Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Molpet]

@fluffycrow have you tried free ranging your two flocks together?

I have 4 flocks, 2 or more roosters in each, that are in a 150 x 600 ft poultry yard.
They usually work it out and stay away from each other.

There's also 9 turkey hens with poults. They have split into 2 groups and 4 singles. The group with 3 hens and the most poults are the ones terrorizing everyone.

Thank you.

And that's really interesting regarding the broiler pullet. Perhaps, through selection, they are like the Pacific Islanders or Scandahoovians of chickens. They're just going to be bigger. But if we look at your example, the difference between 8lbs and 12lbs on a 12 week old chicken is still a lot -- 33% -- that could be added by a broiler feed regimen. That's the difference between health and obesity.

Others who have kept CX pullets for breeding have found the restrictive feed makes the difference. Some commercial breeders of CX parent stock don't feed every day.

 

[fluffycrow]

I have 4 flocks, 2 or more roosters in each, that are in a 150 x 600 ft poultry yard.
They usually work it out and stay away from each other.

Are any of them gamefowl by any chance

 

[Molpet]

Are any of them gamefowl by any chance

Dark standard Cornish have been the most aggressive. A son injured his father so bad he could not breed

ETA now they are mix meat mutt

 

[ManueB]

No. I'm scared to mess up the nice system Kolovos and his hens have set up. On the other hand, I do feel bad about Big Red and his two hens. Side note. The brahma hens have been far worse at being able to dig, or do anything other than picking at grass and weed pieces, than any of my ISA brown hens

I had a slightly similar issue with my two roosters who didn't get along. The older one, Théo , is cross bantam and very aggressive. As long as he was dominant he would simply chase the younger one, Gaston, away from his territory around the coop. He also chased his hens, but not as aggressively.
Then there was a period when my younger and bigger rooster Gaston started fighting back and that was the most complicated. Théo always fought though he was four times smaller.

I don't think I handled it in the best way but I didn't want Théo to get really hurt. I was simply there all the time when they were together and separating them if I saw signs they would fight. There was a period when I alternated locking both rooster up in the run- it took a lot of energy. Because I used so many strategy to stop them from fighting, both flock could free range for more than six hours a day, and more for the hens, but it delayed the issue, which was that in the end dominance changed and Gaston took over. Because he’s much less aggressive he actually tolerates Théo in his territory and only chases him if he starts mating his hens.

Would you be able to separate Kolovos from Big red if things degenerated?

I have been told that Théo looks a bit like an OEGB ( not likely in the south of France ) and he looks a lot like the rooster Shadrach as well so he probably has a bit of game in his mix.

 

[fluffycrow]

I had a slightly similar issue with my two roosters who didn't get along. The older one, Théo , is cross bantam and very aggressive. As long as he was dominant he would simply chase the younger one, Gaston, away from his territory around the coop. He also chased his hens, but not as aggressively.
Then there was a period when my younger and bigger rooster Gaston started fighting back and that was the most complicated. Théo always fought though he was four times smaller.

I don't think I handled it in the best way but I didn't want Théo to get really hurt. I was simply there all the time when they were together and separating them if I saw signs they would fight. There was a period when I alternated locking both rooster up in the run- it took a lot of energy. Because I used so many strategy to stop them from fighting, both flock could free range for more than six hours a day, and more for the hens, but it delayed the issue, which was that in the end dominance changed and Gaston took over. Because he’s much less aggressive he actually tolerates Théo in his territory and only chases him if he starts mating his hens.

Would you be able to separate Kolovos from Big red if things degenerated?

I have been told that Théo looks a bit like an OEGB ( not likely in the south of France ) and he looks a lot like the rooster Shadrach as well so he probably has a bit of game in his mix.
View attachment 3617302

He does look like he has some game in him. I can separate them, but to be honest I don't want to constantly be messing with eachother, because then they won't be looking after their hens

 

[TropicalChickies]

I had a slightly similar issue with my two roosters who didn't get along. The older one, Théo , is cross bantam and very aggressive. As long as he was dominant he would simply chase the younger one, Gaston, away from his territory around the coop. He also chased his hens, but not as aggressively.
Then there was a period when my younger and bigger rooster Gaston started fighting back and that was the most complicated. Théo always fought though he was four times smaller.

