GriffithFarms
In the Brooder
Hello everyone, I just joined although I have read articles from here since getting my chickens. We have 12 acres, a few cows, and my birds. We are planning for retirement in a few years, to be spent on the homestead and with our grandchildren.
I have a small flock right now, getting 10 chicks a little more than 2 years ago when the coop was built. They have a rather large enclosed coop with nesting boxes, and when I am home, I let them roam on our property during the daylight hours. They are tame and flock around my feet when I am out with them. Since the original 10 have grown, I was gifted fertilized eggs from a friend for my broody to hatch. Of that dozen, 4 hatched with 3 of them being roosters. They are kept in a separate bachelor pen for now. We had a problem with raccoons getting into the coop which cost me 3 of my hens before we were able to resolve that problem. I also have a couple guinea hens.
I struggle with balancing the practical side of birds with the emotional attachment. I need to remove 2 of the roosters from my flock, but haven't yet detached enough to do so, hence the bachelor pen. I found that I enjoy my birds greatly with the eggs being just a happy side effect. Anyone else have pet chickens or are most able to detach from the flock?
My current concern, and what brought me to the site today, is more information about my roosters. Should I keep them, in a bachelor pen; should I increase the size of my flock so I can put them back with the hens; should I have roosters at all?
Happy farming to all!!
I have a small flock right now, getting 10 chicks a little more than 2 years ago when the coop was built. They have a rather large enclosed coop with nesting boxes, and when I am home, I let them roam on our property during the daylight hours. They are tame and flock around my feet when I am out with them. Since the original 10 have grown, I was gifted fertilized eggs from a friend for my broody to hatch. Of that dozen, 4 hatched with 3 of them being roosters. They are kept in a separate bachelor pen for now. We had a problem with raccoons getting into the coop which cost me 3 of my hens before we were able to resolve that problem. I also have a couple guinea hens.
I struggle with balancing the practical side of birds with the emotional attachment. I need to remove 2 of the roosters from my flock, but haven't yet detached enough to do so, hence the bachelor pen. I found that I enjoy my birds greatly with the eggs being just a happy side effect. Anyone else have pet chickens or are most able to detach from the flock?
My current concern, and what brought me to the site today, is more information about my roosters. Should I keep them, in a bachelor pen; should I increase the size of my flock so I can put them back with the hens; should I have roosters at all?
Happy farming to all!!
