Quote: I wanted a RIR roo and Delaware hens. I think I got the RIR roo right here. Only got one Delaware and I agree with you and MC it looks like a roo.
I got some advice from TJ, the chicken guy at the feed store today. He said if the hen is seriously broody, has been sitting on nothing for a coupe of weeks, than it usually works really well to sneak very young hatched chicks under her well after dark. Too soon and their hormone cycle might not allow the hen to accept them and become a good mommy. Next time your BO goes broody, you could give her some sexed Delaware pullets to raise. 3 days or younger is best.
Since the timing won't work for me to have chicks right now, TJ suggested putting my skinny broody in a wire floored cage up off the ground for a few days. He said exposure to light (but not full sun) will help get her hormones back on laying track. This will be my plan for Sunday (in addition to assembling the mini-coop). Have to go to a funeral in the city tomorrow. One of hub's aunties passed, very unexpectedly, from a heart attack.
I'm overtired now... lol... have a double route to do tomorrow, Express route as primary carrier on both Sunday and Monday... 2 easy days after that, then 3 long huge routes to end the week, but after that!!! SIX, count 'em! SIX whole days off in a row and Mylee arrives on the first day of that wonderful vacation!Cheeka, you must be ready to drop! Warm tub sounds good. Hot chocolate too.
so sorry for your families loss! I am a fan of life celebrations rather than funerals... it is how things are "done" in the church I grew up in. it's not a somber event, rather like a party...I have to attend one on June 4th, Mylee's great grandmother, who passed in January.
OK, your pictures are so cute, love the set up you have... and I have to say, regardless of her reputation... Roger really is a beautiful chicken.
Ahhhhh!!!! The feed store struck! They were just so cute. And mostly feathered. And...and....I really just wanted more colored egg layers. "amercaunas" from ideal
You may have squabbles, but I just watch how it goes. I have 3 roosters in the mutt pen, Red, Butters, and Tank. There are so many young cockerels running around I have lost count. its over 100! Red is mostly throwing roosters. I am getting like 1 hen to 3 roosters from the wyandottes. My adult girls won't let tank near them, and can out run him, he is so FAT! Butters, they peck him and he runs tooI told you that I had shut the door between the coops last night. This morning, the bottom of the door was shoved in, and there were 3 other girls in there. IDK if they were that determined to lay in there, or the door got like that from the roosters running around, and maybe body slamming it.
I want to have a rooster pen. 2 roosters are together, one is in a pen with his girls, 2 GLW chicks are roosters, and of the 3 BCM I hatched 3 weeks ago, I am pretty sure one is a boy (maybe all 3, but I don't want to jinx it!)
I need to know if it is safe for the BCM rooster that is separated with his girls. The chicks are too young to fight for dominance, so they just have to endure a little pecking order.
If it helps, here are the ages:
Rocky is 10 mos. Shadow is 11 months. They are together. Shadow is dominant.
BCM that I never named is ... I think 8 months.
The GLW are 7 weeks. I would add them later, maybe 3 months from now.
I hope to be rid of the BCM trio soon.
So, how big would the pen have to be to keep the roosters happy? Will they be okay withing seeing of the hens?
Does it matter if they can hear the hens? Will BCM be okay?
I am doing this because the girls need a break. Too much mating going on! I plan on having an area where I can let planned mating happen (Planned Parenthood here I come!). Otherwise, I may just sell the roosters to be meat. I don't like that idea.
Sounds like you have some good friends.
Congratulations cheeka and everybody with new chicks.As promised a picture of the two Rogers who have been going to bed a hour and a half before everybody else to reserve the best spot on the roost pole.
Quote: I agree she has done well. To get that chick up there she has had to teach it four different jumps or "hops" that I have watch her repeat over and over till the chick learned to follow her. First she hops up on the nest box perch. Then on top of the feeder. Then hops over on the "chicken ladder" about two thirds up. Then up the last third of the ladder to the poop board. Then the final little hop to the roost pole. Most chickens just walk up the ladder but this has been Rogers routine and what works for her. I think she is different......
