should i replace my flock? (the problems are that bad) help needed

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Once birds get the taste of blood and eggs they sometimes don't stop. I personally don't like higher production breeds, especially under confinement as they can be nasty. A whole flock wouldn't appeal to me.

I prefer my more docile Orpingtons and other dual purpose breeds that don't always lay as much but are more pleasant to have around. If it was me and I wasn't attached to these hens I might start over.

It can depend on if you need the eggs or not. It will be months before you get eggs unless you buy older birds which can be risky as far as diseases. Go with your heart.

 

[Mrs. K]

hmm 12 x 12 should be big enough from what I am picturing from you description. I am wondering if it is the red light? Chickens will peck at red. A red light on white birds?

Truthfully, while we have never gotten more than 40 below, and that was years ago, we were at 33 below for quite a while, and I don't add heat. I translated and the -49C is dang cold, but the 10C is not, I would get rid of the red lamp, and see how it goes.

Do make sure you have hide outs in your coop and run. Pallets up on blocks, or leaned against a wall, can let chickens get away from each other.

Good luck. I would not cull leghorns, not enough meat, but I would try and sell them. I hate to see you cull them at this time of year, they should really go to laying eggs for you. I think if you cull or pull some of the very aggressive birds, see how the flock acts, if it settles down. That might be your answer.

Mrs K

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I missed the part about the heat lamp. That is unnecessary and can cause aggressive behaviors, turning it off is something I would try first.

 

[lazy gardener]

You mentioned that the birds are sharing that 12 x 12 with silkies, with a partition??? Do the problem girls have 12 x 12 all by themselves, or is the 12 x 12 divided with the silkies having part of that area? How many nest boxes? What is the shell quality? The egg eating could be happening b/c the girls are crowding each other in the nest box, or perhaps the shells aren't nice and thick. I have found that white egg layers tend to have weaker shells. Back to your feed, what is the mill date on your feed bag??? I would cut the sunflower seeds, increase their protein, give them oyster shell on the side. Can you give them animal protein? What are you using for bedding? Can you give them a nice deep natural bedding (do you have access to dry leaves this time of the year?) Then, if you can get their protein up to around 20 - 22%, you can give them small amounts of scratch in their bedding (in either coop or run deep litter) for them to work over.

An other thought might be for you to switch them to fermented feed. This will make their feed more bio-available, and improve their nutrition. Perhaps give them some Poultry Nutri-Drench.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

Once birds get the taste of blood and eggs they sometimes don't stop. I personally don't like higher production breeds, especially under confinement as they can be nasty. A whole flock wouldn't appeal to me.

I prefer my more docile Orpingtons and other dual purpose breeds that don't always lay as much but are more pleasant to have around. If it was me and I wasn't attached to these hens I might start over.

It can depend on if you need the eggs or not. It will be months before you get eggs unless you buy older birds which can be risky as far as diseases. Go with your heart.

we where looking at getting orpingtons to replace these birds but my grandpa wants to butcher some of these birds as he grew up eating leghorns and would love to make soup out of them

hmm 12 x 12 should be big enough from what I am picturing from you description. I am wondering if it is the red light? Chickens will peck at red. A red light on white birds?

Truthfully, while we have never gotten more than 40 below, and that was years ago, we were at 33 below for quite a while, and I don't add heat. I translated and the -49C is dang cold, but the 10C is not, I would get rid of the red lamp, and see how it goes.

Do make sure you have hide outs in your coop and run. Pallets up on blocks, or leaned against a wall, can let chickens get away from each other.

Good luck. I would not cull leghorns, not enough meat, but I would try and sell them. I hate to see you cull them at this time of year, they should really go to laying eggs for you. I think if you cull or pull some of the very aggressive birds, see how the flock acts, if it settles down. That might be your answer.

Mrs K

ya it would be a shame but i already lost one really nice docile hen to them, but i will try those ideas about hide outs

I missed the part about the heat lamp. That is unnecessary and can cause aggressive behaviors, turning it off is something I would try first.

okay i will do that right away.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

You mentioned that the birds are sharing that 12 x 12 with silkies, with a partition??? Do the problem girls have 12 x 12 all by themselves, or is the 12 x 12 divided with the silkies having part of that area? How many nest boxes? What is the shell quality? The egg eating could be happening b/c the girls are crowding each other in the nest box, or perhaps the shells aren't nice and thick. I have found that white egg layers tend to have weaker shells. Back to your feed, what is the mill date on your feed bag??? I would cut the sunflower seeds, increase their protein, give them oyster shell on the side. Can you give them animal protein? What are you using for bedding? Can you give them a nice deep natural bedding (do you have access to dry leaves this time of the year?) Then, if you can get their protein up to around 20 - 22%, you can give them small amounts of scratch in their bedding (in either coop or run deep litter) for them to work over.

An other thought might be for you to switch them to fermented feed. This will make their feed more bio-available, and improve their nutrition. Perhaps give them some Poultry Nutri-Drench.

the silkies have 1 quarter of the coop (i should have said that forgot about them when i was thinking of the coop design) so the leg horns have 75% of the coop they have 8 nesting boxes and they have deep litter (about 6 inch of it)

 

[moving coops]

Are you using straw or hey for litter. Our love that! Do you have a large roost area so they are not all on the floor?

I have heard of others having trouble like that with those birds! And though not good meat, still do make awesome soup and broth!

I personally love the heritage birds. We are breeding and selling over 10 heritage breeds this year! All from eggs I had shipped in last year and paid crazy amount and from quality show lines as well as most those breeders choosing their best of those in production too. We are in Saskatchewan and will make trips to Regina and Saskatoon! I have all the breeds you mentioned and more! We are excited.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

Are you using straw or hey for litter. Our love that! Do you have a large roost area so they are not all on the floor?

I have heard of others having trouble like that with those birds! And though not good meat, still do make awesome soup and broth!

I personally love the heritage birds. We are breeding and selling over 10 heritage breeds this year! All from eggs I had shipped in last year and paid crazy amount and from quality show lines as well as most those breeders choosing their best of those in production too. We are in Saskatchewan and will make trips to Regina and Saskatoon! I have all the breeds you mentioned and more! We are excited.

you have a website? am looking for heritage breeds to somewhat replace my flock either this year or next year and would love to know where i can get some heritage birds (am done with the commercial strains now)

 

[lazy gardener]

Do your birds go out into the run? Helpful if you put your general location in your profile. My flock is spending a lot of time inside, though they co come out into their sunroom now. Your coop area for leghorns is just on the cusp of being big enough 108 s.f. / 4 = 22 bird capacity. After addressing your protein needs, and providing some out of sight/multiple height stress and boredom busting areas, you might start culling the ones that seem to be at the top of the pecking order, and reduce the flock until the problem seems to have cleared up. Of course it is your choice re: culling the whole flock and starting over. Your flock, your choices. No one single right answer here.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

Do your birds go out into the run? Helpful if you put your general location in your profile. My flock is spending a lot of time inside, though they co come out into their sunroom now. Your coop area for leghorns is just on the cusp of being big enough 108 s.f. / 4 = 22 bird capacity. After addressing your protein needs, and providing some out of sight/multiple height stress and boredom busting areas, you might start culling the ones that seem to be at the top of the pecking order, and reduce the flock until the problem seems to have cleared up. Of course it is your choice re: culling the whole flock and starting over. Your flock, your choices. No one single right answer here.

some go out in the run its back and forth for them (they hate snow on there feet have less then an inch of it on the ground in the run)