I don't think I handled it in the best way but I didn't want Théo to get really hurt. I was simply there all the time when they were together and separating them if I saw signs they would fight. There was a period when I alternated locking both rooster up in the run- it took a lot of energy. Because I used so many strategy to stop them from fighting, both flock could free range for more than six hours a day, and more for the hens, but it delayed the issue, which was that in the end dominance changed and Gaston took over. Because he’s much less aggressive he actually tolerates Théo in his territory and only chases him if he starts mating his hens.

Would you be able to separate Kolovos from Big red if things degenerated?

I have been told that Théo looks a bit like an OEGB ( not likely in the south of France ) and he looks a lot like the rooster Shadrach as well so he probably has a bit of game in his mix.
View attachment 3617302

Thanks for sharing these stories. I have a feeling I'm going to be in a similar boat watching Lucio (the older dominant) start to realize that the growing cockerels are going to be roosters someday. For now, he's not even having to chase -- they make way when he approaches, but wondering how much longer that will last...

Tomorrow I'm going to start clearing the spot up at our neighbors place for a new coop for one of the cockerels and some pullets. It's a kilometer away separated by a lot of tree cover.

The other side effect I'm not thrilled about is that Lucio seems to have decided that anything that moves on two legs is a hen he wants to a. Try to mate and b. Woo -- in that order. Including me.

Perhaps the more experienced folks can help me interpret this behavior correctly. Twice now in the past week, he's charged at me as I was casually strolling in between the kitchen building and the nursery. This is established "human territory" -- it's where we live ffs. He wasn't shuffling or side-stepping or kicking out one foot -- he was coming straight for me. But not flying with spurs out -- just a head on charge, which I must admit, is quite formidable-looking.

If I recall from @Shadrach article, that's not a herding behavior, or an attack, it's a mating charge, correct?

His next action seems to say so. When I heard him running up behind me, I faced him squarely, planted my feet, and said "Back off" -- which is just what popped out of my mouth. I have a pretty commanding and low voice from years of teaching large groups of people, and both times he stopped abruptly, turned to the side to show me his handsome profile, and puffed out his chest. I stayed where I was and repeated "Back off." Then he starts pulling out little plants and seeds from the ground and offering them to me. Er, thanks but no thanks.

I stood my ground and acted unimpressed. I really wanted to walk away but could sense he would try the charge again. So I stayed put, pretending to ignore him. I was wearing boots but not gloves and did not want to have to try to grab or sweep him.

After what felt like a long time, but was probably fifteen seconds, he moved away.

So for a rooster newbie, I feel like I did ok. The first encounter was 3 or 4 days ago, and this morning was the other. Both times, it's been in the morning when I know his testosterone is up.

So my questions are, I avoided an escalation, but did I interpret and handle this correctly?

Is there anything else I can do to show him "I'm not your concubine"?

Thank you in advance.

 

[fluffycrow]

Thanks for sharing these stories. I have a feeling I'm going to be in a similar boat watching Lucio (the older dominant) start to realize that the growing cockerels are going to be roosters someday. For now, he's not even having to chase -- they make way when he approaches, but wondering how much longer that will last...

Tomorrow I'm going to start clearing the spot up at our neighbors place for a new coop for one of the cockerels and some pullets. It's a kilometer away separated by a lot of tree cover.

The other side effect I'm not thrilled about is that Lucio seems to have decided that anything that moves on two legs is a hen he wants to a. Try to mate and b. Woo -- in that order. Including me.

Perhaps the more experienced folks can help me interpret this behavior correctly. Twice now in the past week, he's charged at me as I was casually strolling in between the kitchen building and the nursery. This is established "human territory" -- it's where we live ffs. He wasn't shuffling or side-stepping or kicking out one foot -- he was coming straight for me. But not flying with spurs out -- just a head on charge, which I must admit, is quite formidable-looking.

