North Carolina

[ChookAtThis]

I had them and wasn't impressed. I know someone in NC that breeds them if you are interested in Eggs or Chicks.

Why weren't you very impressed? The autosexing and the gentle temperament are the two major selling points for me, but I still can't justify $20 a chick when I can just hatch my own eggs :-/ (I know $20/chick is not a lot for "specialty" breeds, but it's a lot for my chook budget!) Thanks for the insight!!!


Speaking of temperament, I'm having a really hard time with my Australorp roo right now. He is a great protector for my hens, and doesn't bother my husband EVER, but has started going at me, to the point of leaving bruises and scrapes on my legs if I don't get my boot out first. Is it likely that he will learn I am boss or will this probably continue to be a problem? I want to be able to keep him, but it's a bit nerve-racking! If he doesn't shape up, he's up for dinner!

 

[doubleatraining]

Why weren't you very impressed? The autosexing and the gentle temperament are the two major selling points for me, but I still can't justify $20 a chick when I can just hatch my own eggs :-/ (I know $20/chick is not a lot for "specialty" breeds, but it's a lot for my chook budget!) Thanks for the insight!!!


Speaking of temperament, I'm having a really hard time with my Australorp roo right now. He is a great protector for my hens, and doesn't bother my husband EVER, but has started going at me, to the point of leaving bruises and scrapes on my legs if I don't get my boot out first. Is it likely that he will learn I am boss or will this probably continue to be a problem? I want to be able to keep him, but it's a bit nerve-racking! If he doesn't shape up, he's up for dinner!

They didn't seem hardy. They got big and were autosexing but were bleh to me. They didn't have much of a personality and weren't "bright". Not sure how else to describe them. I recently saw a large flock of them and had the same impression.

 

[LeanneP]

Why weren't you very impressed? The autosexing and the gentle temperament are the two major selling points for me, but I still can't justify $20 a chick when I can just hatch my own eggs :-/ (I know $20/chick is not a lot for "specialty" breeds, but it's a lot for my chook budget!) Thanks for the insight!!!


Speaking of temperament, I'm having a really hard time with my Australorp roo right now. He is a great protector for my hens, and doesn't bother my husband EVER, but has started going at me, to the point of leaving bruises and scrapes on my legs if I don't get my boot out first. Is it likely that he will learn I am boss or will this probably continue to be a problem? I want to be able to keep him, but it's a bit nerve-racking! If he doesn't shape up, he's up for dinner!

Our Phoenix male can decide to be a little jerk sometimes. I read on here to pick them up and hold them awhile and eventually they'll stop being aggressive. This advice has worked for us thus far. It doesn't last forever, but every few weeks or so we have to pick him up and hold him. What was interesting was that he didn't start doing this until he had a cut on him one morning and was bleeding, so we had brought him inside to patch him up and he started the jerky thing a few days later. It's really ridiculous because he's the smallest bird in the flock, but he did mature the fastest of the boys and he really is wonderful to the girls. So much so that I expect he will die protecting them someday, and hope that's his life story rather than gone because he was a jerk.

 

[ChookAtThis]

DoubleA- Thanks! That makes me feel a bit better about not getting them.

Leanne- I'll have to try that... maybe when he's up roosting for the night. I don't dare attempt that right now! I've just been carrying the watering can, for some reason he leaves me alone when I have that. Still not sure I want him around if I have to constantly watch my back in my own yard!

 

[bephillips]

Those sure are pretty, now I want some too. 

Yeah those snowflake quail are beautiful. My husband bought two pair and one of the bobs died in transit.

The breeder sent them 2 day shipping and it took 4 days.
Now we are trying to find some here in NC so we can pickup or ship overnight.

 

[StarMeKritten]

Why weren't you very impressed? The autosexing and the gentle temperament are the two major selling points for me, but I still can't justify $20 a chick when I can just hatch my own eggs :-/ (I know $20/chick is not a lot for "specialty" breeds, but it's a lot for my chook budget!) Thanks for the insight!!! 


