***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Kassaundra]

I have read on here some pecking order stuff that has been very severe leading to death or near death. My flock has never been that way, I am sure it has a top chicken and a bottom one, but I can't tell by watching, and no one is picked on to any noticable extent. Others report isolating the meanest for a week or two then placing them back, putting them on the bottom of the social order. I do not know if that would work. I'm afraid if I ever have an overly agressive chicken (either male or female) I would cull.

 

[NanaKat]

I have read on here some pecking order stuff that has been very severe leading to death or near death. My flock has never been that way, I am sure it has a top chicken and a bottom one, but I can't tell by watching, and no one is picked on to any noticable extent. Others report isolating the meanest for a week or two then placing them back, putting them on the bottom of the social order. I do not know if that would work. I'm afraid if I ever have an overly agressive chicken (either male or female) I would cull.

X2

 

[ChknObssd]

Im not sure its just one chicken picking on her. It seems like all the girls are against her. The only one that likes to be with my poor Luna, is Mr. Darcy the rooster... :/

 

[NanaKat]

How is everyone doing with the rain this morning?
Just over 2 inches in the rain gauge so far here.

Left all the birds in their pens today with feed and water inside the coops.
Shelbydog is coming by today to pick out some young birds so will leave them in their pen...much easier to round up that way.

When the rain stops, may go out and let the big birds out. Also need to check to make sure the run off from the barn has not plugged the channel with mud and backed up again in the big run. Time for mud boots and a shovel just in case. And the dogs need a little outside time.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

I'm just south of Guthrie. Honestly, I haven't been up by Tulsa in a a lot of years lol

Hm.... well occasionally I do head over to OKC, maybe 3 or 4 a year. Maybe if I can work out to go that direction in the next month or two I can arrange to pick them up on the way home. I'll send you a PM if I get things set up if you still have them at that time. If not I'll find some somewhere else. Don't feel bad selling them to someone else if you find another buyer.

I have to say thank you to all you fabulous people for the helpful information and advice. I've been busy reading and digesting everything. The AI led to sexing, which led to sex-linked traits, which led to breeding and chromosomal divergence, which led to an uncomfortable realization: I'm afraid Shelbydog opened a terrible Pandora's Box. I lovelovelove my chickens as pets, but in college I got involved with genetics as an extra credit endeavor (lobsters and regenerative chromosomes) and thoroughly enjoyed it, but seriously, how in the world do you work with genetics as a hobby, right? RIGHT?! I mean, without having government entities in bodysuits fitted with rebreathers descending on your house and having your property described as a "compound" on national TV. Well, there's pea plants and puppies.... but no, separate they're overdone, and together the musical was already made.

The important points to remember here are 1) Thank you all for all your great help! 2) Blame Shelbydog.

Haha and she's not even on today to defend herself! LOL!

Im not sure its just one chicken picking on her. It seems like all the girls are against her. The only one that likes to be with my poor Luna, is Mr. Darcy the rooster... :/

That's a tough situation. There are a couple of things to try. You could put Luna in her own pen with one or two of the less aggressive chickens for a week or so and then try to reintroduce them as a group. Or if you know whose towards the top of the pecking order pull out the top 2 or 3 hens and leave Luna in with everyone else. Just some ideas. Good luck!

 

[Ksane]

What I've done before is take the victim and the gentlest of the others and put those 2 together for a week elsewhere, then add another hen to those 3 for another week. Then put the group of 3 together into the main group and they should stick together. A group of 3 seldom gets picked on, they should stick together and the other hens think they have 'back-up' and tend not to push the issue. It probably doesn't *always work, but it's always worked for me.

Rinda, it looks like a friend of my mother's is wanting them. If it doesn't pan out, I'll let you know!

 

[emach0301]

Long time no see okie friends? How is everyone? My son picked out a chicken at TSC and Im not quite sure what it is, any guesses?

 

[mjgigax]

Happy to see Channing...he turned out to be a handsome guy. Seems you two were made for each other.

I want to let everyone know we (Sooner Serama Council) will have a traditional tabletop show (where birds are shown walking around on the table with no cage) Oct. 26 at Keystone Lake, North Loop B. Judging starts at 10:00...no admittance and will have hotdogs and soft drinks for lunch. Everybody welcome, with or without birds.

Very neat! Thanks for the invitation. I might get to come see the little giants.

 

[mjgigax]

I have to say thank you to all you fabulous people for the helpful information and advice. I've been busy reading and digesting everything. The AI led to sexing, which led to sex-linked traits, which led to breeding and chromosomal divergence, which led to an uncomfortable realization: I'm afraid Shelbydog opened a terrible Pandora's Box. I lovelovelove my chickens as pets, but in college I got involved with genetics as an extra credit endeavor (lobsters and regenerative chromosomes) and thoroughly enjoyed it, but seriously, how in the world do you work with genetics as a hobby, right? RIGHT?! I mean, without having government entities in bodysuits fitted with rebreathers descending on your house and having your property described as a "compound" on national TV. Well, there's pea plants and puppies.... but no, separate they're overdone, and together the musical was already made.

The important points to remember here are 1) Thank you all for all your great help! 2) Blame Shelbydog.

There are some breeders whose knowledge truely impresses me. Some genetic traits are labrynths.

 

[mjgigax]

X2

Yep, take a couple of the bossiest ones out for a few days. Separate them from each other too.