Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[gaitngirl]

PK - I've had 3 roos to date (though I do have 5 cockerels currently, as well). Cruiser, my EE roo, was great with the ladies from day one. He knew how to seduce them, so they really didn't mind. They all came running when he called them over to look at the goodies he'd found for them (a common ploy with these Casanova's). Then he'd impress them with his dancing. They always came back for more. My 2nd EE roo (who came from the pullet bin at Big Acre in Davison, lol) was awful toward the girls. He chased them and jumped them incessantly - Cruiser ignored him, astonishingly. The girls all ran and hid as soon as Brat Boy so much as looked at them like he was 'in the mood'. He'd catch them and they would scream like he was killing them. He was rehomed pretty fast. When I got my 3rd roo, Tex (a huge BR who came with a small flock I acquired), he wouldn't let Cruiser anywhere near the girls. I had initially thought that there were enough hens to go around (12 apiece) but I was wrong. Tex was great with the hens, too, and watched out for them like a champ. He was very aggressive toward people of the shorter persuasion (kids) and dogs, though, so he went to live with an older couple who were looking for a roo to watch over their 20 BR hens. Cruiser's personality changed as soon as Tex was gone ~ he became almost as bad as Brat Boy for a short while. I think he was either mad at the hens or just had repressed testosterone issues! He's mellowed back out but he has his favorites that are showing some wear. I have a couple of hens who run from him and one who won't even go in the coop if he's in there. She was a lone house chicken for her first 6 months. She's not very comfortable with other chickens in general, though she is very good with much younger ones. She prefers to be wherever I'm at - even if it's in the garage or the house. I may just have to buy a chicken diaper and make her a house chicken again . . .
Your young man just has to learn some wooing skills, lol.

 

[RaZ]

Best roo I've seen is the one that BYFM has. He looks like a fluffy beach-ball with feet.

 

[preciouskitty]

PK - I've had 3 roos to date (though I do have 5 cockerels currently, as well). Cruiser, my EE roo, was great with the ladies from day one. He knew how to seduce them, so they really didn't mind. They all came running when he called them over to look at the goodies he'd found for them (a common ploy with these Casanova's). Then he'd impress them with his dancing. They always came back for more. My 2nd EE roo (who came from the pullet bin at Big Acre in Davison, lol) was awful toward the girls. He chased them and jumped them incessantly - Cruiser ignored him, astonishingly. The girls all ran and hid as soon as Brat Boy so much as looked at them like he was 'in the mood'. He's catch them and they would scream like he was killing them. He was rehomed pretty fast. When I got my 3rd roo, Tex (a huge BR who came with a small flock I acquired), he wouldn't let Cruiser anywhere near the girls. I had initially thought that there were enough hens to go around (12 apiece) but I was wrong. Tex was great with the hens, too, and watched out for them like a champ. He was very aggressive toward people of the shorter persuasion (kids) and dogs, though, so he went to live with an older couple who were looking for a roo to watch over their 20 BR hens. Cruiser's personality changed as soon as Tex was gone ~ he became almost as bad as Brat Boy for a short while. I think he was either mad at the hens or just had repressed testosterone issues! He's mellowed back out but he has his favorites that are showing some wear. I have a couple of hens who run from him and one who won't even go in the coop if he's in there. She was a lone house chicken for her first 6 months. She's not very comfortable with other chickens in general, though she is very good with much younger ones. She prefers to be wherever I'm at - even if it's in the garage or the house. I may just have to buy a chicken diaper and make her a house chicken again . . .
Your young man just has to learn some wooing skills, lol.

 

LOL! Thanks, I suppose as time goes on, I will learn more about this stuff.

I suspect he does need to work on being more of a gentleman, tho I will give him a bit of a break at the moment as he IS a teenager! He is an EE cockerel. I have another EE & an NHR cockerel (tho the NHR was SUPPOSED to be a pullet....). So, if Bigboy doesn't shape up (as I have told him), Blackie (EE) may become the main dude. Roo (NHR) is my baby. He comes to me. Loves me to hold him; is basically a wuss, but a sweetheart !
Tho I feel kind of bad for Spaz, I was definitely relieved to see that she wasn't sick!

