Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

Unfortunately there are always more roosters than there are homes for them, because in most situations there can be only one male. And once a rooster start becoming aggressive you can never trust them again. They are particularly dangerous around children because they can cause them serious injury.

I understand that you remember him when he was young and not aggressive, but that bird is Gone. Now you have a mature, aggressive male. And I agree, this breed has a tendency toward aggressive roosters.
Personally I have always put birds like that down myself, rather than send them somewhere where they might be mistreated or abused. Or where they might hurt somebody who is not ready for that kind of behavior.

 

[snowflake]

I saw a scarlet tanager for the first time in my life.View attachment 2143353View attachment 2143354View attachment 2143355View attachment 2143350

Edited to remove duplicate photos.

nice pic, we have been seeing them this year also

 

[snowflake]

We are in SW MI and we're looking for a new home for our RIR Rooster named Pepperoni. He is 14 months old and has good instincts. He has the potential to be a great rooster if someone is willing to take the time & effort to teach him.

He is protective of the hens, brings food to them, and makes sure everyone is safely back in the coop after being let out (we free range only if someone is out with the chickens due to predators.) He will even gently eat food out of my hand.

However, being a young rooster, his first spring has seen an increase in hormones and we just don’t quite know what to do with him as we have never had a rooster before. He has been mating aggressively with the hens since March. He has tried to go after me and my kids a few times, especially when giving the hens treats or trying to fix any injuries they have. My hens are missing feathers, a few have bloody spots, and I just don’t have the means to separate him. I don’t have the time and experience to work with him.

I’ve spent hours on the Backyard Chickens website trying to figure out what to do because we have hand raised him and have fond memories of him as a little guy. However, for every suggestion I read there’s something that contradicts it, causing even more confusion.

Needless to say, this decision has been very hard to make but the kids and I have decided that it would be best for the hens and for us if we could find someone willing to work with him to make him a great rooster and provide him with a flock that he could be beneficial to.

I agree NEVER keep a bad rooster, they will go after little kids and adults as well. the behavior only seems to get worse. There are plenty of people friendly rooster to be had.
try another breed. We have had very good Ameraucana's but often the breeder they come from make a difference as some breed for gentleness.

 

[chickflick]

Rain rain go away!

 

[Folly's place]

Time to build that ark!
Finally all the chicks are doing well, only three bantam babies left (eight eggs set) and one of the French Marans chicks is a cockerel. He's either a black, or a black copper, and will need a new home later.
Love spring! Blooming flowers! Crabapples and apples starting to be glorious! Serviceberries done, redbuds in bloom!
Positive thinking! Trying to ignore political nonsense, and so ready to vote!
Mary

 

[aart]

I know I'm about over the rain....today is 2nd all day rain....supposed to clear up tomorrow afternoon.

Keeping broody and chicks in today.
Let them out yesterday and they wouldn't go back in due the drip lines.
Had to put up a quicky shelter for them.
She tried to get them in but 2 of 4 wouldn't so she went back out.
I finally went out and rodeoed them up between storms, that was not fun for anyone.

 

[50-45-1]

I finally lured an oriel to my deck by cutting an tangerine in half and nailing it down. My husband says when the rind is empty. Put grape jelly in it and they love that too.
Picture is out my kitchen window.

 

[Folly's place]

Later this week, when it's nice outside, the broody and her (almost) two week old babies, and the five week old Cackle chicks, will have some time outside. Not in this!
Mary

 

[1muttsfan]

This is the strangest rain - it looks on the radar like it is heading strait towards us, but evaporates just as it reaches the bridge. It did rain some, and is cloudy and windy, but not anything like the lower peninsula is getting

 

[backwards hat]

Thank you all for your support, kind thoughts, and big dosage of reality. We had a scary incident with him this weekend that showed us that he is not safe to rehome. We will be culling him as soon as possible. I feel I can honestly say we did all that we could to try to have a different outcome but we can't change his genetics. Appreciate you all so much for understanding what we're going through!!! Thank you again!!!