Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[cheeka]

and despite all of the hell Roger has put me thru I am still going to drive her around town in my truck to look at Christmas lights

I wish us both some luck on those whitetail

good luck to both of you!

I knew I was in for some issues when I picked up the boys, and it's going to be quite some time before they will have harems of their own, but the chicks are due soon enough. Si is in that "jerk" phase, that is common enough. Royce is King, Archie is his wing man ~ he is learning fast. Si needs a job, if and when he gets out of jail...

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Have somewhere between fifty and sixty. I start counting and just when i think I have it, another group will come out from somewhere else. Had way to many losses from predators this summer, worse than ever before. But...I am chalking it up to survival of the fittest, and who is left stays to breed, and that's alot fewer mouths to feed over the winter. Yes, I will eat the extras. I don't consider them mean at all, I never worry about one striking me, ever. They do fight alot when they get to maturity, and when they are like that, they will bite you, or anything in reach...dog noses for instance. I think they are the best for free range, actually many people think they do better and thrive free range and not so great confined. They can be tamed into pets if you want, rub their ears and they practically fall over in a coma once they are used to you. You can ask me whatever you like, I don't think its nosy. Some people seem clandistine about them (that old stygma) but i don't pit them or do anything illegal, and just have to treat them a little different sometimes.

Wow! That's a lot of bird poop! Our farm flock was quite a bit smaller, probably never over 15 adult birds, and I wish I knew the breed(s). This was waaaaay before the internet, and of course no pictures of them because developing film was expensive, but I do remember the first rooster, father to all others. He was medium sized, light bodied, beautiful green tail and bright orange neck, saddle, and shoulders. It was a prize to find one of his feathers. Pretty sure single comb. (Wish my mom was still around to ask. She passed about 6 yrs ago. Stage 4 colon cancer, out of the blue, no symptoms until too late. She was only 66.

) That rooster was a great guy, always attentive to the hens, watchful and seemed to understand that the dogs were on his side as far as keeping away predators, since the chickens had the run of the property. Even at 7 yrs old, I used to enjoy watching the chickens, but especially the roo. His funny little rooster dance, stepping on his wing. Screaming the hawk alarm, but standing out in the open until all the hens were hidden, and only then would he run for cover. I really liked how he'd call the hens over for a special treat. He'd incapacitate a bug and let the hens pull it apart and he looked so proud. A very gallant character. We were never afraid of him, but didn't bother him either, just kept a little distance and watched, sometimes threw some treats. Once the juvenile cockerels stared fighting, mom would give most of them to the neighbor to eat, but no young cockerel ever challenged the first one.

Hearing all the stories about rooster troubles, and how we started out knowing nothing at all about chickens (except from a book which I still have) I think we were very lucky as new "farmers" to have such a good example of a rooster.

Well, meandered long enough down memory lane. Better get back on home and finish the dishes!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Sounds like some really good memories w4w. I do love those feathers. Not alot of poop that I notice! Ha. They totally free range from dawn to dusk, not alot of bugs left either. I should have expected them to start early this year, since they hatched so early....what was I thinking? Anyway, they have been sorting out the pecking order from the beginning, now that they are more mature, and more equal in size, they are more determined....so, I have to separate them or they won't quit fighting. Its not as bad as your imagination might lead you. Their feathers pretty well protect them, they don't have real spurs yet, and they get superficial pecks to the combs and wattles. If anything I worry about exhaution. I also want to know who is really the strongest, fittest rooster to breed this spring....its a fine line. These chickens came from totally free range stock, so they have already been selected naturally to be fit and strong....i don't want to mess with that by imposing my will over who makes it to spring. Right now I have one in my pantry where its pretty cold because I am too lazy to suit up and pen him in the coop....maybe when the sun comes out stronger. And one in the hutch on the poarch...I had to run outside in my socks early this morning...it is cold out there!

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Hello Everybody. My name is Roger. We are having a egg drive at my home if anybody wants to buy eggs. We are trying to raise money to help a friend in need. A rooster friend in New York needs all the help he can get. Proceeds will go to efforts to rehome him. Thank you in advance for any help. Have a nice day

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Sounds like some really good memories w4w. I do love those feathers. Not alot of poop that I notice! Ha. They totally free range from dawn to dusk, not alot of bugs left either. I should have expected them to start early this year, since they hatched so early....what was I thinking? Anyway, they have been sorting out the pecking order from the beginning, now that they are more mature, and more equal in size, they are more determined....so, I have to separate them or they won't quit fighting. Its not as bad as your imagination might lead you. Their feathers pretty well protect them, they don't have real spurs yet, and they get superficial pecks to the combs and wattles. If anything I worry about exhaution. I also want to know who is really the strongest, fittest rooster to breed this spring....its a fine line. These chickens came from totally free range stock, so they have already been selected naturally to be fit and strong....i don't want to mess with that by imposing my will over who makes it to spring. Right now I have one in my pantry where its pretty cold because I am too lazy to suit up and pen him in the coop....maybe when the sun comes out stronger. And one in the hutch on the poarch...I had to run outside in my socks early this morning...it is cold out there!

