Need help deciding who to keep

[flood]

Hi all. I have been reading here for some time and finaly joined because I have need of experienced advice. We just started keeping birds. Have had them for a few months now. we have 3 ducks, 1 barred rock roo, 2 guinneas, 1 red hen and 1 black roo. All should be laying/mature now except for the red hen. It should be any day now. They have been given to us in sets. All were raised together but came to me at different times.

I had the ducks and they do well together and one is sitting right now. Then came the 2 guinneas and barred rock roo. I think this roo believes he is a guinnea and we now believe the guinnea's are both male. They are thugs and when one is not happy they all get involved. These two "groups" live together in one coop and free range together all day. They get along very well and we never have trouble with just them.

Then I recieved the black roo and red hen. Roo came with an injured leg and hen is fine. I've kept them in their own summer coup (no run) so that roo can heal. I have let them out on occasion and also tried to get them to mix together. it has been 3-4 weeks now. He seems to be an excellent roo and I prefer him to ther other. If the hen calls he goes running, he is wary and pays attention during the day. He is brave but gentle with the humans. This guy is heavier than the other roo as well. He still limps just a bit, and I wonder if he'll be able to be the roo he wants/needs to be.

I have more often let red hen out to free range and she mostly gets along with the other pack. The barred rock rooster doesn't know what to do wtih her. He often picks on her (which gets the guinnea's involved) or retreats to the other side of the yard and has nothing to do with her. I don't know if I've given him a chance for nature to kick in since I don't have more hens.

If I desire to keep the black roo I probably have to get rid of the barred rock and the guinneas. Today I tried to let the black and red ones free range (without the barred rock of course) and the guinneas aren't happy about it. I finally caught the black roo and put him up. He was getting tired of running and I was sure they would overtake him soon.

So what do I do? Who do I get rid of? I thought about having two groups and using moveable pens but I know the guinneas will fly over the fences and bully if they want to. We really like having guinneas too.

Sorry it's long, I thought it may be important info. Thanks for your help.

Lorie

 

[NovaAman]

Keep the guineas if you like them. Take the BR-roo and rehome him. Keep only the black roo and your red hen. Find a clean breeder, get 4 more POL pullets for your black roo. Just one hen and she will be over-mounted in no time at all. Don't put the pullets in right away though, you should quarantine, then rig a fencing in the chicken pen where they will be seen by both Black and Red, then after a week or so, let them start to mingle. If you can staple chicken wire in the chicken coop to make a temporary separation wall for the duration of the get to know each other stage, that'd be great. If you can, get the same type of pullets as your current hen, or ones that have the same temperment.

The guineas will fly over a lot less often than you think. The chickens would be more apt to cross the fence believe it or not. Neighbor has guineas. They flew over less than their chickens did. THEY were however more of a ringleader going where they shouldn't... Like in my coops and runs. LOL. Nothing like having visitors stopping by, chowing down my feed, and then depositing eggs in my nest boxes. LOL

 

[Dwkuska]

Hi all. I have been reading here for some time and finaly joined because I have need of experienced advice. We just started keeping birds. Have had them for a few months now. we have 3 ducks, 1 barred rock roo, 2 guinneas, 1 red hen and 1 black roo. All should be laying/mature now except for the red hen. It should be any day now. They have been given to us in sets. All were raised together but came to me at different times.

I had the ducks and they do well together and one is sitting right now. Then came the 2 guinneas and barred rock roo. I think this roo believes he is a guinnea and we now believe the guinnea's are both male. They are thugs and when one is not happy they all get involved. These two "groups" live together in one coop and free range together all day. They get along very well and we never have trouble with just them.

Then I recieved the black roo and red hen. Roo came with an injured leg and hen is fine. I've kept them in their own summer coup (no run) so that roo can heal. I have let them out on occasion and also tried to get them to mix together. it has been 3-4 weeks now. He seems to be an excellent roo and I prefer him to ther other. If the hen calls he goes running, he is wary and pays attention during the day. He is brave but gentle with the humans. This guy is heavier than the other roo as well. He still limps just a bit, and I wonder if he'll be able to be the roo he wants/needs to be.

I have more often let red hen out to free range and she mostly gets along with the other pack. The barred rock rooster doesn't know what to do wtih her. He often picks on her (which gets the guinnea's involved) or retreats to the other side of the yard and has nothing to do with her. I don't know if I've given him a chance for nature to kick in since I don't have more hens.

If I desire to keep the black roo I probably have to get rid of the barred rock and the guinneas. Today I tried to let the black and red ones free range (without the barred rock of course) and the guinneas aren't happy about it. I finally caught the black roo and put him up. He was getting tired of running and I was sure they would overtake him soon.

So what do I do? Who do I get rid of? I thought about having two groups and using moveable pens but I know the guinneas will fly over the fences and bully if they want to. We really like having guinneas too.

