Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[lovechicks1293]

Check out the forum below and follow my journey. Pic heavy

wow I love all of your Ayam Cemani chickens!

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, beautiful birds, birdman! Mary

 

[robyn8]

Your Silkie is a boy if there's any crowing at all, and it sounds awful as they start.  All good advise above, and it won't be clear until spring if the two cockerels can get along, or if either will be polite and worth keeping.  I've currently got two cocks, three cockerels, and 43 females, and by spring, really don't expect all there boys to play well together.  We'll see how it goes, but I anticipate rehoming at least one or two of them.  Mary

Thanks Mary! Ive almost got the husband convinced to build me a bantam coop this spring

And have a dog crate on the way to separate the boys if needed. If I decided to have a second coop for some bantams could I still let everyone free range together or should I plan a bigger run and not let the bantams free range? Right now no one free ranges but I plan to let them in the spring.

 

[Folly's place]

Mine all range and live together, and must get along. If cockerels or cocks start fighting, they will keep at it even in the wide open spaces. My Belgian d'Uccle boys seem to get along better than some of the big birds, but it's very individual. I don't do Silkies! Separate coops and runs are another way to manage, but I only separate groups at breeding time, and then in full view so nobody becomes 'foreign'. It's a very fluid situation, especially in spring, so we'll see. Mary

 

[robyn8]

I guess I have to wait and see! Lots of that in chicken keeping in finding, lol.

 

[RaZ]

It was pretty warm here today and all the girls were out. There was even a round of mouse football for entertainment.

 

[robyn8]

I have a new problem. Went to shut coop door and found a hen had been scalped. We cleaned it and put neosporin on and she's currently in garage. To refresh on my situation...I have 4 BO pullets, 1 cockerel and 1 silkie cockerel who just started crowing all 5.5 months. We've never seen silkie mount the girls but I did see him do a little mating dance. We've also seen the BO mount the girls and sometimes they submit quick sometimes not. Should we get rid of a roo? If so which one? Also how long should I keep her separate. I'm worried about the flock not accepting her back.

 

[Folly's place]

Robyn, she'll be better in a cage in the coop, so she's accepted back again. If they were all in, it must have been another chicken, or a stray nail or something. If they were out, could have been a failed predator. It will make a difference! I'd be watching the flock and eliminate any bird who's that aggressive, if that's what happened to your pullet. Mary

 

[aart]

I have a new problem. Went to shut coop door and found a hen had been scalped. We cleaned it and put neosporin on and she's currently in garage. To refresh on my situation...I have 4 BO pullets, 1 cockerel and 1 silkie cockerel who just started crowing all 5.5 months. We've never seen silkie mount the girls but I did see him do a little mating dance. We've also seen the BO mount the girls and sometimes they submit quick sometimes not. Should we get rid of a roo? If so which one? Also how long should I keep her separate. I'm worried about the flock not accepting her back.

Agrees with Mary/Folly..she'd be better off in a cage in the coop.

Wonders if the BO cockerel is responsible for the scalping?

Had a Wellie cockerel who was pretty good with the pullets, trying to mount before they were really ready, but not very aggressive at all.....
...until the younger cockerels started crowing. Then the Wellie got really aggressive with pullets as well as sparring with the younger cockerels.
I removed the younger cockerels and the Wellie immediately calmed down, it was an amazing revelation to a then new chicken keeper.
Multiple males create an environment of competition, which can make all of them 'behave badly'.

 

[robyn8]

We're going to move her into the coop. I don't know why I didnt think of that. I guess I was thinking the warmer garage would be better.

Yes we are wondering the same thing about the BO getting more agreesive now. I will get rid of a rooster I just want to make sure I keep the right one. Just now I was out there and the BO kept circling girls but not really trying to mount. The girls kept walking away quickly. The silkie didn't even try and the BO kept putting himself in between them. But they weren't really fighting and I don't think the silkie was even trying to get to the hens. I really wish the silkie had been a girl as I was told. I ordered from my pet chicken and they had a 100% guarantee. Never again.