***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Poco Pollo]

Thank you. I did. Got 6 super cute EE hens last night. Nice variety of wheaten coloration on them. Can't wait to see them in daylight as one looked to be a buttery yellow and white. One is wheaten with lots of blue. They are coming into their 2nd year so they will add some age variation to my young flock.

My high energy corgi jumped on top of the box my capon splash wheaten marans was in. Boy, did he get a scolding about that. Luckily the little guy didn't get hurt.

My columbian dotte I got from you is quite the character as she chases my calico kitten frequently.

And Uno the guinea was snuggled up between 2 pullets on the top roost last night.

And Coral, so ironic the box the juvie capon male was in! Juvie capon male in a countertop oven box.

So that puts me at 49 pullets/ hens total at this moment (about 5-7 will be going to Kyzmette's eventually). And to think back when I joined this site a year ago I said I just wanted 4-5. And I plan on getting 2 more next weekend. On waiting list for 5 LF faverolles pullets. Going to order 18 chicks from Mr Strawn here soon. Got the legbar eggs in the bator. Will be getting Orloff eggs soon. And have my wish list with Nanakat. And just sitting here waiting for Kass to turn out some nifty bowties.

I'm happy to hear your EE hen pickup went well. I was concerned about the wind and cold. Post pictures soon : )

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Thank you. I did. Got 6 super cute EE hens last night. Nice variety of wheaten coloration on them. Can't wait to see them in daylight as one looked to be a buttery yellow and white. One is wheaten with lots of blue. They are coming into their 2nd year so they will add some age variation to my young flock.

My high energy corgi jumped on top of the box my capon splash wheaten marans was in. Boy, did he get a scolding about that. Luckily the little guy didn't get hurt.

My columbian dotte I got from you is quite the character as she chases my calico kitten frequently.

And Uno the guinea was snuggled up between 2 pullets on the top roost last night.

And Coral, so ironic the box the juvie capon male was in! Juvie capon male in a countertop oven box.

So that puts me at 49 pullets/ hens total at this moment (about 5-7 will be going to Kyzmette's eventually). And to think back when I joined this site a year ago I said I just wanted 4-5. And I plan on getting 2 more next weekend. On waiting list for 5 LF faverolles pullets. Going to order 18 chicks from Mr Strawn here soon. Got the legbar eggs in the bator. Will be getting Orloff eggs soon. And have my wish list with Nanakat. And just sitting here waiting for Kass to turn out some nifty bowties.

Congrats on the additions. I know how the number game goes. We were going to start with 10 (The house we bought already had a ready coop and run) and slowly work up from there. That was last year, my count is 27 right now with an order of 13 due in Feb. I am also getting an incubator soon SOOOOoooI can imagine how that will go

.

 

[RetiredArmyWife]

So I was wondering. What should be the hen to rooster ratio? If I do get more then one rooster should they be kept separate. Should I have two flocks with a rooster in each or will they be okay together as long as they have enough ladies to take care of. Would love to get every bodies opinions.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

So I was wondering. What should be the hen to rooster ratio? If I do get more then one rooster should they be kept separate. Should I have two flocks with a rooster in each or will they be okay together as long as they have enough ladies to take care of. Would love to get every bodies opinions.

I've been told 1/7 is best for optimum fertilization. I have 3/24 right now and all of my eggs are fertile and the roos get along fine. My alpha roo will usually stop mating attempts by the younger roos but not much aggrestion. I think it all depends on the amount of space they have and on the breeds. My flock seems happy and content!

 

[RetiredArmyWife]

I've been told 1/7 is best for optimum fertilization.  I have 3/24 right now and all of my eggs are fertile and the roos get along fine.  My alpha roo will usually stop mating attempts by the younger roos but not much aggrestion.  I think it all depends on the amount of space they have and on the breeds.  My flock seems happy and content!

Roosters are just so darn pretty! So the general rule is 7 hens to one rooster, but have enough space. That sounds reasonable.

 

[Kassaundra]

My flock has usually had more then one intact roo (I shoot for just 2 though) and so far no real aggression problems.

 

[Kyzmette]

It also depends on the roo. Some roosters are more likely to share than others. There are some breeds that work with multiple roosters in the same flock, and there are some roosters that are just aggressive toward any other rooster that gets anywhere near his ladies, mating or no mating involved.

 

[Tony O]

We caught a possum in the trap last night. Possums pull the heads off birds, too, right? I'd been locking up the birds on the south side of the property because that's where he'd gotten 6 of them. The night before last he tore the head off one in the layer's yard close to the house.
Also in the last few days I lost a 2 yr old feed store D'Uccle and the last of the Lavender Guineas I'd gotten 3 months ago at Newcastle along with 2 Ameraucanas I'd gotten at that auction. None of the Guineas had done well but I really thought this one would make it. 11 birds in about a week. Sounds selfish but I've got birds and favorite birds. My favorites are all in roofed, secure pens and buildings. I still care a lot about the others though and didn't want to lose any of them :-(
I saw that possum's teeth, they look like coon's teeth and I can certainly see how he could've done the kind of damage to my birds that he did (assuming it was him). Do they travel in groups?

Not saying they don't, but in my experience, possums usually start eating from the other end. They will however, eat other kill that the original killer didn't eat, and many times get the blame for doing the kill. Young siblings will travel together for a while when momma chases them off. Un-like coons, once mature they usually travel to kill and eat alone, although there may be several near-by traveling close together.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Roosters are just so darn pretty! So the general rule is 7 hens to one rooster, but have enough space. That sounds reasonable.

They really do make a flock don't they.

 

[Tony O]

Quote:

So that puts me at 49 pullets/ hens total at this moment (about 5-7 will be going to Kyzmette's eventually). And to think back when I joined this site a year ago I said I just wanted 4-5. And I plan on getting 2 more next weekend. On waiting list for 5 LF faverolles pullets. Going to order 18 chicks from Mr Strawn here soon. Got the legbar eggs in the bator. Will be getting Orloff eggs soon. And have my wish list with Nanakat. And just sitting here waiting for Kass to turn out some nifty bowties.

That's just plain 'chicken math'.

4 or 5 = 34 to 55. And them they only count if they're laying.

My better half just said "Chickens are like potato chips. You can't have just 4 or 5. You gotta have more."