Show Off Your Games!

[sdm111]

I have read that orientals have a tendency to be like that.

 

[maranfarmer563]

I will use my blue cock on a different set of grey hens that are free ranging now.

 

[sdm111]

If it were me I would have 3 dome pens and do as I said before. Some would say just to flip flop the cock between 2 dome pens but I wouldn't let a cock and hen together unsupervised that don't know each other. When I introduce a hen and cock that's gonna be roomies I put them together on a sat morning so incase the shtf I'm around to split them up. Better safe than sorry. And either both in a new pen or the cock to the hens pen. That's what works for me what works for others works for others

 

[centrarchid]

Have to remember too that add in going broody and even the best of "friends" in a penned group of hens/pullets will turn violent towards each other.  Best if penning to stick to singles with gamefowl.  With my asils I even have to single pen hens from cocks for most of the year as they can and will turn on one another resulting in injury and/or death.

That is primary reason I move broody hens apart. SIngly penned hens are partitioned as if cocks to prevent fighting through wire. When broods hatched, pens moved so at least a good 25 feet apart to hens can avoid each other when about. Initial releases done under supervision to manage fights as needed. Most hens I deal with after a brief scrap avoid each other which can also be promoted by how feeders when used and loafing areas are dispersed. Failure on this can result in injury or deathloss to chicks even though serious damage to hens seldom realized. I do not tangle with aseels so have no handle on how those would respond to my approach.

 

[sdm111]

As we can see centra and I have 2 different methods but still works. For my broody hens the ones in the big pens stay there and the ones in domes when they go broody I move them to my above ground pens that are 3x3x3 to be alone and not bothered by anything across my yard. And I take the chicks when they dry although I did let a few hens rear some in the big pens last year.

 

[maranfarmer563]

Last year I took the eggs,hatched and raised them til feathered. Then introduced to the free range flock for the summer.

 

[sdm111]

Don't know about free ranging anything not an option for me. All my stuffs tightly controlled because of predators and fighting.

 

[maranfarmer563]

My free range game have 15 acres,walnut hard woods,soybean field,corn field,mowed lawns and hay field. I loose a few cocks in the spring at the start of breeding season ,that way the strongest do the breeding.

 

[centrarchid]

My free range game have 15 acres,walnut hard woods,soybean field,corn field,mowed lawns and hay field. I loose a few cocks in the spring at the start of breeding season ,that way the strongest do the breeding.

The 15 acres will not be sufficient if the birds are not able to spread out and avoid each other. Your selection process also not likely promote strongest as breeders, rather younger stags not yet showing courage and runners never doing so will be at an advantage. Dunghill is a term used to describe such birds. The term "dunghill" is often used as an insult.


If practical. then reduce number of birds and study how they form territories. Then you might be able to keep more one free-range.

 

[maranfarmer563]

They do form territory's. Some sleep in trees,some in goat barn rafters. A few years ago hawks got me down to 4 birds. Now I have around 30 free birds,but they haven't went through the winter yet.