NY chicken lover!!!!

[Chicken girl 15]

Is there any way of knowing without the long wait if I have a Roo or not? My girls are 13 weeks and 9 weeks. They are very sweet and love attention but it would be nice to know if I need to start the hunt for a mate. I have 8 RIR , 5 BA & 5 WL. If I do have to hunt a roo down where should I start to find a healthy guy?

 

[rancher hicks]

Is there any way of knowing without the long wait if I have a Roo or not? My girls are 13 weeks and 9 weeks. They are very sweet and love attention but it would be nice to know if I need to start the hunt for a mate. I have 8 RIR , 5 BA & 5 WL. If I do have to hunt a roo down where should I start to find a healthy guy?

Unless you purchased them knowing they were all pullets, you will definitely have more than one rooster in there. It's just they way life works.

If you intend to hatch, keep in mind a RIR rooster over a WL hen will produce sex linked chicks. Though my have found RIR rooster are not nicely tempered. There are exceptions of course.

You state "my girls", why is that?

Also you are aware you don't "need" a rooster to get eggs?

Fact is many females get a long quite nicely with out a male around. At least that's what my ex wife said as she was walking out the door.

 

[boskelli1571]

Well, today is 'integration day' for the RIRs & Cuckoo maran. So far things have gone well. Since they share a coop with the Millies they have somewhere safe to run. A little pecking from the older RIRs', but generally everybody else has made them run by simply giving them the stinkeye! They have been busy exploring the barn and a short spit outside.
We have yet more rain - I have thrown down straw at the barn entrance which is fast becoming a mire pit. Enough with this English weather!

It's great for the veggies, but haven't mowed the jungle in quite a while now. My woodland trails are disappearing. I will have to use the brush cutter, the mower won't even look at them..........

Everyone stay safe with the flooding - the sun will shine again, hopefully this year.......

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Unless you purchased them knowing they were all pullets, you will definitely have more than one rooster in there. It's just they way life works.  

If you intend to hatch, keep in mind a RIR rooster over a WL hen will produce sex linked chicks.  Though my have found RIR rooster are not nicely tempered. There are exceptions of course. 

You state "my girls", why is that?  

Also you are aware you don't "need" a rooster to get eggs?

Fact is many females get a long quite nicely with out a male around. At least that's what my ex wife said as she was walking out the door. 

I guess I call them my girls because I tend to them daily. Not sure . I know it's not nesacery to have a Roo to get eggs , however we plan on processing as well as hatching out every so often for friends. We already have several neighbors waiting to get eggs and meat eventually. We plan as well on getting some meat birds to keep the freezer stocked. There are 7 of us and we have company often. We are on 9 acres so space is no issue as we will just keep adding "safe areas" . We hope to be off purchased chicken in a year or so as its not the best tasting or healthiest thing around.oh and no I'm not so attached I won't be able to process. My family when I was young raised and processed beef and pork. Its a health factor to raise and eat our own meat and a learning step for my kids.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

Gramma- I picked 19 pounds of berries. Lots of jam, pie, and some frozen. My girls don't care for the store bought jam.

Rancher-No I wasn't trying to make you jealous. I chimed in with short sentences before running to work this morning. I love finding a bargain, especially food wise.

 

[rancher hicks]

I guess I call them my girls because I tend to them daily. Not sure . I know it's not nesacery to have a Roo to get eggs , however we plan on processing as well as hatching out every so often for friends. We already have several neighbors waiting to get eggs and meat eventually. We plan as well on getting some meat birds to keep the freezer stocked. There are 7 of us and we have company often. We are on 9 acres so space is no issue as we will just keep adding "safe areas" . We hope to be off purchased chicken in a year or so as its not the best tasting or healthiest thing around.oh and no I'm not so attached I won't be able to process. My family when I was young raised and processed beef and pork. Its a health factor to raise and eat our own meat and a learning step for my kids.

, males should show red early. Please don't take me as snarky. We are friends by way of chickens. You'd be surprised folks don't know you don't need a rooster.

 

[rancher hicks]

Gramma- I picked 19 pounds of berries. Lots of jam, pie, and some frozen. My girls don't care for the store bought jam.

Rancher-No I wasn't trying to make you jealous. I chimed in with short sentences before running to work this morning. I love finding a bargain, especially food wise.

work? What's that?

 

[bakingintherain]

I try planting in different locations.

Yup done that lol

 

[Purpletie3]

I guess I call them my girls because I tend to them daily. Not sure . I know it's not nesacery to have a Roo to get eggs , however we plan on processing as well as hatching out every so often for friends. We already have several neighbors waiting to get eggs and meat eventually. We plan as well on getting some meat birds to keep the freezer stocked. There are 7 of us and we have company often. We are on 9 acres so space is no issue as we will just keep adding "safe areas" . We hope to be off purchased chicken in a year or so as its not the best tasting or healthiest thing around.oh and no I'm not so attached I won't be able to process. My family when I was young raised and processed beef and pork. Its a health factor to raise and eat our own meat and a learning step for my kids.

I have a million bazillion handsome roosters aging into randiness around here. What kind are you looking for?

@Tab...ambitious strawberry picking! My chickens love strawberries. They get all the funny shaped ones.

 

[Purpletie3]

Do any of you worm your flock? I have been giving my chicks garlic, cayenne and mint...haven't seen worms but not sure if I should be doing more for them...