Speaking of temperament, I'm having a really hard time with my Australorp roo right now. He is a great protector for my hens, and doesn't bother my husband EVER, but has started going at me, to the point of leaving bruises and scrapes on my legs if I don't get my boot out first. Is it likely that he will learn I am boss or will this probably continue to be a problem? I want to be able to keep him, but it's a bit nerve-racking! If he doesn't shape up, he's up for dinner!

We went through that with our buff orp. We tried everything. We hatched some chicks from our little flock and then ended up with several smaller mean roosters too. I finally had enough when one of the mean mini roosters flew straight into my face when I opened the lid to the nest box one day. Then, they were all soup and I bought a bunch of hatching eggs. Now, I only keep nice roosters. We have a huge black australorp rooster that protects his flock very well. He has never shown any aggression towards people or our dogs and cats. They are a really great breed but especially due to their size, I would never keep or breed a mean one.

Edited to add: It felt so nice to finally be able to walk around my own yard without carrying something... Never again.

 

[rainbowchick]

So, since a few folks have mentioned the Smithfield show...
Will anyone be bringing gold laced Orps to sell (or be willing to)? I'm just looking for ONE pullet or hen (not chicks).

 

[FVRM]

Speaking of temperament, I'm having a really hard time with my Australorp roo right now. He is a great protector for my hens, and doesn't bother my husband EVER, but has started going at me, to the point of leaving bruises and scrapes on my legs if I don't get my boot out first. Is it likely that he will learn I am boss or will this probably continue to be a problem? I want to be able to keep him, but it's a bit nerve-racking! If he doesn't shape up, he's up for dinner!

I don't think he will ever stop being mean. I had two that were super mean to the point where feeding them was a hassle. I kept them for 4 years, I really don't know why I kept them that long. Maybe because they were my first chicks, idk. Now It feels so good to be able to walk into a pen full of roos and not be scared of getting attacked. I still have that fear in my mind sometimes thanks to those roos though,

 

[ChookAtThis]

Thanks StarMe and FVRM. These are my first chickens and maybe I'm not really sure how to expect the roosters to act. I'm comfortable and confident around animals and (in my head anyway!) don't come across as timid or fearful, but I've had a hell of a time with my roos. We started off with 27 birds- 4...oops, that's a 5th! roosters and 22 hens. Five roosters were WAY too many and fighting too much, so the Welsummer roo and a silver laced polish were dinner. They went first because both of them had a go at me multiple times too. Now I've got this giant Austra roo going at me and occasionally the other little oops SLP roo. Our easter egger boy is very stand-off-ish, but has never shown the slightest inclination to bother me, and in fact seems to intercept the other two roos when they start to get their hackles up at me. All the birds were day-olds from a hatchery and have been hand raised, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. It seems unlikely that all but 1 rooster would be aggressive. Do I cull all but that one? Sigh. Maybe I'll figure it out one day. That's why the "gentle" bielefelder sounds wonderful! But with DoubleA's info, it sounds like that might not be the solution I want either. Thanks for the input, everyone!!!

Rabyn

 

[ChookAtThis]

cwhittington, Hollowoakfarm: Well, all is done and all is well. NO FALLS today, don't think I could get up again. I'm used to pushing thru, However! I also have a neuromuscular problem (thought it was Parkinson's because I lost the fine motor skills and developed a tremor at the same time.. That was about 10 yrs ago. After a yr of feeling sorry for myself, I realized that I was pretty blessed...so many couldn't get up by themselves each morning. I started painting with my left hand (thus the "Wrong-Handed Artist of Red Oak" label), then last summer when I had to build that coop by myself..I had to learn to use tools with my left hand. So when it came to getting my own wood in the ice/snow,,,I never thought twice! LOL But now I'm almost 66 yr. I have and do use a cane, just not always. I used a walker but when I got off balance..it went down with me. So they have put me in a power wheelchair, but you can't use it in the snow and ice...........so...........off I go and bulldoze my body thru whatever needs to be done! I love my ladies and always am glad to go take care of them. Thanks for your caring words...makes me feel good to know someone cares.

Hi JT, hope you got to rest in your recliner today! Do you have a family member, neighbor or friend who could touch base with you each evening just to make sure you aren't stuck outside? Just a quick text, email or call would work. Just a thought... we all want you to stay safe!!!