New BYC coop in high desert (apple valley) CA

[BarkerChickens]

Howdy neighbor!!

Hesperia resident here!! I'm not much help on chicken breeds since you appear to be interested in bantams and we don't have any of those. We have all standards (full-size). However, based on the standards, I highly recommend Easter Eggers (sold in feed stores as Ameraucana's though they really aren't) and Barred Rocks. They are our friendliest. Our Welsummers and Buckeye's are nice too, though most days they'd rather range around then be with us. If you want friendly mutts (our flock is mixed), we usually have a broody hen eager to hatch chicks

(two sittin' currently). As for roos....our Jersey Giant wasn't that loud. Our salmon Faverolle doesn't shut up! On several occasions, my husband has wanted to rehome him because our roo likes to announce himself quite often. He's a good roo though. A few of our hens aren't fond of him though and have broken most of his feathers, so his back looks "fluffy" now.

If you ever have any questions, feel free to PM or email me! BTW, you're coop and run look great!!

Also....We're planning a BYC meet-up out in Phelan for Memorial Day weekend (Sunday specifically). Love to see you there!

 

[luckyramu]

Why greetings neighbor! It sounds like you have a wonderful mix of birds. Sounds like your roo needs some social skills. That's the first I've heard about a Fav roo having trouble. Most posts call them gentle and friendly with the ladies. I'm rather new to chickendom, but its been a pleasure. I'd like to attend the meet-up. Ill try to remember.

 

[BarkerChickens]

Quote:
Oh, he's nice and gentle. A little too nice as he is not the top bird on the flock (and those girls let him know!

). He's the one with the one with the broken feathers. He is noisy! He crows into our sliding glass window to get us to go throw them scratch and then calls all the girls over. Trying to break a rooster of annoying habits is hard!

He has never once gone after anyone or anything and not aggressive with the girls. He does his job well, though so we really can't complain. My husband just requests an occasional peaceful hour in the garden...chances are it won't happen with FishHead around (he is sensitive to fish meal, so his breath smells like a freshly gutted fish

). We have one of his babies (a Barred hen and FishHead cross), which has the sweetest personality of any chick we have ever had. If his is quieter than FishHead and does a good job at his roo duties, he may be the best roo yet!

You're little Faverolle roo is adorable!! Is he the roo that you plan on keeping? Is he a bantam or a standard?

 

[luckyramu]

Are you sure he's a roo? I have 4 favs, two are lighter and two have slightly darker brown feathers. I thought they were all pullets, as the darker ones have NO black on them. Am I missing something? Believe me when I say I have no clue as to what I'm doing. They are large fowl from Pacafino farms (at least I think they are LF).

 

[KellyHM]

Random question - are you keeping the rabbits in the same pen as the chickens? If you do just be aware that the rabbits will pluck the feathers off the chickens and eat them, so if your chooks start going bald you'll know why.

 

[luckyramu]

Dadburn rabbits

 

[luckyramu]

Is this a Salmon Faverolles roo? I don't see any black at all.

 

[luckyramu]

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[BarkerChickens]

Quote:
Here's a good link for reference. http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Favs/BRKFaverolles.html
Of course, I am looking at a video whereas you can see the chick in person, but it seems awfully dark for a hen. With that being said, hatchery stock Faverolle's (oppose to breeder quality) aren't the purest. All mine are hatchery stock and I have noticed their "impurities"...though love them all the same.

 

[BarkerChickens]

Quote:
That's the same chick?!?!?

The YouTube video looks MUCH darker!! That is definitely a girl!