 

[gaitngirl]

Lol, funny how some of those pullets end up being boys!!! Brat Boy was rehomed when he was about 4 months old because I really didn't want 2 roos (and because he was so mean to the girls). Now I have so many really pretty boys, I can't decide who's going to stay and who will need to go. I only have one neighbor close enough that the crowing may bother them, but I've talked to them about it and they said it doesn't really bother them. I just asked them to let me know if it ever does become a problem and I will rehome a couple of them. So far I have 3 FBC Marans cockerels, a Welsummer cockerel, and a gorgeous Salmon Faverolle cockerel. One of the FBC Marans has really good color but not much leg feathering. I may keep him anyway just because he's pretty, lol. The Welsummer is really nice looking, too. And I will have to get pics up of the SF - I'm going to call him Boots. His foot feathers make him look like he's wearing boots, lol. He was supposed to be one of 5 SF pullets I had ordered online. Only 2 - him and one actual pullet - survived the shipping process. I won't be doing mail order chickens ever again, I'm pretty sure. Even thought the company refunded the cost of the chicks that didn't survive, I wouldn't put chicks through that again.

 

[preciouskitty]

Gaitngirl -
Yeah, my Roo is gonna be a really pretty guy. He doesn't seem to crow much. Bigboy & Blackie seem to like to make the most noise. I only have one neighbor & I don't think they care. They are more worried about their 9 month old pups escaping & "playing " with the chickens (hence the reason I only let them free range if we are home).

For now, I am keeping all the boys until/if/when it becomes an issue. Only have 11 girls, so...we shall see

The boys have been crowing for 30 mins already...hopefully Spaz isn't being "loved" already (haven't heard any screaming yet!)

 

[NovaAman]

Florus had a streak right there at the beginning of spring where he was just a ninja rapist. He very nearly became dog food. BUT, he mellowed out after a few woopings from Rod Stewart... Florus is currently tailless... Rod Stewart.

My big boy Strutter has been making a play at the neighbors pullets. So much so, that as soon as those girls are let out, they run to him! Yup. The neighbors rooster, a rotten back attacker, decided to take on Strutter yesterday, and for the first time, I saw Strutter hold his ground. He usually runs from both Florus and Rod Stewart. BUT NO! Not he neighbors roo. NR (neighbors roo) tried to come and steal his new girls back to his yard, but Strutter got between them and NR. NR started flaring and side stepping and Strutter flared up and stared him straight on... was about to get the hose out to put a stop incase violence occurred, but for the first time EVER NR walked away. Normally, about every other week, we have to hose Rod Stewart, who by the way, is a silkie faverolle mutt, short thing, mean as snake to roos who get out of line, and NR, who is a big hatchery wyandotte. I mean... NR is about 10 pounds easy. Rod is about 6. Rod whoops this roosters butt, and neither will walk away... so... hosing is safer on all concerned. LOL

No... will never get rid of Rod. Since Mr. Fluffers died, Rod Stewart fills his spurs just right. Great to the girls, keeps the peace in the yard, and doesn't go after my boys. He's going on 2 years old. Ugly as heck roo, but... yeah. Great roo.

 

[Opa]

It really is a shame the number of people who are so grumpy when morning comes. Life is just too short to waste a moment of it by with a bad mood. There is something good about every day. For example today is wet warm and humid so it is a good day for the garden.

I've got too many roosters as well so I've got to make some decisions as to which will be kept and which will be terminated. Raising egg laying breed cockerels to a size suitable for butchering just takes to long and even then the final result is far less than it is with meat birds.

If anyone wants a beautiful bantam blue wyandotte rooster let me know soon. He is a year old but since I never handle any of my birds he wouldn't be a good candidate for a pet.

 

[preciouskitty]

"Ninja rapist"!!! OMG..I am laughing so hard!! . Love that!

Well, I am certainly learning what to potentially expect with having "boys" around! Never thought about the hose solution. Will keep that in mind if occasion(s) arise..

It is a great light steady rain for garden; tho hopefully it won't last all day as I still have ONE section of garden that has to be weeded (green beans), But much easier to weed if ground is damp. I have spent close to 20 hours over the last 3 days .. What is done looks fabulous. It was so bad that you could barely see the dirt (thanks to all the wet weather we had up until this past week).

Must say peppers are looking better, but nowhere as good as in past years. Maters looking great as are potatoes & beans.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Opa, those were some huge eggs! Was the green on a triple yolk?

 

[taprock]

#2: do you know what this is? And why is my 5'+ tall Milkweed "sweating and greasy"?

I only skimmed so not sure if you got an answer. It looks like ladybug larva. I know from experience because I killed a whole bunch until I looked them up and realized what I was doing.