Yeah, we had ours out ranging over 30 acres every day, but they especially liked digging through the horse manure (of which there was tons, chicken paradise!). Wish I had more room for my 11 girls now. They get out every day into their uncovered chicken yard which is about 60'x60' and only go back to the coop to lay eggs or see what I'm doing and to help me clean the poop!

Keeping them content, and not overcrowded is what prevents me from getting more, More, MORE, which is my true inclination.

Living so closely to the chickens really has made pets out them, a much different experience than the farm chickens.

I remember those juvenile delinquent roosters and their excessive testosterone levels. A few times we saw blood, but usually they went to the neighbor's for dinner before that.

Around here, when it gets below 50, we are all shivering and complaining how cold it is. I try to tell the boys that 45 is not really cold at all, but they don't know. The next thing they'll turn around and say "Why can't we live where it snows?!"

When you say it's cold out there, I believe you!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Hello Everybody. My name is Roger. We are having a egg drive at my home if anybody wants to buy eggs. We are trying to raise money to help a friend in need. A rooster friend in New York needs all the help he can get. Proceeds will go to efforts to rehome him. Thank you in advance for any help. Have a nice day

Leave it to Roger to get involved! Her comb and wattles are sure big. Maybe she's taking this boy name thing to an extreme.

Thought you were going hunting today, OK. Did you get one already?

 

[BullChick]

nice discovery MC! Jumbo's are cool. most of mine are in the "large" range now, except the BR's, they are still small, and occasionally pee wee...
how many chickens will you have after the four have gone to their new home tomorrow?

Now it is Wednesday. I will have 18 then. 3 boys, 15 girls. One laying daily (if the hunters would stop with target practice!

) and the BR, Baby, that laid her first a few days ago. No more since, but I am being patient... Sorta.
That leaves me with more room for "accidents" in the Spring.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

W4w that is smart thinking, if it gets crowded its more work, then not so much fun. Next time the boys wish for snow, have them look inside the freezer and imagine how it would be! It does look nice, but its not. I guess its hard to imagine if you've not been. Today was pointless cold. Leave it to roger to campaign....has si run away from home? Hiding out in the woods? His cell battery is prob dead now.

 

[cheeka]

lol, Roger! Si thanks you for your efforts! he's still alive, still in the portable run, alone... but he's all right. I got home with just enough daylight to put up one sheet of clear plastic over one half of the front wall of the enclosure. having to do it by myself was what made it harder to do... I had to use channel locks to hold the bolt still to crank it, if one person could have been on the outside to hold it with a screwdriver... and another person on the inside to ratchet... it would have been easier. it's nice tho', crystal clear flex pane...

work was okay, the new carriers showed up, and got back before I did, all I heard was they "did okay", I had to take the distant parcels, up into snow country. W4W, too funny that your boys think 45 is cold! I barely need a hoody for 45 degrees..., won't usually put a coat on til it's below 20, and don't bother unless I will be outside for more than 15-20 minutes. for me, below zero is "cold". a few years back, we had 42 days in a row where the temps stayed at 30 below or colder. 15 seconds was long enough to freeze/burn exposed skin. Balaclavas were essential. today wasn't too bad, 20's all day, the coop has little icicles hanging from it, the waterers were frozen an inch deep, but the gang is perfectly content and cozy. even managed to produce 4 eggs, one from Isis, one from Rose (RIR), and both Wilma and Betty (BR's) gave me one.

I should be able to get another sheet of plastic up tomorrow after work, then only have the door to do, might be able to get the whole thing done, but it's not likely, Monday's are always "heavy" with mail, and I do know that I have a boxholder piece from the local furniture store... you know the kind of stuff... says "resident" or "our neighbor at" or plain old "boxholder" so it's a stop at every box regardless whether or not there is other mail to go with it... it's at least a 55 hour work week, so, I'll get the plastic done as I can...

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I totally hate that junk mail...used to get bags of it a week, no lie...had to shuffle through it to find the important stuff...drove me to hate going to the mailbox..one more reason to step off that grid....now I get junk email, but its so much easier to get rid of. I wish I could get a dime from each one.