Surviving Minnesota!

[scandiafowl]

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.

I read almost all of those magazines as well, and drool over the tractors and other gear.

There are good roosters out there who don't attack. Those who choose to behave that way with is make a tasty soup.
My daughter is finally comfortable walking around the yard without a bat.

 

[holm25]

The only agressive roos I have had were my darn Barred rocks! All my other roos are very docile and have never ran at me or have made any agressive behavior.

 

[lvie]

Tom Hanks is a barred rock. Ever since I did what Ralphie told me to do it has been calm on the home front. I will purposely walk toward him while I am doing chores and make him move. He does. Thanks again Ralphie!

 

[scandiafowl]

Roosters, like other dominant - prone barnyard creatures , need to be reminded that they have their place. Just like dogs.

 

[lvie]

You ROCK Ralphie. Hatching all those eggs and being able to give good advise to plebs. I want you to know that those two roosters that were flock mates to SC have been moved to a different brooder, getting ready to transition outside at the next outbreak of nice weather. One of them is a light grey with almost a white barring affect and the other is dark and interesting. I will take a picture right now and what I am saying - if you want to grow one or both for breeding - I am just saying here they are.

Hold on a second. I will be right back with pictures.

 

[lvie]

 

[lvie]

I have put my limit of hens at 18 over the next three years. 6 three-year old hens if they are still laying; 6 two-year old hens and 6 hens to keep the flock in laying status. So I should only need one roo for all of these. Might possibly do two roos eventually - separate the flocks. This is my three-year plan. So if these roosters are 'special' Ralphie you are welcome to both, one or none. Whatever you want. I dunno about breeding or if these would be useful. Laugh at me chickie friends. I dunno.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ivie, I like the color on the light one. I have Creamer roosters up the ying yang.... I just moved 15 or so more outside this afternoon, they are not happy, I have 7 hens in the bunch, I think I have around a dozen hens to pick show birds out of and all the roosters.

If when the colors come in and the barring leaves the light one if he is silver, I might take you up on the trade. I do not see any of mine being that light yet.


We gave Igor some roommates the other night. She seems really happy with them but now she is running from us instead of towards us and does not seem to want to be held. We changed their diapers today and had them in a box. Looking at them in the box I could hardly pick out Igor. I missed her at first, she is doing that good.

I think we need a name for your straw and rubber band device. Maybe "Ivie's Chick Thigh master"... I am amazed how well that worked.

Breeding depends on your goals for the chickens. I have the ones I am trying to keep pure and get as close as I can to SOP. With my skills I will be miles off, I am sure...

Then I have the ones I breed for egg color..

And the Toads which are a failed experiment.


I do better with turkey breeding as I know their genetics better and what I am looking for. I have 7 hens I am breeding to make "pure" blues and self blues. I have one hen I am breeding for blacks and blues. I keep reading on here people do not want black turkeys and right now those are the only turkeys I have orders for...Weird.

So I guess it depends on your goal for roosters. Do you just want a hen to steal a nest somewhere? If they do where you live on the Eagle national flyway and mink, weasel and fox river, a hen on a stolen nest may not do well. unless you can get her inside.

If you just want a rooster to protect hens and to use as a throw away incase of predator attacks, then any responsible rooster will work. Actually when I get another rooster King George would be good for that, BUT you might need a stick with him a lot, he can be feisty. He walks away from me (today) and Judy, but I am not sure I would trust him around grandkids or other people.


But roosters change, when I got King George from Aussie she had never had a problem with him, but when he got here he must have gotten an testosterone overdose and became aggressive. Aussie has lots of roosters so I assume an older one kept him in like there. I kept him out of the layer flock so Ed never got to work his magic on him.

 

[lvie]

Hey Ralphie - he seems pretty light so I will take good care of him for now and you can see later IF you want to do something with him. Its not trade. IF you want him you can have him back.

Now as to breeding. Nope. Not for me. I want my hens, at some time, to go broody to give me more chicks to keep things moving around here. At this point in time, for roosters, of course there is Tom Hanks and he is really pretty good. I am impressed that I got him my first rooster go around. Then there are the two CLB that came with SC (who incidentally, is a frustration to me. Her feet aren't good and the 'toes' curl. I don't see her ever being with the flock - just cooped where the flock is but with no access to her and she would definitely have to be cooped to survive); Then there are the SS and I keep dangling - LOL and I definitely have one roo and one pullet and the other one just will not commit with those cute little legs - So there is a second, third and fourth roo. Who ever is the nicest will survive as 2nd rooster in attendance. I definitely want a ss roo and hen together in their own spot - again section off from the rest of the flock so I can get more little SS.

Okay for you. Good for Igor. That method is not mine to claim. I got it off the internet while looking up splayed legs. I am sure that SC does not have splayed legs. She just is a special needs kind of little chick. Tenacity. She is TINY because it is difficult for her to grow with all her issues. Been giving her some concentrated therapy and hydrating her every 1 1/2 hours today. She is five weeks old and its time for the girl to step up to the plate and get on with her life.

Anyway, happy dinner time. Time to go.

 

[Dandelioness]

I have put my limit of hens at 18 over the next three years. 6 three-year old hens if they are still laying; 6 two-year old hens and 6 hens to keep the flock in laying status. So I should only need one roo for all of these. Might possibly do two roos eventually - separate the flocks. This is my three-year plan. So if these roosters are 'special' Ralphie you are welcome to both, one or none. Whatever you want. I dunno about breeding or if these would be useful. Laugh at me chickie friends. I dunno.

I do a similar thing, but hatch out or order by egg color. I like the colorful basket, and it also lets me see who lays well for longest, etc.

Last year was light brown egg layers and Olive Eggers, this year I'm focusing on EEs and Marans. But a friend talked me into going in on a straight run of heavy breeds this spring.

You know, chicken math. So when I say I do something similar, you're much more disciplined than I am.