If I recall from @Shadrach article, that's not a herding behavior, or an attack, it's a mating charge, correct?

His next action seems to say so. When I heard him running up behind me, I faced him squarely, planted my feet, and said "Back off" -- which is just what popped out of my mouth. I have a pretty commanding and low voice from years of teaching large groups of people, and both times he stopped abruptly, turned to the side to show me his handsome profile, and puffed out his chest. I stayed where I was and repeated "Back off." Then he starts pulling out little plants and seeds from the ground and offering them to me. Er, thanks but no thanks.

I stood my ground and acted unimpressed. I really wanted to walk away but could sense he would try the charge again. So I stayed put, pretending to ignore him. I was wearing boots but not gloves and did not want to have to try to grab or sweep him.

After what felt like a long time, but was probably fifteen seconds, he moved away.

So for a rooster newbie, I feel like I did ok. The first encounter was 3 or 4 days ago, and this morning was the other. Both times, it's been in the morning when I know his testosterone is up.

So my questions are, I avoided an escalation, but did I interpret and handle this correctly?

Is there anything else I can do to show him "I'm not your concubine"?

Thank you in advance.

I did some brief digging on Shadrachs article, to cross-reference it with my observations. Raised hackles and a step (or a charge) towards the hen is something mostly Big Red does, since he has more stubborn hens. It's a "move now b-" if you will. The one foot on the back, and sometimes raised hackles is an invitation to crouch. I've seen Big Red use it to move his hens from time to time. The wings out charging is for mating. Its less violent than it looks. In my experience none of the established males do it, but that might change from male to male. I think you handled him well

 

[TropicalChickies]

I did some brief digging on Shadrachs article, to cross-reference it with my observations. Raised hackles and a step (or a charge) towards the hen is something mostly Big Red does, since he has more stubborn hens. It's a "move now b-" if you will. The one foot on the back, and sometimes raised hackles is an invitation to crouch. I've seen Big Red use it to move his hens from time to time. The wings out charging is for mating. Its less violent than it looks. In my experience none of the established males do it, but that might change from male to male. I think you handled him well

Thanks for your observations. His hackles weren't up when he charged me, so it seems like he's doing a mating charge at me, especially since he offers me "treats" when I don't, um, crouch. I mean, I'm only five feet tall but I'd really have to get down there for him to actually grab my neck and do his thing. I'm just trying to imagine how he thinks it could possibly work out between us...

Anyway, Lucio's only ten months old. Not even a roo, technically speaking. He's only senior because the other cockerels are only 3.5 months old. So -- I think -- he's probably super hormonal-- especially in the morning because his hens run away from him until their egg laying business is done and in the meantime he's going after anything that walks that isn't a dog. Or at least not yet.

 

[BDutch]

what is the minimum reasonable number of eggs to leave under a hen if you don't want to have only one chick, and is life actually more difficult for a lone chick or does it completely depend on other factors ?

Well I'm no hatching expert by any means, but depending on her size, I'd say 5 or 6 is a solid number.

I’m no expert either. But I can rely to 5 ot 6 eggs as well. Because a lone chick is definitely something I would go for.

As long as a broody cares for the chick there is no problem, but after weening the chick goes down in the social ladder and will get harassed. IMHO, A (few) brother(s) or sister(s) makes life more bearable for the young ones.

 

[TropicalChickies]

I’m no expert either. But I can rely to 5 ot 6 eggs as well. Because a lone chick is definitely something I would go for.

As long as a broody cares for the chick there is no problem, but after weening the chick goes down in the social ladder and will get harassed. IMHO, A (few) brother(s) or sister(s) makes life more bearable for the young ones.

Agree, I'd say 5 or 6 too. In the recent hatches here, Dusty hatched 2 out of 4, and Tina hatched 2 out of 3. So really it was fortunate not to end up with a lone chick. Even though the mama takes good care of one in my experience, it is better when they have siblings when they get weaned. Plus for the mum's sake, if a chick dies, she won't be so despondent if there's others to go on caring for.