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LadyBehir said:
well I am not exactly worried about fertility. I have a suburban yard. So unless I get really nuts, I doubt I'll do more chicks this year, anyway. I was more concerned with flock happiness. For the most part, the boys seem to get along fine.
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Unless one gets beaten and injured by the other, you can keep them both. Chances are they will live out their lives in relative harmony.
 
LadyBehir said:
So the 8 to 2 ratio isn't too bad? I mean from the girls' point of view also.
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That's not too bad, though you may have a 'favored' hen get her feathers roughed up so a few hen saddles may come in handy. Roosters who are raised together can often live together with a minimum of fuss. I have 6 in the main coop with about 25 or 26 hens and don't have problems beyond a rare (and brief) scuffle to maintain their established order. They were all raised within the flock...
 
Well, Zippy and Dupli are hatch-brothers from the batch of eggs I got from Dennis last year. Just a little over 7 months old. And they do get along, so I guess I will stop worrying.
 
Hi PA friends! I don't post much but read a lot of the conversations going on. I feel at a loss what to do so I thought I would ask all of you. This morning I went to let the chickens out and noticed one of them was breathing odd. I picked each one up to see who it was and its the smallest one, Tilly Juniper. She is breathing like she has a chest cold. No runny nose and she seems to be eating and drinking OK. Her comb is pale and kinda shriveled. She is 6 months old and not laying. I checked the threads about respitory illnesses but they say so many things, I don't know where to begin. Any advice?
 
Chicky Feathers said:
Hi PA friends! I don't post much but read a lot of the conversations going on. I feel at a loss what to do so I thought I would ask all of you. This morning I went to let the chickens out and noticed one of them was breathing odd. I picked each one up to see who it was and its the smallest one, Tilly Juniper. She is breathing like she has a chest cold. No runny nose and she seems to be eating and drinking OK. Her comb is pale and kinda shriveled. She is 6 months old and not laying. I checked the threads about respitory illnesses but they say so many things, I don't know where to begin. Any advice?
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Isolate her from the others in case it is communicable, bring her into a cooler room or garage, set her up with a comfortable box or cage and provide her with water that has vitamins added (such as chick saver or nutridrench) and a small bowl of scrambled eggs or similar healthy treat.
This will allow her body to spend it's energy fighting off illness without fighting cold weather and it will allow you to observe her behavior, breathing and her poops, this will help you determine what other steps are needed...

Edit to add...don't forget to check her closely for injuries (young hens can be injured by roosters when they struggle) and for mites or lice, which sometimes favor one chicken over others for some reason. While handling her also check her crop size/hardness (to watch for impaction), smell her breath (cor sour crop) and feel her posterior abdominal area for hardness or swelling (internal laying or egg bound symptoms)
 
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fisherlady said:
Isolate her from the others in case it is communicable, bring her into a cooler room or garage, set her up with a comfortable box or cage and provide her with water that has vitamins added (such as chick saver or nutridrench) and a small bowl of scrambled eggs or similar healthy treat.
This will allow her body to spend it's energy fighting off illness without fighting cold weather and it will allow you to observe her behavior, breathing and her poops, this will help you determine what other steps are needed...

Edit to add...don't forget to check her closely for injuries (young hens can be injured by roosters when they struggle) and for mites or lice, which sometimes favor one chicken over others for some reason. While handling her also check her crop size/hardness (to watch for impaction), smell her breath (cor sour crop) and feel her posterior abdominal area for hardness or swelling (internal laying or egg bound symptoms)
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Thank you for the advice. Should I bring her in the house in acage or is that too warm?
 
Chicky Feathers said:
Thank you for the advice. Should I bring her in the house in acage or is that too warm?
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The house works, but not near a heat vent, they are accustomed to the cold and can actually be uncomfortable if they get too warm. If she likes people then keep her somewhere she can see what is going on, if she is shy or skittish then give her a bit more privacy, though she will have to adjust to you checking on her frequently.
 
LadyBehir said:
So the 8 to 2 ratio isn't too bad? I mean from the girls' point of view also.
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I have heard a one to 12 (or even 1 to 16) ratio works best with some overly enthusiastic roo's.
A good friend of mine re-homed her absolutely gorgeous BCM rooster because he was a "thug and a violent rapist". He had a harem of only 5-6 hens--she said there was blood and it went way beyond ruffled feathers. The more I read, the more I think that roosters vary tremendously by breed and by individual. Wait and see--if there is going to be a problem, worry then!
 

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