San Diego Chicken meetup and Chat thread

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

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Yep that should be just fine!

Also I have some males that are over 5 months and they wont crow because there is a dominant roo around. Sometimes they take longer to develop too being a pure breed.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

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Just out of curiosity, do you free range all day or do you keep them in a run? What size run? I'm asking because I'd like to keep a 2nd roo, just afraid that my 10 x 20 run is too small. I've been free ranging several hours each day, sometimes all day, but the hawks are plentiful right now. Where did they all come from??!!! I let the chickens out then I have to run back to put them in because I hear the hawks screaming overhead.

Here, I'm going to jump onto your bandwagon Dana. What age can I put the cockerel in with the flock. He's and the pullet are 3 mos. Should I wait another month?

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

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I know this wasn't aimed at me but I'd like to offer some of my experience...

I have 6 roosters in a 30' x 30' run, and 3 more in another same sized run. They come out to free-range when we are home only, generally in the evenings.

GENERALLY if they are raised together they will get along fine. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. My AM's are great with each other, and the ladies. But I've had broilers who just gang up on the females and were just butt-heads. I don't have any issues with the AM's though.

18 girls for 2 boys you should have no problems at all. Are the boys currently together now? I would put them if they aren't, the younger the better.

I think 10 x 20 is fine for 2 roos, just make sure they are raised together from a young age.

When I first added my cockerel to the pullet flock he was a month younger than them and there was only one of him and 10 females. They picked on him a lot and pushed him down the dominance ladder. It took him a long time to work up the chicken ladder. The more chickens you add at once the better, and the younger they are the better, they will know they are submissive and there will be less fighting. If you add them when they are older they like to try to establish dominance right off the bat.

Hope this helps!

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Thank you Cari, it definitely helps! I had the cockerel in with the flock but then the pullet was scalped. I think because she tried squeezing through the wire, got blood on her head, and the rest is history. I put the cockerel in with her while she healed because I knew it would take a long time and didn't want her to be lonely. Now I guess I'll move the two back in with the flock. I'll do it slowly and hope they get along.

My mom has two roos, brothers, that she picked up at the local feed store, were supposed to be pullets. She raised them together, but now they have to be kept separate. They'll kill each other if put together. What a hassle! I guess I've been fearing the same. I guess there's only one way to find out! I'm expecting some LF NN chicks here soon so eventually there'll be 15 or so hens.

 

[perchie.girl]

About Roos:

This is a good thread for me as well. Been lurking a while.... But my intention was to have several roosters in a bachelor pen for when I start raising my own chickens. Because when you buy straight run chicks your chances are 50 50 that there will be equal amounts of males to females..... Even planned out my poultry house to include a bachelor pad.... so to speak. So now I need to rethink again.... And yes I have twenty acres.... or thereabouts.

 

[dfdesigns]

My "big run" will be about 50 x 100, with varied terrain. Right now we're trying to figure out a good way to cover the top; I'm thinking of going with golf netting. (Like you, we've had a big hawk problem this year. Plus darn coyotes. Argggh.) The big run is attached to my 12 x 12 hen house, which is currently attached to an extremely secure 10 x 12 pen. The juvie Ams are living in there currently while the layers are busy pooping all over my barn... I am looking forward to getting my barn back and using it for horse stuff once again. I do think the horses will miss the chickens, though.

My two cockerels (if they indeed are both boys) were hatchmates, and get along well. There is no squabbling in the juvie pen like there can be in the layer flock! I am actually looking forward to having a roo in the mix again, and maybe making some nice Olive Eggers with my new FBCM from Emily!

 

[perchie.girl]

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I have been looking at stuff like this:
http://www.3tproducts.com/shop/pc/viewCategories.asp?pageStyle=h&idCategory=21

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I have no idea if it actually works, but I've heard that running fishing line criss-crossed on top of a large run works well to deter hawks, they don't like they shiny-ness.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

@ Dana: My little 10 x 20 run now seems completely inadequate....I may need to throw a rooster over your fence. What's your address?

 

[perchie.girl]

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