NY chicken lover!!!!

[tao chick]

Baunlee, awesome score! Four brinseas for free!? Who could turn that down?

I think I'm going to lose Pretty Boy I thought his leg problem was on the mend but today he hasn't even hoisted himself out of the coop yet. He was up until this week still limping around and crowing and even making attempts to mate with the hens but today he barely got himself up when I went in the coop, and yesterday he seemed to just be laying in the yard for the most part. He seems alert and he doesn't act like he's in pain so I'm just not sure what's going on with him.

I'm debating putting him down or just letting this run its course. It's hard because he really doesn't seem to be in pain and he does get himself up and into the yard and lays there and enjoys the sun, and if he can have more time to do that I don't want to take it from him, but also if he is in pain I don't want him to be suffering.

Poor Pretty Boy. Have you tried an Epsom Salt or just warm water soak? I did this for Mojo once and he kept coming back for more. Although I had another cockerel go downhill so quickly that I didn't have a chance to try it. I think it's a tough choice, but whatever you choose will be right based on your experience with him.
Did you decide on his successor?

 

[rancher hicks]

Baunlee, awesome score! Four brinseas for free!? Who could turn that down?

I think I'm going to lose Pretty Boy

I thought his leg problem was on the mend but today he hasn't even hoisted himself out of the coop yet. He was up until this week still limping around and crowing and even making attempts to mate with the hens but today he barely got himself up when I went in the coop, and yesterday he seemed to just be laying in the yard for the most part. He seems alert and he doesn't act like he's in pain so I'm just not sure what's going on with him.

I'm debating putting him down or just letting this run its course. It's hard because he really doesn't seem to be in pain and he does get himself up and into the yard and lays there and enjoys the sun, and if he can have more time to do that I don't want to take it from him, but also if he is in pain I don't want him to be suffering.

Did i miss your previous post of what's going on with him?


everyone else: Roosters are part and parcel to hatching. Some have ideas why there might be more or less in a hatch, but a plan needs to be in place.
If you're breeding then you have to grow them out before ditching them. I have a guy who will take mine, as I'm not up to processing them. Many because I don't want to have to deal with the messy guts. I'm sure I could do it. I would have to do more than one at a time though.

On an interesting note the CBS new reported that we throw away 40% of the food we grow. I wonder if they included roosters that don't get eaten?

FYI, I've been saying off and on that those "sell by" and "best used by" dates are not Federally set but are set by the manufacturer. I've been eating Yogurt that has the date, 4/28/16 Wegmans brand. I got it from the school. Leftovers from a charity race they had for the Health Center. Tastes just fine. (I keep a small college fridge in the garage so I don't have to come in for lunch when I'm working outside)

Point? Don't be so quick to toss out dated food.

Seems to me if you have a garden a freezer is a must as even small portions of veggies can be frozen. Don't want to toss those few tomatoes? Wash and dry and toss in the freezer. When they're thawed the peels come right off. Just throw them in your favorite Veggie soup. Though I do like stewed tomatoes.

 

[Pyxis]

Poor Pretty Boy. Have you tried an Epsom Salt or just warm water soak? I did this for Mojo once and he kept coming back for more. Although I had another cockerel go downhill so quickly that I didn't have a chance to try it. I think it's a tough choice, but whatever you choose will be right based on your experience with him.
Did you decide on his successor?

I'll give the salt soak a try. It's so odd, he has no wounds, no swelling, no heat in the leg, but he just can't use it. I tried him on broad spectrum antibiotics and that did nothing either.

So far Leo, his backup, has been running the flock (although Pretty Boy is still somehow maintaining dominance over him), but I have enough hens that I'll need a second rooster for that flock if I do lose him. I'll probably use one of my NN chicks from this year as the second rooster. I have a ton of chicks growing up and will likely keep one or two roosters from them to be part of that flock.

He was just crowing from the coop today when all the other boys got going. I think later I'll bring him out into the yard for some sunshine.

 

[koopmaster]

Hello all my N.Y. state brothers and sisters!! I havent been posting in a while.
Our flock has grown tremendously ("chicken math"!!!!) We now have 14 barred rock hens, 3 roos in one flock. We have 3 Buff Orpington hens, and 3 roos. ( bought as straight run chicks), 2 silkie hens, and 6 feather footer mixed hens and roos!

we are supplying ourselves and friend with eggs needless to say!

Just wanted to say hello
Mike
Olean N.Y.

 

[rancher hicks]

How about a childs tethoscope

I'll have to check to see if any are sold on Ebay.

 

[rancher hicks]

Hello all my N.Y. state brothers and sisters!! I havent been posting in a while.
Our flock has grown tremendously ("chicken math"!!!!) We now have 14 barred rock hens, 3 roos in one flock. We have 3 Buff Orpington hens, and 3 roos. ( bought as straight run chicks), 2 silkie hens, and 6 feather footer mixed hens and roos!

we are supplying ourselves and friend with eggs needless to say!

Just wanted to say hello
Mike
Olean N.Y.

Hey Mike,

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I have the same problem. As my number of mixed hens grows I consider giving BB a second in command. Perhaps I should pick one of the extra Brabanter cockerels? That still leaves me 3 too many.

What are your options?

I have 2 white leghorn/ gold spitzhauben and 1 rir/gold spitzhauben. I will post pictures later today but I think I'm going to keep the rir/gold. He is beautiful and has the brown egg gene.

I just picked up 32 meaties from a man in Athens. Yay!!! Now how long do I grow these buggers out?

 

[TillyPeeps]

Hi, I'm moving from PA to Auturn - Skaneateles -Syracus NY area next month. Does any one know a chicken friendly rental place there? I have six pullets: a Bielefelder mix, a rhodebar, two legbars, a Welbar, and an Ameraucana mix. All 5 - month old. The family also includes 2 cats, me, hubby, and our toddler son. Please send me a message if you have or know such kind place. Thank you.

 

[Lapeerian]

Hi, I'm moving from PA to Auturn - Skaneateles -Syracus NY area next month. Does any one know a chicken friendly rental place there? I have six pullets: a Bielefelder mix, a rhodebar, two legbars, a Welbar, and an Ameraucana mix. All 5 - month old. The family also includes 2 cats, me, hubby, and our toddler son. Please send me a message if you have or know such kind place. Thank you.

One of our former member rented a place outside Tully and had chickens & ducks. Anyone still in contact with Lindsey?

 

[tao chick]

I have 2 white leghorn/ gold spitzhauben and 1 rir/gold spitzhauben. I will post pictures later today but I think I'm going to keep the rir/gold. He is beautiful and has the brown egg gene.

I just picked up 32 meaties from a man in Athens. Yay!!! Now how long do I grow these buggers out?

6 - 8 weeks, up to 12 weeks depending on how quickly you let them grow. I did 9 or 10 weeks, but only because something came up when they were 8 weeks. I fed them 18-22% protein. My goal was slower growth. I had considered keeping one around for a cross but decided against it.