***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Sooner Magnolia]

Hi all,

Well despite my using female pronouns on my chicks, it appears that I have 4 cockrels out of the 10. They were hatched around June 10th. Obviously I don't need 4 roosters, but would be okay with 1 or 2 if they are good with people. I'll probably add some more girls later. My husband always prefers when we don't have any. However, with the new puppy, it might be good to have some back up protecting the flock.

So, should I separate all 4 from the girls and see which one I want later? Choose 1 now and move the rest? Keep them all together until we have issues? Any tips or advice on picking a good rooster early would be appreciated.

 

[boggart]

If anyone here is interested in free chicken feed and composting (I just started my first compost pile yesterday!) I found a wonderful website that makes it easy to connect with locals to either give or receive food scraps/compost materials.
It’s lacking in users around here for sure, but I’m hoping it begins to grow.

Let me know if you make an account and maybe we can start our own little Oklahoma recycling and composting network

https://sharewaste.com

Edit: there seems to be only 9 users in Oklahoma, and two of those are my mother and I (lol). Here’s to any new accounts!

 

[NanaKat]

Hello fellow Okies! I’ve tried searching but I’d love some input from people who are dealing with the same temperatures.

We are in SW Oklahoma. We have 4 chickens outside and 3 week old chicks just about outgrown their indoor brooder. How hot is too hot for chicks to move outside? They have their own coop and run, separate from the big girls. I obviously know to change waters often and keep an eye on them. Is 3 weeks too young? They are mostly feathered and they hardly use their eco glow heat plate anymore, just at night. I would still have that out in the coop as well for night time.
I appreciate any help!

The coop is reinforced with hardware cloth. And the temps at night are in the 70s, so that’s good! It’s just the high temps of 100°+ that have me worried. They’re acclimated to the temperature in my house now.

Sounds like your coop is secure enough to move your chicks outside. Shade will be important to keep the 3 week olds more comfortable. A fabric shade cloth allows air to circulate and can be dampened with a hose to cool the air around them.
Adding frozen water bottles in their water bowl helps during the hottest part of the day. Giving them cold treats helps too...like a cold chunk of watermelon, frozen chopped fruit.
I run a water cooler in my brooder room for the younger chicks, but many of the juvies go in and out at will with the older birds.

Hi all,

Well despite my using female pronouns on my chicks, it appears that I have 4 cockrels out of the 10. They were hatched around June 10th. Obviously I don't need 4 roosters, but would be okay with 1 or 2 if they are good with people. I'll probably add some more girls later. My husband always prefers when we don't have any. However, with the new puppy, it might be good to have some back up protecting the flock.

So, should I separate all 4 from the girls and see which one I want later? Choose 1 now and move the rest? Keep them all together until we have issues? Any tips or advice on picking a good rooster early would be appreciated.

Separating the cockerels from your pullets will save the pullets from stress during the heat of summer.
I like to watch the boys interacting together.a mean bully will show himself pretty quick when housed together.
He gets marked for freezer camp.

Any who threaten my feet are disciplined quickly and watched for repeat behavior. Multiple offenders are not keepers. I had a really nice young rooster I was going to keep that flogged my leg leaving a puncture.
When I move about their pen, I look for boys who move boldly to food, but move out of my way and honor my space. Sometimes I hold a treat out in my hand to see who will come sample it. If he calls others over, he is a keeper.

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

Sounds like your coop is secure enough to move your chicks outside. Shade will be important to keep the 3 week olds more comfortable. A fabric shade cloth allows air to circulate and can be dampened with a hose to cool the air around them.
Adding frozen water bottles in their water bowl helps during the hottest part of the day. Giving them cold treats helps too...like a cold chunk of watermelon, frozen chopped fruit.
I run a water cooler in my brooder room for the younger chicks, but many of the juvies go in and out at will with the older birds.


Separating the cockerels from your pullets will save the pullets from stress during the heat of summer.
I like to watch the boys interacting together.a mean bully will show himself pretty quick when housed together.
He gets marked for freezer camp.

Any who threaten my feet are disciplined quickly and watched for repeat behavior. Multiple offenders are not keepers. I had a really nice young rooster I was going to keep that flogged my leg leaving a puncture.
When I move about their pen, I look for boys who move boldly to food, but move out of my way and honor my space. Sometimes I hold a treat out in my hand to see who will come sample it. If he calls others over, he is a keeper.

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

That's why I post questions on this thread. @NanaKat and all, I really appreciate the wisdom and experience!

 

[Lindseyaf]

Sounds like your coop is secure enough to move your chicks outside. Shade will be important to keep the 3 week olds more comfortable. A fabric shade cloth allows air to circulate and can be dampened with a hose to cool the air around them.
Adding frozen water bottles in their water bowl helps during the hottest part of the day. Giving them cold treats helps too...like a cold chunk of watermelon, frozen chopped fruit.
I run a water cooler in my brooder room for the younger chicks, but many of the juvies go in and out at will with the older birds.


Separating the cockerels from your pullets will save the pullets from stress during the heat of summer.
I like to watch the boys interacting together.a mean bully will show himself pretty quick when housed together.
He gets marked for freezer camp.

Any who threaten my feet are disciplined quickly and watched for repeat behavior. Multiple offenders are not keepers. I had a really nice young rooster I was going to keep that flogged my leg leaving a puncture.
When I move about their pen, I look for boys who move boldly to food, but move out of my way and honor my space. Sometimes I hold a treat out in my hand to see who will come sample it. If he calls others over, he is a keeper.

Thank you so much! Frozen water bottles, excellent idea! And the shade cloth!

 

[Karen523]

If anyone here is interested in free chicken feed and composting (I just started my first compost pile yesterday!) I found a wonderful website that makes it easy to connect with locals to either give or receive food scraps/compost materials.
It’s lacking in users around here for sure, but I’m hoping it begins to grow.

Let me know if you make an account and maybe we can start our own little Oklahoma recycling and composting network

https://sharewaste.com

Edit: there seems to be only 9 users in Oklahoma, and two of those are my mother and I (lol). Here’s to any new accounts!

I just signed up. I don't really know how it woks tho. I'm in Blanchard, but I did not give my street address.

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

@NanaKat what method do you use to discipline disrespectful roosters?

 

[NanaKat]

@Sooner Magnolia , a squirt of water if I'm holding the hose, a guide stick slapped on the ground if I'm herding the chickens, or a well aimed boot to the butt.
I love the advice from BeeKissed a few years ago about training a people friendly rooster.

 

[jrjoplin]

My Sicilian Buttercup has (IMO) severe scoliosis. Everything I’ve read says she should be fine and I have no intentions of using her for breeding. She’s just so odd looking but she runs around fine and even flys. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with scoliosis in their flock.