Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[Blarneyeggs]

Eye candy

Most of my Swedish Flower Hen flock (plus a silly silkie mix who wanted on that pen)
Some crested, most not. Five are of laying age, the rest should be in a month or two. I think there are 17, seven from purchased eggs, ten of my own. To many roosters, but I haven't decided who to keep, yet. Oh yeah, and there is a five week old in the brooder with some orpingtons.

Uh HUH! they're purdy! Now let's see the Orps.

 

[roseschickies]

mine used to like it too. How old is your rooster?

not sure I will have look at my other phone, I made notes as to when I got birds. But He just started to crow, so I would say 6-8 month

 

[chiques chicks]

Uh HUH! they're purdy! Now let's see the Orps.

Not as cooperative since they already had their treats, but...

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

Lookie at what I caught!!! I will keep setting the trap. Gotta a few cans of dented dog and cat food for $.05 each last week. I took all they had lol, don't know how many more critters I will get.

WoooHoooo!! The less around your flock the better.
I shot one of those last night. They give me the creeps, reminds me of a giant rat. Caught it hiding in my parents' garage right as the one downpour started. I guess it was trying to get out of the rain cause there wasn't anything to eat in there.

Anybody have a rooster that is friendly for sale or trade? Our just turned on me this week. Doesn't mess with my boyfriend but he chases me and tried to peck my heels! I don't run of course, Just have to blcok him, today blocked him with the egg basket. He cracked one of the eggs! This has become a weekly routine with us this week or anybody have any help on how to turn him back?! He was so nice! Here is a picture of him sitting on my lap when I first did the wing trimming when they were learning where home was.

Any time Jäger starts to pull his attitude crap I grab him, pin him down to the ground by the hackles and call the girls over. Usually keeps him in line for a few weeks, then we do the dance again. I do it every few (2-3) weeks with all the roos that have shown ANY human aggression at ANYTIME, whether they're showing it when it's "lesson" time or not. They're dynamic may change, but I make sure they know I'm "alpha" over any and all of them. I'm working with Gavin to have him also show them he's my second or "betta" not one of them, easier said than done though.

 

[kada6305]

WoooHoooo!! The less around your flock the better.
I shot one of those last night. They give me the creeps, reminds me of a giant rat. Caught it hiding in my parents' garage right as the one downpour started. I guess it was trying to get out of the rain cause there wasn't anything to eat in there.
Any time Jäger starts to pull his attitude crap I grab him, pin him down to the ground by the hackles and call the girls over. Usually keeps him in line for a few weeks, then we do the dance again. I do it every few (2-3) weeks with all the roos that have shown ANY human aggression at ANYTIME, whether they're showing it when it's "lesson" time or not. They're dynamic may change, but I make sure they know I'm "alpha" over any and all of them. I'm working with Gavin to have him also show them he's my second or "betta" not one of them, easier said than done though.

So you grab him and bit him on the ground on his side, correct? and what are hackles?

 

[stake]

Thanks Stake for the link!

Brittany, your coop Taj Majal is gorgeous! I don't know if I could do something like that, but I may the wooden pallets route. I figure if I get pallets for free and I mess up, I haven't lost anything!

So tomorrow I will drive around with Hubby looking for pallets. I've already seen some nearby, I just will have to beg and plead.

Does Anyone in Bucks County sell chicks in the late winter and early spring? Thanks!

Annie:

No problem....if you are looking for pallets, look for a buillding supply company....some things they supply have extra heavy duty pallets(they usually pay to have them taken away)....beginning in late feb, Pickering valley feed has chicks shipped in every week til mid summer....all types...I've seen posters from Ideal Hatchery posted so if they don't have it, it can be ordered....they are located in Exton pa....but the better birds can be found by folks on here who have their own breeding projects...my two cents...

 

[roseschickies]

So you grab him and bit him on the ground on his side, correct? and what are hackles?

long feathers around the neck, basically, grab him by the throat and give him a good beating!

( I know someone that is not a rooster and could do this to them!)

 

[Cheralee]

Thanks Stake for the link!

Brittany, your coop Taj Mahal is gorgeous! I don't know if I could do something like that, but I may try the wooden pallets route. I figure if I get pallets for free and I mess up, I haven't lost anything!

So tomorrow I will drive around with Hubby looking for pallets. I've already seen some nearby, I just will have to beg and plead.

Does Anyone in Bucks County sell chicks in the late winter and early spring? Thanks!

Annie:

No problem....if you are looking for pallets, look for a buillding supply company....some things they supply have extra heavy duty pallets(they usually pay to have them taken away)....beginning in late feb, Pickering valley feed has chicks shipped in every week til mid summer....all types...I've seen posters from Ideal Hatchery posted so if they don't have it, it can be ordered....they are located in Exton pa....but the better birds can be found by folks on here who have their own breeding projects...my two cents...

FWIW, check on the side of the pallets for a brand or burn of "HT".... Some pallets are cheap, raw wood and wouldn't be a problem. However, others have treated wood. My organic gardener advised on HT if you can get them because they are heat treated and have less/ none of the chemicals that might adversely affect your birds. Good luck!

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

So you grab him and bit him on the ground on his side, correct? and what are hackles?

Yep like Roses said, the long feathers on their neck. Although I grab his near the base of the neck close to the skin so he can't kick or spur me, and so I don't rip feathers out. It embarasses him in front of the girls and the other roos, just like if he does it to another roo in a fight.

I pin him in the about the same position the girls squat to for him, and hold him there until most of the flock comes in to see what's going on. He steers clear of me unless I have treats for his ladies, that's the only time he comes near me for a week or two after I've done that.

I will add, just because it works with my boys doesn't mean it'll work for every roo. You also should have the, I want to say, "aura" of an alpha and hold yourself like a leader or it doesn't work, at least from what I've seen here at my home. I've had practice with our dogs over the years and a pack isn't much different from a flock when it comes to being the leader. Our dogs recognize me as head B. (although I'm saying this in dog terms I'm still not gonna spell it out lol) and I guess it's carried over to the other animals.

I've also noticed it depends on what shoes and clothing I'm wearing. If I wear a long dress that covers my legs or long pants the boys are more likely to try picking a fight. Same with shoes, if my toes don't show they are after my feet. I think it's that they are so used to seeing me in sandals and shorter dresses or shorts that anything else has them on edge. The girls could care less but it does bother the boys.

 

[missydcpc]

I couldn't even watch the video to the end.

This is my hometown...and I'm in complete shock. Families I've known my whole life...their whole livelihood is just...gone. It's still a small town. Everyone steps up to help one another....but this on top of last year...I don't know how much help can be given.