Hey neighbor, welcome!
Maine
- Thread starter chickenboy
- Start date
Okay good I thought I had done something wrong when I introduced them because they weren't hanging all out as a big group. They all seem perfectly happy though and sharing a coop/run isnt' an issue. They each have their own hangout in our yard. The older ladies hang out under the blue spruce by the coop and the new ladies and Archie the rooster hang out on the other side of the house by the driveway under our Forsythia and Rougosa rose.
I am really surprised at how quickly the flock accepted the rooster. I don't know if it was because he was penned right by their run so they could see him/he could see them and that helped, or if the flock was just ready for a rooster. I forgot how much a rooster takes care of his hens, this guy is so funny and still getting used to the dog (who never bothers the chickens) and the cat (who will stalk them but the second the chickens turn and confront her she runs off). They also wander much further from the house now that we have a rooster
I am really surprised at how quickly the flock accepted the rooster. I don't know if it was because he was penned right by their run so they could see him/he could see them and that helped, or if the flock was just ready for a rooster. I forgot how much a rooster takes care of his hens, this guy is so funny and still getting used to the dog (who never bothers the chickens) and the cat (who will stalk them but the second the chickens turn and confront her she runs off). They also wander much further from the house now that we have a rooster
I guess I've never NOT had a rooster, but I do really enjoy watching their antics. We did have one that ran at DH all the time, but we got rid of him. We already had the new rooster growing out on the other side of the chicken wire, so he went in with the flock the very next day. It took him a while to take charge of the top hens, but everyone gets along now. I have 4 roosters now, including two who live together. They have their spats, but so far no one has drawn blood.
- Jul 26, 2012
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- 4
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Hello Fellow Mainers,
I am new to chicken rearing. I have 13. 12 Hens about 6 months old now, still no eggs. And a rooster. 7 of the girls are RIR. 5 Easter Eggers and the Roo is a RIR. Anyway, I have been feeding them layer, scraps (mainly veggies from the garden and bread) and they free range, so whatever they get their beaks into. Now, my question is "What do you feed them in the winter?" I have been using Poulin Grain Layer. Label says 15% protein,is that enough?
Also, my poor Roo seems to have gotten frostbite already on his beautiful comb. Some outer areas have turned dark purple! It hasn't even been really cold yet. (I am just north of Bangor) Is this just unavoidable?
Thanks for the advice!
I am new to chicken rearing. I have 13. 12 Hens about 6 months old now, still no eggs. And a rooster. 7 of the girls are RIR. 5 Easter Eggers and the Roo is a RIR. Anyway, I have been feeding them layer, scraps (mainly veggies from the garden and bread) and they free range, so whatever they get their beaks into. Now, my question is "What do you feed them in the winter?" I have been using Poulin Grain Layer. Label says 15% protein,is that enough?
Also, my poor Roo seems to have gotten frostbite already on his beautiful comb. Some outer areas have turned dark purple! It hasn't even been really cold yet. (I am just north of Bangor) Is this just unavoidable?
Thanks for the advice!
I'm in the camp that thinks 15% protein is too little except for summer laying and small birds. My flock gets mostly 18% protein and I'll up that in the winter and when they're molting. I do sometimes mix a bag of layer with a bag of 18% (or 1:2 in winter) and put it into their feeders to give them a bit more calcium.
Are you sure your birds aren't laying? If they free range all day they might have hidden nests somewhere. You can tell if they're laying by their combs and wattles (big and red = laying) and if you feel their pubic bones, 1 finger width in between is not laying, but if you can fit 2 fingers in between, they're laying.
I think it's too warm for frostbite right now, unless your coop is really damp and doesn't have a lot of venting.
Are you sure your birds aren't laying? If they free range all day they might have hidden nests somewhere. You can tell if they're laying by their combs and wattles (big and red = laying) and if you feel their pubic bones, 1 finger width in between is not laying, but if you can fit 2 fingers in between, they're laying.
I think it's too warm for frostbite right now, unless your coop is really damp and doesn't have a lot of venting.
- Jan 29, 2010
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It sounds like a seamless transition, I figured it would be, he is a good boy and the way you introduced him was ideal. My flock splits up like that as well. My flock is the same way, if you have birds rhat werent all raised together, that's usually what happens. I have even seen it with birds that were all hatch mates. Some of the hens prefer one roo over another, or prefer the company of certain other birds. Chickens have friends too! One of my Fav hens prefers to hang with the older birds, and all the others are always together by themselves. She even roosts with the others, when her hatch mates mostly huddle on the floor or use the low roost. I have noticed, too that when you raise chicks with the older birds like I do, that when the pullets come of age particularly when they start laying, they will leave the chick group and join the older hens and the roo.
anyasmifya, I think the purple you are seeing in your roo is just because of hormones Frostbite turns the skin black, there tends to be swelling and bleeding as well, depending on the severity of it. As time goes by the black will shrivel into a scab and seperate from the living tissue, like a scab. Humidity in the coop is the key to frostbite too. Keeping the litter good and dry and having lots of ventilation is more important than insulation. I have had them get frostbite on the sides of their comb, directly in line above their nostrils, because of the vapor rising from their breathing, and none on the tips. Thats why putting petrolium jelly on the comb helps, it prevents the moisture from their skin and protects from frostbite the same way it protects a baby's skin from diaper rash.
anyasmifya, I think the purple you are seeing in your roo is just because of hormones
Frostbite turns the skin black, there tends to be swelling and bleeding as well, depending on the severity of it. As time goes by the black will shrivel into a scab and seperate from the living tissue, like a scab. Humidity in the coop is the key to frostbite too. Keeping the litter good and dry and having lots of ventilation is more important than insulation. I have had them get frostbite on the sides of their comb, directly in line above their nostrils, because of the vapor rising from their breathing, and none on the tips. Thats why putting petrolium jelly on the comb helps, it prevents the moisture from their skin and protects from frostbite the same way it protects a baby's skin from diaper rash.
Have you checked craigslist? I browse when I'm bored....came across this! http://maine.craigslist.org/grd/3386698830.html
If you dig through the farm and garden listings, you'll probably find more!
there is a farm swap at the waterville tractor supply this coming saturday nov 10th from 9:00-1:00
there should be
some birds for sale there and you could bring your rooster if you still had him and maybe find him a home.
there should be
How was the Longfellow's event, Hoppy? I had hoped to make it there, but I'm fighting some bronchitis-like disease.
very good turn out. lots of pottery items, 1 other glass maker (right next to me) , cards and photography and some cute alpacas. lots of friendly people and I did make some more then I spent which is always a bonus.
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