new homesteader

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that seems like the best choice from my point of view, maybe not the misses though. lol
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Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join our flock. You have inherited quite a mix of animals with your land. You have been given some good advice by the other BYC members. I would especially be careful with that 1 rooster to 10 hen ratio. Any more roosters than that can quickly lead to aggression, fights, feather plucking, and over-bred and battered hens. When you really get down to it, the only reason you really need a rooster is to fertilize eggs for hatching. I currently have 25 hens, no roosters, and I get loads of eggs without feeding any non-egg laying mouths, without the aggression, fights, crowing in the middle of the night, and over-bred and battered hens that frequently goes along with having roosters (especially too many of them). With a ratio of more than 1 rooster for every 10 hens, your flock will definitely be much better off if you can trade those extra roosters in for some more hens. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.
 
looking to get some new hens preferably laced wyandottes anybody have experience with them? do they do well in the NW ohio seasons?
 
midwestchef said:
looking to get some new hens preferably laced wyandottes anybody have experience with them? do they do well in the NW ohio seasons?
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I've had Silver Laced Wyandottes in the past, and while I've never lived in Ohio, I've lived in areas that get just as cold or colder in the winter. Wyandottes are a very cold hardy breed with rose combs that are practically impervious to frost bite. A worse enemy than cold will be moisture, so just make sure that their coop is dry and draft free; no leaks, moisture seeping in, sweating walls or ceiling, and no moisture blowing in through the dooway. As far as temperment goes, my Wyandottes were generally docile. Once in a while, I had an aggressive hen that I culled from the flock, but it was certainly the exception and not the rule.
 
iwiw60 said:
You say you have 3-4 roosters for a dozen hens? YIKES!!! That's way too many roos. A single rooster would be plenty for your size flock....I'd be culling 2-3 of them for sure.

As for them being spooky around you, let's face it...YOU are the new kid on the block, not them!
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If it were me I would just continue to feed them what they've been getting, fresh waterers, etc. Once they see that YOU are the one taking care of them they will get used to seeing you each day. Once that gets accomplished you might try going into their run area and sitting at ground level with them...have some treats like mealworms or sunflower seeds, etc., and just sit there (at first it will seem like forEVER) ... and hold out your hand with goodies in it. The first few times you try this they may not have anything to do with it, but then if you lightly toss a few treats out in front of you eventually one of them will think "hmm, I think I'll try one" .... and there ya go! It just takes a TON of patience and time....wishing you all the very best...keep us updated as to your progress with your new flock!!
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from Washington! In our flock we have great people and it is always great to have a new member:) In our flock, we have no pecking order!

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By the way, not saying that you will do anything bad, but no fowl play
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I agree with this quote above.
 
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Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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You might want to rehome the roos. Stop by your state thread and chat with your chicken neighbors to see if anyone will take them. Scroll thru this link for your state thread...https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/26/where-am-i-where-are-you

Enjoy your new flock! They will come around eventually. Food works as a great bonding agent. Go sit with them and feed them treats. Sit for 20 mins a day and eventually they will see you coming and rush you at the door! So just give them time.

Great to have you aboard and welcome to our flock!
 
midwestchef said:
looking to get some new hens preferably laced wyandottes anybody have experience with them? do they do well in the NW ohio seasons?
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Michael OShay pretty much nailed it. Wyandottes are on my "top ten" list. I've had Silver Laced, Gold Laced, and Blue Laced Red (my favorite variety), which are beautiful but a little harder to come by. They will usually make fairly decent mothers as well, if you get one that's willing enough.
 
If the roosters are getting along with each other and not damaging the hens by overbreeding them. I would retain the status quo.

Even if you did have to cull one or two of them - it doesn't mean they have to be dinner. Cull also means rehome birds you can't use.

Roosters that are not aggressive to hens or humans are a rarity - if yours are good, treasure them.

Welcome to the flock,
 

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