on their part. They may be asserting themselves when Im not looking but there have not been any fights or injuries. They all seem to get along.

 

[mlowen]

It's hard to say "flock" with a straight face, but two of the five hens I have are leghorns. They seem to be numbers one and two. They (all?) got into feather picking this past winter, but other than that none of them seem to be mean to the low girls. They are are the only ones to squat for me, so they are the only ones I ever can just pick up in broad daylight to check over. One had a point or two freeze off last winter (14 below in the coop) but wattles did fine. These are all hatchery or first generation bred so I don't know how they'll do, long term. I like them much better than I expected and would think about replacing them with a breeder's stock when I need to.

 

[CoopChick719]

I have 2 TSC white Leghorns (Mrs. Kravitz & Estelle) in my mixed flock (EE, BRs RSL, Sizzles, Cochins, PRs, BAs, Columbian Dottes). They are a little over a year old. They seem to be pretty high up in the pecking order but also get along well with the chicklets. I've never seen them chase them like my RSL does! Mrs. K is very nosy. If you are working outside or in the coop, she'll be sure to come supervise. She was the first 1 to jump the fence but also is the first 1 to greet me. Estelle is more skittish--does her own thing most of the time.

 

[suzMEchicks]

I need to add (about the leghorns) that I got them all at the local feed store . They have lived together as babies since the day I picked them up and they are a year nd a half old.

 

[lazy gardener]

Thank you all for the leghorn report. You've all set my mind to ease. My girls are rose comb, so no frost bite issues there, however they'll be at risk with wattles as will the rest of the flock. I'm loving the looks of these brown leghorns. Gold head with black lacing at hackles, partridge overall, and a rose colored breast, super long yellow legs, and a lean body, though they're as big if not bigger than the Doms now. Right from the hatchery, they were running machines. They're over the top of the fence every day, unless i leave the gate open for them. Unfortunately, the easiest route over the top, leads directly into my garden.

So, as soon as I butcher the roos, i'll be clipping some wings. This morning at 5:30, I'd had it with the rooster drama, so i rounded up all the boys except for one, and they are in the 2 tractors. They're still being PITA's but at least they're not harrassing the girls. Hopefully hubby can wield the axe for me soon.
The one roo I left out was full EE. He's quite the looker. He's getting the job done with the girls, but, he's on the rough side. He dances, does a bit of tid-bitting, but then he gobbles down the tidbits. Second question of the day: Without him having someone to learn from, can I expect him to mellow down and treat the girls with a little respect, and how long will it take, or is he destined to be a "grab and attack the hen" type of rooster? It's hard to hear the girls squawking when he does his thing. I know he has to take the older hens down off their top of the pecking order pedestal, but, how much aggression is tolerable???

Bucka: I think my chicks were integrated at about 9 weeks. I started by letting them range with the big girls... after letting the big girls check them out in their tractor for about a week. I honestly can't remember, but it went quite well. I then moved them into the lower level of the coop with a wire divider, and took that out after a week or two.

 

[buckabucka]

Thanks LG. My chicks are 10 weeks and I think I'll put them in with the flock in a separate pen this week. Maybe I'll be able to mix them in after a month or so.

I could not get rid of any of my 18 cockerels on Uncle Henry's or Craigslist, so tomorrow I am giving 6 or 7 away, along with 9 or 10 old hens. I found someone on Craigslist that takes unwanted birds, and while they claim they will be pets or distributed to farms, I am presuming they will be eaten. A google Search of the address shows a taxidermy business, and it gave me a chuckle to picture my flock mounted on display for eternity.
It will be a relief to have some of the cockerels removed from their small pen, and the hens, well, I hate to see them go, but they are more than 4 years old and I'm trying to enforce my 50 bird limit. I'm actually keeping 5 of my 4+ year old birds as some kind of bizarre scientific experiment.

How old is this EE roo? I do think they settle down as they mature, but no guarantee.

 

[Tnic]

Thanks LG. My chicks are 10 weeks and I think I'll put them in with the flock in a separate pen this week. Maybe I'll be able to mix them in after a month or so.

I could not get rid of any of my 18 cockerels on Uncle Henry's or Craigslist, so tomorrow I am giving 6 or 7 away, along with 9 or 10 old hens. I found someone on Craigslist that takes unwanted birds, and while they claim they will be pets or distributed to farms, I am presuming they will be eaten. A google Search of the address shows a taxidermy business, and it gave me a chuckle to picture my flock mounted on display for eternity.

It will be a relief to have some of the cockerels removed from their small pen, and the hens, well, I hate to see them go, but they are more than 4 years old and I'm trying to enforce my 50 bird limit. I'm actually keeping 5 of my 4+ year old birds as some kind of bizarre scientific experiment.

How old is this EE roo? I do think they settle down as they mature, but no guarantee.

If I were home I'da hepped ya with them cockerels, though they'd be destined for an all expenses paid holiday to freezer camp.

I've actually given some thought to what I'd do with my older hens (when I have em and they're gettin on). I figure if they're good brooders and moms and can still work the compost heap, they're still useful to me even if their laying days are behind them. The Bible does say, if you don't work, you don't eat.

On a different note, (or speaking of eating?)
Where do folks in the Bangor zone buy their feed? Blue Seal, TSC a local mill?