Surviving Minnesota!

[Violetsfeathers]

Now when I dangle the chicks (gotta practice don't you know?) I have two roos and one hen. That is good too. Are SS roosters typically nice mannered or is it an individual thing? I will keep them separated from the rest of the flock and they can set up their household and have little chickies.

I dangled all four of my bantam chicks and all four were "girls" including the one I'm sure is a boy

 

[lvie]

Here is my deal on rooster attitude. It should not be tolerated as there are many a nice roosters out there looking for homes.

However. Even my walking in the house to the cracker cupboard trained monkey act of a rooster gets territorial this time of year. Translation: he is protecting his hens. His progeny and if you free range it's not an all bad trait. It's about 4 months of the year that he forgets that I'm the food lady and let's me know I have passed his imaginary comfort zone line. Dirty dog. There are moments where I need to get him his food at some point and I carry a fluff lifter in the form of a bamboo walking stick about 4 1/2 feet long. I'm not cruel with it. I just lift the fluff up to make it an uncomfortable fight for him. ( he realizes he will not draw blood on a stick). After his first year he decided that a stick in my hand is a nice time to take a wide berth.

Carrying him works too. When he submits to a carry he'll squat. Carry him around for 10-15 minutes. Fill the food bin. Fill the waterer. Give the hens scratch. Tuck his head down against his breast. It may work it may not.

I will tell you though they usually settle down. And a good rooster is worth a few moments of attitude.

He is a really good rooster. Because of you, friends, I realize this is the time of year that he just might want to act this way. I like it because I am, again, free-ranging them for a portion of the day. He is somewhat up set also because I separated the RIR from him into that recently built coop. He was tearing the heck out of their backs while riding them. Those two typically go off by theirselves when everyone is allowed to free-range. So I gave them their own home.

So anyway, he did his thing when I went out to the RIR and I picked up one of his ISA's. Kind of to provoke him into the behavior. I scooped him up, held him, stroked him, talked to him, laid him on his back, did the whole process again and put him down. I forgot to crow or shout at him. When he got down he started in all over again, only not as aggressive. So I scooped him up and did the whole procedure again and when I put him down I shouted I am the boss! Don't bite the hand that feeds you! Then I walked toward him, going past to do something else, not looking at him. It worked. I kind of like holding him and petting him.

Got my first Chicken magazine today and I have learned alot from it already. Hobby Farms Chickens. I am also getting Cappers Farmer and Mother Earth. Do any of you read and recommend magazines that would be beneficial to this hobby.? Thanks for all your wisdom Ralphie and Bogtown. Next time I will carry him around while I do some of those chores Bogtown. He is a good rooster and I would hate to loose him.

 

[duluthralphie]

Don't let Tom Hanks know you enjoy petting and holding him, it is beneath them to be a loved pet..

I kind of like holding them too. It sounds like you did it well. As BC said or implied you do not want to kick the protectiveness completely out of him, just enough so he leaves people alone but takes on anything else.

Good Job!

 

[jerryse]

Tornado warnings in nearby areas . Tonight I herded my escaped rooster back into his pen . Caught a escaped chick in the shed . Roosting on the brooder . Getting a egg a day from my recessive white Ameraucana hens (2) covered by 2 Legbar roosters . Chicks are hatching . I can hear them . Laid the flooring in bathroom today . Tired .

 

[Cluckies]

When it stopped raining near dusk, I let the ladies out and it was earthworm and nightcrawler feast till they went to bed, lol, it is funny, when they pull them out of the ground. Pull let go, pull let go, pull, eat. (or run and eat) hilarious!

I found the original Mrs. Potato head... She was right there in my cupboard this whole time!

 

[Cebarmlds]

When it stopped raining near dusk, I let the ladies out and it was earthworm and nightcrawler feast till they went to bed, lol, it is funny, when they pull them out of the ground. Pull let go, pull let go, pull, eat. (or run and eat) hilarious!

I found the original Mrs. Potato head... She was right there in my cupboard this whole time!

Will you plant her in the ground for some tater tots ?

 

[duluthralphie]

I think I need another incubator, I have this one nearly full.

I just put in 36 turkey eggs and 48 chicken eggs. I have 36 eggs more to go in, 2 turkey and 34 chicken. I am hoping to find spaces for them. I do not pull eggs out for a couple days.

I think I am going to have to stop saving eggs soon.

 

[Dandelioness]

Thats a beautiful egg!! I have an olive egger who I am going to hatch from and hopefully get a roo from. I am replacing all my roos.



So if anyone needs a pure standard Cochin and an australorp welsummer cross roo this summer let me know!

Holm, I have two Olive Egger roos. They are not aggressive, but I don't need that many and I was planning on sending them to freezer camp this Sunday.
If you want one, you're welcome to him. I can post pictures or whatever, too. If you like one, I will just keep him around until we can arrange pickup/delivery. One extra will not cause me any problems.

 

[Dandelioness]

Rain, rain, go away! But get all the frost out of the ground first! I'm hoping things will dry out soon.

A couple of the kids were playing in the mud the other day. Trying to see how deep they could get in it. The 4yo was thigh-deep in it. They have seen the Princess Bride, so the others came in like it was an emergency! LOL Anyway, she lost a boot in the mud. My husband picked her up out of it, then went back with a shovel to try and fish the boot out. He went around a 5 sq ft area looking for it and no luck. It'll pop up some year and we'll have a good laugh. She likes to help with chores, so I'll have to go into town today and get her another pair.

@duluthralphie - the kids and i did try eating the emu egg scrambled. You know that white cord-like thing in a chicken egg that keeps the yolk relatively centered in the egg?? That thing in an emu egg is indestructible! If I tried to make use of the egg again for eating, I think I would separate out the yolk and make a big batch of hollandaise sauce.

Cluckies - you could plant that Ms Potato Head! It does look like legs LOL

Jerry - hope you weather the storms down there.

Have a good day, all

 

[holm25]

Holm, I have two Olive Egger roos.  They are not aggressive, but I don't need that many and I was planning on sending them to freezer camp this Sunday.
If you want one, you're welcome to him.  I can post pictures or whatever, too.  If you like one, I will just keep him around until we can arrange pickup/delivery.  One extra will not cause me any problems. 

Thanks for the offer but I cant right now. I am going to have way to many extra roos already! I am going to have two Buckeye roosters from Minnie and then roos I hatch out! Thanks for the offer though!