My crew are all 21-22 weeks old. Recently I rehomed, processed and sold almost all the roosters. I still have three and need to see who I am going to keep.
Some of the hens are really getting red combs....some more than others. I went out this evening to treat them before lock up.(cottage cheese for the calcium...lol) I always go out with a treat at the end of the day but I don't give it if they have not eaten all their feed. When I walked out I was watching them. I have seen signs of breeding with the head grabbing but never seen them actually breed. Earlier today I thought maybe it was going on because there are a lot of fuzzy looking heads on the hens from the grabbing. But tonight the BO rooster bred one of the RIR hens while I was standing there. (I was not in the run and not sure they even realized I had not left)
My question is this....if they are actually breeding....instead of just trying and being rejected because that was what I noticed before...does that mean they are really getting ready to lay eggs? I know we don't have to have the rooster. But would they allow the breeding if they were not mature enough to start laying?
I am not anxious about them laying. I know it will come in time. I was just a little surprised tonight. Before I had see the head grabbing and the hen would get loud and run away. This was the real deal. I was just curious if we were starting to get close to getting eggs?
Things are much calmer in the coop and run now minus all the roosters. I am thinking that will help move things along. Thoughts?
One more newbie question.....how long can I give the roo's before I have to take them down to at least two...or one? There are three and 12 hens so I know I have to still do a little culling. The BO and two Barred Rocks. The BO seems to be the Alpha Roo at the moment. No one takes him on. The BR's skittle out of his way. There has been no fighting so far between them. So, what would be my timeline you think?
And it is dark here by 8pm....should I be putting a light out for them?
Thanks for any input....
Some of the hens are really getting red combs....some more than others. I went out this evening to treat them before lock up.(cottage cheese for the calcium...lol) I always go out with a treat at the end of the day but I don't give it if they have not eaten all their feed. When I walked out I was watching them. I have seen signs of breeding with the head grabbing but never seen them actually breed. Earlier today I thought maybe it was going on because there are a lot of fuzzy looking heads on the hens from the grabbing. But tonight the BO rooster bred one of the RIR hens while I was standing there. (I was not in the run and not sure they even realized I had not left)
My question is this....if they are actually breeding....instead of just trying and being rejected because that was what I noticed before...does that mean they are really getting ready to lay eggs? I know we don't have to have the rooster. But would they allow the breeding if they were not mature enough to start laying?
I am not anxious about them laying. I know it will come in time. I was just a little surprised tonight. Before I had see the head grabbing and the hen would get loud and run away. This was the real deal. I was just curious if we were starting to get close to getting eggs?
Things are much calmer in the coop and run now minus all the roosters. I am thinking that will help move things along. Thoughts?
One more newbie question.....how long can I give the roo's before I have to take them down to at least two...or one? There are three and 12 hens so I know I have to still do a little culling. The BO and two Barred Rocks. The BO seems to be the Alpha Roo at the moment. No one takes him on. The BR's skittle out of his way. There has been no fighting so far between them. So, what would be my timeline you think?
And it is dark here by 8pm....should I be putting a light out for them?
Thanks for any input....
Last edited: