Texas

[magpiesing]

This will probably be the first of our to go to freezer camp. Way back in the early beginning we thought this was a hen. Not knowing anything about the difference when they are young. He proved himself to be a roo not just in appearance but he tried a hen yesterday while Abraham wasn't looking. He hasn't crowed yet, nearly 6 mths old. He hasn't challenged either, so knows his place. We have 2 other roos for sure which we will keep so he'll have to go eventually.

 

[Starfire669]

I am wondering how many eggs my jersey hen can set on... I have 12 bantam eggs being shipped to me, and I want to go and pick up six regular sized eggs that are leghorns, amerucanas, and turkens. Does anyone think that 18 egg will be to many for my girl? I figure some of my shipped eggs will be damaged when I get them and I plan to toss them out possibly...

I don't know how many eggs a hen can sit, I haven't gotten that far with my ladies yet. But I do know that if the eggs poke out from under her it is too many and you can risk losing most or all of the clutch. The hen needs to be able to completely cover the eggs to keep them at the right temp and humidity. Also hens rotate the eggs, and eggs that are on the outside get moved to the inside. If the outside eggs get too cold, the embryo dies, and when the hen rotates the dead egg into the center and a new egg out, that egg can also get cold enough to die.

Hope that helps a little.

 

[Starfire669]

This will probably be the first of our to go to freezer camp. Way back in the early beginning we thought this was a hen. Not knowing anything about the difference when they are young. He proved himself to be a roo not just in appearance but he tried a hen yesterday while Abraham wasn't looking. He hasn't crowed yet, nearly 6 mths old. He hasn't challenged either, so knows his place. We have 2 other roos for sure which we will keep so he'll have to go eventually.

I have way too many cockerels in my flock, that's what happens when you buy straight run. Lol. My oldest group is 11 weeks old and the SLW cockerels are getting aggressive with both other cockerels and the pullets! As they have the worst attitude and are the biggest they will go to freezer camp first. After them come the RIR cockerels, so far only 1 has developed a nasty attitude so he will join the SLW in the freezer. That means that the cockerel that makes it to adulthood will be either a BR or a nicer RIR. Plus my sister is bringing me a 5month old BA rooster that hasn't had any luck getting a hen cause of their older Roo. I'll give him a trail run and keep 1 cockerel of my own. I think 2 Roos for about 20 hens should keep fighting to a minimum. If not, I'll add yet another Roo to freezer camp. But I'd really like 2 Roos so I can hatch chicks next year. Anyone have ideas, suggestions on the best way to manage 2 Roos in 1 yard? I can separate them in the coop, but it would be impossible to keep them apart during free range time. I have heard that cockerels raised together can get along better than 2 Roos independently raised, but I need a good older Roo to protect my pullets.

 

[ShadowsFIAL]

The fun never stops at my place. My neighbor had a RIR rooster that was going to freezer camp last night. Well the rooster escaped, had a fight or 2 with my neighbor's game cock and lost and is now at large. I have to go check to make sure he isn't on my property. If he gets a hold of my cockerels he will kill them. This RIR Roo is very aggressive, all he wants to do is fight. Ugh. Keep your fingers crossed tha he is not at my place. I don't want to catch a mean Roo today.

Oh goodness! Be careful! RIR's can be pretty feisty boys.

 

[ShadowsFIAL]

I don't know how many eggs a hen can sit, I haven't gotten that far with my ladies yet. But I do know that if the eggs poke out from under her it is too many and you can risk losing most or all of the clutch. The hen needs to be able to completely cover the eggs to keep them at the right temp and humidity. Also hens rotate the eggs, and eggs that are on the outside get moved to the inside. If the outside eggs get too cold, the embryo dies, and when the hen rotates the dead egg into the center and a new egg out, that egg can also get cold enough to die.

Hope that helps a little.

Thanks! I might go ahead and get the eggs and whatever doesn't fit I guess can go to the fridge for eating... that or maybe I can find someone locally who wants some d'anvers, who knows. I hope the money I spent on these silly shipped eggs is worth it!

 

[ShadowsFIAL]

I have way too many cockerels in my flock, that's what happens when you buy straight run. Lol. My oldest group is 11 weeks old and the SLW cockerels are getting aggressive with both other cockerels and the pullets! As they have the worst attitude and are the biggest they will go to freezer camp first. After them come the RIR cockerels, so far only 1 has developed a nasty attitude so he will join the SLW in the freezer. That means that the cockerel that makes it to adulthood will be either a BR or a nicer RIR. Plus my sister is bringing me a 5month old BA rooster that hasn't had any luck getting a hen cause of their older Roo. I'll give him a trail run and keep 1 cockerel of my own. I think 2 Roos for about 20 hens should keep fighting to a minimum. If not, I'll add yet another Roo to freezer camp. But I'd really like 2 Roos so I can hatch chicks next year.

Anyone have ideas, suggestions on the best way to manage 2 Roos in 1 yard? I can separate them in the coop, but it would be impossible to keep them apart during free range time. I have heard that cockerels raised together can get along better than 2 Roos independently raised, but I need a good older Roo to protect my pullets.

I would just do the trial test run. Some roosters will tolerate others coming it. I had an adult rooster and brought in some younger chicks and he never touched the little man once. Now granted that little roo was not old enough to breed yet but still no fighting and I only had two roosters and 13 hens.

 

[magpiesing]

The one in the pic wouldn't stand a chance against Abraham. He is huge every bit of 2 feet from comb to ground.
The yard is 20 x 30 so lots of room so for now...peace but only a matter of time I'm sure.
Out of the 10 we got 2 are roos for sure, but we got lucky. We got a pair of white LH and a pair of brown LH. Jury is still out on the marans and SLW. We think one of the SLW might be a roo which would be great. Then we would have 3 hens and 1 roo SLW for a flock. Would love to breed them for next year. Time will tell.

 

[magpiesing]

Of course this will mean some serious expansion for our chicken compound. We'll be doing what Harley is doing before summer is over! Our 17 free birds have cost us a bunch...thank goodness for salvaged materials. Nothing from our old deer camp cabin will go to waste. Now up to 38 if I count the latest 7 chicks.

 

[ShadowsFIAL]

The one in the pic wouldn't stand a chance against Abraham. He is huge every bit of 2 feet from comb to ground.
The yard is 20 x 30 so lots of room so for now...peace but only a matter of time I'm sure.
Out of the 10 we got 2 are roos for sure, but we got lucky. We got a pair of white LH and a pair of brown LH. Jury is still out on the marans and SLW. We think one of the SLW might be a roo which would be great. Then we would have 3 hens and 1 roo SLW for a flock. Would love to breed them for next year. Time will tell.

I believe that! The one I had was honestly about two foot and he wasn't even full grown!`He was still getting in his feathers but he had a lovely crow. Pirate was not the nicest boy though, not like my dominique roo I had.
Just watch the roosters and see how they do, if one seems overly aggressive and the other two get along you might try testing by locking certain ones away and seeing how two do together. Just trial and error seeing who goes to freezer camp.

 

[sandiTX]

I'm almost embarrassed for her...




She looks more like a Frazzle then a frizzle. Frizzle hens should be breed by a smooth feather Roo, not another Frizzle, other wise you get what is called a frazzle. Thats what I was told by a lady that raises frizzles & silkies. and she has been doing it for manyyyyyyyy years.