Sorry it's long, I thought it may be important info. Thanks for your help.

Lorie

Welcome to BYC!!! sounds to me like you have too many roo's. Roosters can be very aggressive toward each other. Not sure what your looking for but if anything had to go I would choose a roo (barred rock maybe?)

 

[flood]

Keep the guineas if you like them. Take the BR-roo and rehome him. Keep only the black roo and your red hen. Find a clean breeder, get 4 more POL pullets for your black roo. Just one hen and she will be over-mounted in no time at all. Don't put the pullets in right away though, you should quarantine, then rig a fencing in the chicken pen where they will be seen by both Black and Red, then after a week or so, let them start to mingle. If you can staple chicken wire in the chicken coop to make a temporary separation wall for the duration of the get to know each other stage, that'd be great. If you can, get the same type of pullets as your current hen, or ones that have the same temperment.

The guineas will fly over a lot less often than you think. The chickens would be more apt to cross the fence believe it or not. Neighbor has guineas. They flew over less than their chickens did. THEY were however more of a ringleader going where they shouldn't... Like in my coops and runs. LOL. Nothing like having visitors stopping by, chowing down my feed, and then depositing eggs in my nest boxes. LOL

Oh my, I'm glad I don't have that problem lol. What is POL? I never thought about over mounting. It's a good thing I let her out every couple of days. I can easily build a fence in the coop for the new pullets. I'll have to find out what my hen is. I had wanted RIR. She is not that but she is fine.

Okay so basically you both say re-home the BR. I should also pen the black roo and his girls away from the guinneas and just leave the guinneas to go as they will. Sound good?

 

[devora]

Wow, NovaAman gave you such a detailed, thoughtful answer!

POL is Point of Lay. You want girls that are ready/able to be mounted to take the strain off you one (One!) hen.

I'm confused, the black roo and his girls? What girls? The original post only mentioned three chickens, two roos and a hen, right?

 

[ms shannon]

I'm new- so good luck deciding- I have no advice. I just have my own story of saying goodbye to my Turken Roo
I bought a mixed lot of straight run from Atwoods in March of this year. They stayed in the house, and then in the garage and then we finally moved them out to a cage for 1/2 days in the sun to get a little grass, fresh air and sun. And then the biggest adventure- their first night all alone outside. I enclosed the entire area of my backyard (all sides and top)... and put in a dog house right under my bedroom window so I could hear them and come if they call. My babies were so brave. Then came the coop to replace the dog house. By now I knew that two of my seven girls, were boys, a turken and a big red. I loved them both and for two months it was okay. Maybe because they were so young, but the past 4 weeks have been awful. The pecking order became intense The Red Roo would chase off my Turken at EVERY meal and he had to eat separately - he would even get chased off from there too. Just like most that are bullied- he would then turn and bully the hens. They slowly all ignored him and wouldn't play with him at all- he was completely alone. He was a loner. This made me so sad and I knew it was because he was a boy. I would try to feed him and a few girls together separately, but it was still a mess. He would even chase me and attack my heels as I walked away. So I called a neighbor this week, and she just came for my Turken- whose official name was "Turkey in the Straw" and one of the Rhode Island Red females. She promised not to eat them and that she wants to use these two to start her own flock. Which is good for them, but this was awful. I couldn't be out there when they did it- I was there momma and I let a stranger break up the flock. My big Red Roo is still looking for the rest of his flock and crowing for them They have been gone less than 30 minutes and I'm still afraid to go out and see the faces on my other kids. I know they'll ask. They'll know I knew.

 

[NovaAman]

Well, I am sorry you had to get rid of Turkey in the Straw. Sounds though that the boys were hitting the hormonal months. Makes pullets lifes miserable. Makes you want to pull your hair out. This will be something that happens again though. Young cockerels are going to fight with each other, terrorize the pullets and hens. You will need to decided which to rehome, and which to keep. Or eat. They are great stew birds. I know how you feel though... The first time rehoming can be a bit of a trauma. Welcome to BYC.

I am glad I was able to help.

 

[ms shannon]

Thank you. I think they'll be okay. I went out to change their water and they were hiding but did let me pet them and they pecked the flowers on my pants, so I guess I am forgiven.

 

[flood]

Wow, NovaAman gave you such a detailed, thoughtful answer!

POL is Point of Lay. You want girls that are ready/able to be mounted to take the strain off you one (One!) hen.

I'm confused, the black roo and his girls? What girls? The original post only mentioned three chickens, two roos and a hen, right?

Yes! I thought so too and I really appreciate it. As to your ? the "black roo and his girls" was referring to the four more she told me to add as well and little red hen I have now.

 

[flood]

Thank you for your reply too ms shannon. I am sorry about your Turken. I am having such a hard time with this too but I know it has to be done.