Smoky Mtn East TN

[laughingdog]

Hatchery strain roos usually worst with hens, n i cull even my non hatchery strain roos that are to "amorphous" with the ladies. roos n cockerels should be spending peaceful time guarding n foraging for their ladies.. my Mexican games, American games, nOE games, as well as my bantam Americana, all lay med to larger eggs, forage great getting 90+% from fielded n forested areas around were i lived, pred n weather hardy (hot days Americana take to woods n creek bed areas), n generally friendly but not overly friendly roos as in the hens let roos know when they need not be bothered (most spurred), n they don't let strangers get near them. leghorns are great in ways, but I've never had rose combed ones, n had to dub mine to make just be able to take east TN winters ok n still lay etc, n the roos were half n half bad as all and affectionate, n they'll destroy any area unlike others said about. Dominique, are only ones that have excellent rep, that haven't tried, and i completely free range mine (no fences etc, just dogs).

 

[termites1938]

So do you recommend buying a grown rooster or raising one yourself? Should you get more than one and cull the ones who don't measure up? Any recommendations for a type of rooster for a mixed flock of laying hens is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[laughingdog]

Id say raising a few to several roos n culling out undesirable traits, best way to go, though heard of lots of extremely great roos who couldn't be kept n needed great homes. key ni getting adult roos is finding adults or juvies raised great as pets. putting an adult roo down or on back n stroking it gently all over, till they submit n go limp,seems to work much better than many methods of retraining aggressive roos. good luck n share as go along.

 

[laughingdog]

Silkie roo to good home anyone? or trade for D'uccle roo. Or Looking to trade two D Uccle pairs for some small type silkie hens etc n cock/erel. looking to trade guinea for pea etc combed games (as pets).

 

[laughingdog]

My bantam belgium booted barbu D' Uccles, well three of four,don't mind how dirty n ratty they,are, as they were free ranging with rest of chooks, guinea, scovy, etc..

 

[RedRidge]

I raise about 100 cockerels every year and keep roughly 4-5. Added to my cocks, I have 8-10 boys at any given time. They are sweet and easy to deal with our they aren't allowed to stay. The hatchery cocks I've had in the past can be very mean. But my standard bred RIR are sweet as anything and never present any problems.

 

[termites1938]

I have no experience with breeding chickens but am curious...why do you think hatchery roosters are more mean? How long can you use one rooster to service one small flock of 8-10 chickens before he should be replaced? I would think that the gene pool would need to be refreshed after some time. And what would be the best way to introduce a new rooster to an established flock of hens? Thanks for your help.

 

[laughingdog]

Ive heard for optimal fertility of large flock, you should replace rois every five years, if only one roo. Many seen online or tv, claim they have fifteen to eighteen year old roo, still protecting etc n servicing a dozen females.

 

[RedRidge]

Much of the answer to your fertility question lies in the previous genetics. Too much line breeding can do your fertility in pretty quick. But if you are starting with totally outcrossed genetics to begin with you have less concern. One of my breeds has been closed for 101 years now. Consequently we maintain a lot of cocks to prevent fertility problems.

 

[SkylineFarms]

So, I may have ordered too many chicks from Cackle... Last year I ordered bantams and I ended up with 2 pullets out of 12, so this time I ordered 25 to make sure I got enough pullets. I did, and I now have 13 roosters to do something with AND they are all starting to crow! My neighbors are going to kill me!! I've had them up on CL for $2 each for a long time with no interest at all.

If anyone is interested in Mille Fleur and Porcelain colored D'uccle bantams let me know... I do have a few extra pullets I can sell with a cockerel as a pair but I'd be thrilled if someone just wanted a cockerel...or two... lol.