Minnesota!

[The BlanchRanch]

Thanks Cluckies. I didn't realize it was a co-op type oil. I can stop by one and pick that up.

Minnie. She is an EE. I forgot to mention that.

Nice Scott. Maybe having them close for a while but keeping them seperated really worked! I always worry I might lose a chicken and well have to add one to the flock. Because I am in the city and I only have a permit for 5 so I need to keep them at that level.

 

[Cluckies]

Thanks Cluckies. I didn't realize it was a co-op type oil. I can stop by one and pick that up.

I'm not sure if all co-ops have them, but some might...

 

[Minniechickmama]

Thanks. Where would I purchase Thieve ' s inside the city

I ordered it online through eBay. I bet you can find someone around the Twin Cities that sells it though. Maybe someone in the group even knows where to find it locally? It smells wonderful too! Like Christmastime!
In the meantime, you could use VetRx and use a Q-tip and wipe around the area too. It has some of the same oils and can help some, whether it will clear it up, I don't know.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I agree with the pecking order not in line too. I enjoyed your sharing of your flock's dynamics. And yes I can tell the some of them apart by their voice. Like I know which rooster is crowing. Too funny how you guys can say something and I am here nodding my head saying 'yep me too'!

I have a question on what 'normal' behavior would be for a 12 week rooster. I know that some breeds mature faster than others so maybe this is one of those situations. I obviously could tell the welsummer roosters early on. They were also the first to crow. Besides being kinda bossy they have not really done anything else. One of the cuckoo marans pullets turned out to be a roo. I figured early on it was a roo. He was always just big but not really bossy or anything. Yesterday and today I watched him do the 'circle around the hen kickin' his heels up' dance. Again he is only 12 weeks (along with everyone else in the coop) so is he really trying to sow his oats already? I watched the other rooster (lakenvelder) clapping his wings today but the maran was right there. Also the maran jumped on a brahma and acted like mating (no actual contact) but I was thinking the brahma was a male so it is dominance act right? Is this behavior normal at this age or is he showing that he is aggressive and I should act now not later kinda thing? I am waiting patiently for the new hampshire rooster to start developing. That was the one DH wants to keep so I hope that his slower maturity is a good thing. Slower may just mean he is right on target with his brood mates right?

Of those breeds, I would say keep either the NH or a Welsummer around. Personally, I would get rid of the Lakenvelder before he has a chance to rip into someone. I haven't met one yet that wasn't nasty. We had them when I was a kid and I wouldn't be hurt if the whole breed went extinct. I don't know why we had them either, they were all nasty, people attacking birds. The fact you got them from a big hatchery(if I remember correctly), you won't really know who is best to keep though until they mature a bit.
At 12-weeks, they are basically teenaged idiots. No offense to the teens in the group! Imagine a hormonally charged 16-year old boy, that is what you are seeing. Your little man is trying to put some moves on, but if a hen responded, he wouldn't know what to do with it. Next comes the part where they grab the girls by the head but again, have no clue. That age is best to put with an experienced hen who doesn't take crap off any of the boys, regardless of age. Kind of a like a Betty White hen
Some males have surpressed hormones when they are with more dominant males. I have even had a BLRW cockerel that I knew was male, but barely showed comb, barely showed male feathering, and he was at least 9-months old. He was in with a pen that included a very dominant other cockerel. When breeding season kicked in (late Winter), almost overnight, his comb reddened and got big and his feathers came quick. Perhaps that is the case with you NH.

 

[Minniechickmama]

You can order thieves oil online or from a distributer, possibly pick it up from a natural food place? Make sure you put it in a carrier oil (like olive oil), I don't know the ratio though, perhaps Minniechickmama can help with that, or you can find it online? My sister sells Young Living oils, but there are other companies out there as well you can look at. maybe you can go online and find a seller.

I bought mine in ready to use 1oz spray bottles. Just one or two spritzes is enough per use. I even used it on my arms this weekend to see if it would chase off this rotten cold!

 

[Scott16475]

Lucky guy!  My introductions are not going so well.  Our Australorps seem to be quite interested in the chicks and haven't ever been aggressive towards them.  However, some of the other chickens are downright mean!  The turkey poults are too dumb to even run away from them so no unsupervised time here.  I hope you have continued good luck

Thank you. I hope the 'easygoing' continues. Not sure how fast the new pecking order falls into place so I'm not 100% ready to call it a success but I'm happy it's going well for now.

Good luck to you with your introduction. I doubt I'll ever do this again as I doubt I'll get this lucky again.

 

[Scott16475]

Wow Scott that sounds great!  Glad to hear things are going smoothly.  Do you put the hutch the chicks are in inside the coop at night or is it outside?  I like your plan of action.

I leave the hutch outside as it's rather large but I think I'll put it in the coop tonight and we'll see what happens.

 

[nordicacres]

Happy Memorial Day!

Let's hope the rain holds off for awhile. The chickens were in the coop most of the day yesterday (their choice) so when I let them out today they rushed me, haha!

 

[Rhetts]

Thanks Minnie!

 

[Cluckies]

Yes, vet RX, just put it on them, rub it over there eyes. I got mine at the ramsey feed, I think they have it at tractor supply, but not sure.