Minnesota!

[AmericanKraut]

My opinion probably won't be very popular, but I disagree with commercial poultry farms. If you take away their dignity to live a life scratching in the dirt, roaming around a pasture looking for goodies to eat, with a reasonable number of birds for the size of the property, then you are just asking for compromised immune systems and problems such as this. However, I am by no means an expert. And by the way, I'm not talking about keeping breeding birds confined to a run. So don't get your feathers ruffled by some random opinion on the internet

My DH's family raises confinement hogs. I think it was one of the saddest moments I can remember when his Grandfather (since passed - who was so proud of his big operation) showed me his hog barns. The smell was unbearable and the pigs were shoulder to shoulder. Of course I was too polite to ever say anything to him, but I swore that we would never do that to any animal.

I think we all agree here

 

[AmericanKraut]

I just remembered.. Trippell has a CL rooster for sale. Look back a few pages. This would be a mature rooster and you could get the blue egg gene into your chickens right away...

Tripplell is where BogtownChick and I got our creamettes, so would be same stock. I am not a show person but I think my birds from her are pretty darn nice... I think she did show them but I am not sure.

That's right! I'll check with her once my chicks are bigger if she still has him. You think it's ok to introduce a rooster that didn't grow up with the flock? I guess it always depends on the individual bird.

 

[duluthralphie]

That's right! I'll check with her once my chicks are bigger if she still has him. You think it's ok to introduce a rooster that didn't grow up with the flock? I guess it always depends on the individual bird.

Do you have any other roosters?

Do it slowly with a cage within the pen/coop. (after the waiting period)....

I got 2 roosters from EJB, one has been taken into the as if he grew up there, other than he is a horny little bugger..

The other has been more of a struggle for me, he went from outsider to bully. I am still thinking jail time for him until he learns his place.

 

[AmericanKraut]

Do you have any other roosters?

Do it slowly with a cage within the pen/coop. (after the waiting period)....

I got 2 roosters from EJB, one has been taken into the as if he grew up there, other than he is a horny little bugger..

The other has been more of a struggle for me, he went from outsider to bully.  I am still thinking jail time for him until he learns his place.

Good advice, makes sense. I don't have any, this batch of chicks was sexed as pullets but that's 90% so who knows. It'll be a bit yet until I see for sure. I don't want more than one roo so I'll wait that part out and see if any that I end up with is a jerk or not.

 

[Cearbhael]

I agree that large industrial poultry operations invite trouble by:
1. No BioDiversity
2. Crowded Confinement
3. No feed diversity.

We have been warned many times that...especially in America we have a severe lack of bio diversity. Let's face it folks that is why we do what we do! Try to salvage heritage breeds and use bio diversity in our gardens and in our feeding methods. I am sure that I am NOT the only one that shops seed savers, heritage seed, and grow heirloom tomatoes etc.
My paddock is huge and loaded with diverse plants. Clover, alfalfa, Timothy, catnip, nettle, wild phlox, dandelion, Canadian thistle etc. I also have black raspberries (been around since I was a child and I am 65 now) and blackberries all along the fence line as well as a grape arbor ( well HAD an Arbor is more accurate since it is broken.) The grape vine is still there and clambers the fence, coop and trees. The enclosed runs will be large and covered for arial predator protection. They will have access to all the plants that grow under their feet (and the bugs) Since I do have a fairly busy road in front, and one neighbor to the side, I will probably never truly free range but doubt they will notice any difference, if I let them out of the runs to roam the paddock. My population will always be small flock. Hmmm. Thinking I need to plant a small tree or two inside the paddock for shade. We have a large apple tree on the eastern side of the paddock, so they get morning shade there and woods on the west give them late afternoon shade but the south needs a small tree or two!!

 

[lalaland]

sounds fabulous. nothing better than fresh grape juice!

And now that spring seems to be here, nettles are just around the corner - so good steamed with a little butter. I have a friend who used to live where there were lots of wild ramps, she didn't care for them so I got to pick a mess every spring. still miss them.

anyway, sounds like great pickings for your future chickens!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I'm flattered you are interested in those chicks @americankraut. They are quite cute. Not sure if my friend wants to keep them or not. She may have them spoken for. I think they both are chipmunkish...but one has a white dot too! Confusing! Triplells rooster is very nice and was respectful in the pen while we were there to get his girls. My two kids were in there too. He's a good nice boy and obviously very fertile. He's quite handsome and in good shape. He's one year old here just in March I believe. Plus you'd be helping her out.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Here's the CLBs aka creamettes chicks in a fluffier version. Darling little wee petites!

 

[Cyrus83]

I went out on a mission to find a young handsome rooster today and came back empty handed.

 

[Dandelioness]

That's too bad, Cyrus. Are you still looking for a SLW? I've been asking around, but no luck yet.

Cearbahl & La la - I do a lot of the same kind of stuff as you in the way of growing things for the hens & foraging. Nettles, asparagus, morels, oh my!

We are getting some much-needed rain here. Good night, all -