The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

I had a wonderful 4-H woman here explain to me that a rooster doesn't have to be human aggressive to be a good protector. she asked me if I had brought home a puppy and it turned aggressive and started attacking people and family members if I would keep it just because he was a good protector if someone tried to come into the house? Of course the answer would be no.
thanks,
MB

Quote:
Leahs Mom:
Glad you posted what she said. That is a really good comparison and it helps me think a little more clearly on the subject!

***
Just my $0.02 on this subject...

I have a dog that used to be people and dog aggressive. In fact she could not be trusted around any other animals.

My firm belief is that most animals can learn if taught... and you can not expect them to speak human. In order to train animals, one must speak dog... or chicken.





Brandy is one of the best dogs I've ever had the pleasure to own and train.

Moving on to roos - Unfortunately my 9-year-old daughter who is in the autism spectrum chases the chickens and picks them up. As a result of the constant harassment of his flock, my SFH roo Gunnar became aggressive. My daughter has proven FAR less trainable than Gunnar. All it took was a session with my "rooster stick" and after a few whacks to his legs (as he was trying to flog me) he got the idea. Every now and then he'll try again (my daughter still chases them) but I leave the stick by the fence. All I have to do is wave it at him and he's off like a shot - LOL!

The rooster stick hasn't worked for my daughter... I've thought about a remote control training collar...

ZAP!!!

 

[aoxa]

Delisha ..
ok .. I'm daring to post again... ; ) Please tell me why you are afraid to post?
I was daring because .. i have a tendency to stick my foot in mouth.. ; )
and my fingers.. hit key's there not supposed to. .and half written posts.. disappear.. and some get posted before finishing
.. and .. it appeared i made some off color comment about country "birthday" girl.. < it was all taken in stride.. thanks all>
happy birthday.. ,<nice song there loanwizards>
and .. I'm still trying to figure out the "dash board" on this form .. and how to post.. -- .. but really this is such a great group.. thanks to all

Good idea here.. I wondered if this could be creating an issue later on.. maybe not with "all" the birds.. but some select personalities.. could develop an attitude. and it would be more of a problem if it were a rooster.
Could this be more of a problem .. for the small flock owner. (like me) . who.. may think of chickens as pet's.. not live stock.. " this would be me."
- what about .. playing with the chicks.. as they grow.. Mine will be in the house for the first 2 wks.. i doubt i can stay away..
so.. ? is handeling ok.. but better to not feed by hand? further explination for new egg
thankx

I hand feed occasionally. My birds are sissies. Only one rooster actually approaches me, and Tina.. Everyone else acts all 'chicken' when I offer feed by hand. Sometimes Lucy will eat if unnamed rooster does... This 'little' rooster is about the gentlest bird who has ever eaten from my hand. Can hardly feel it. Wonder how long that will last. Not optimistic. I don't normally hand feed roosters, because I like them scared of me.

Lets just say I am experimenting with this one. If he gets aggressive, well then he goes to freezer camp.




Here he is behind Margaret. Guess he's not all that small.

I wish they'd start crowing! Maybe if I play crowing sounds from my phone.. Oh how I miss the crowing. I hate the silence!

 

[Sally8]

I had a wonderful 4-H woman here explain to me that a rooster doesn't have to be human aggressive to be a good protector. she asked me if I had brought home a puppy and it turned aggressive and started attacking people and family members if I would keep it just because he was a good protector if someone tried to come into the house? Of course the answer would be no.
thanks,
MB

Glad you posted what she said. That is a really good comparison and it helps me think a little more clearly on the subject!

I so agree with this also. How can we feel justified putting an animal down for doing what it was bred to do. However, not on my farm. An aggressive, protective roo would be great on a open range. Same with a dog. But not with small children 2 and 5. Dogs are never given a 2nd chance with a bad bite, even if they were protecting their own. That's where our common sense should step in and make the decision to rehome or whatever.

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
Leahs Mom:
Glad you posted what she said. That is a really good comparison and it helps me think a little more clearly on the subject!

***
Just my $0.02 on this subject...

I have a dog that used to be people and dog aggressive. In fact she could not be trusted around any other animals.

My firm belief is that most animals can learn if taught... and you can not expect them to speak human. In order to train animals, one must speak dog... or chicken.





Brandy is one of the best dogs I've ever had the pleasure to own and train.

Moving on to roos - Unfortunately my 9-year-old daughter who is in the autism spectrum chases the chickens and picks them up. As a result of the constant harassment of his flock, my SFH roo Gunnar became aggressive. My daughter has proven FAR less trainable than Gunnar. All it took was a session with my "rooster stick" and after a few whacks to his legs (as he was trying to flog me) he got the idea. Every now and then he'll try again (my daughter still chases them) but I leave the stick by the fence. All I have to do is wave it at him and he's off like a shot - LOL!

The rooster stick hasn't worked for my daughter... I've thought about a remote control training collar...

ZAP!!!

Gigi was like that.

The pretty boys.. thinking they're all that.. My neighbour kicked him in the butt, and he never did it again.

I have a poodle who is people aggressive. I guess not really.. she is terrified of new people and is fine one she knows them.. but it's not good, and we're working on her.

I wouldn't ever give up on my dogs. Chloe has her fair share of issues..


Would you ever peg this one for my most dominant animal? She even outranked Clementine.

 

[NanaLynn]

Thank you everyone for the welcome. Since I posted there were 10 more pages already, this is a fast moving thread! Very interesting stuff on here. Oh and Happy Birthday to Countrygirl. It was so nice to hear that so many others on here are just like me. My birthday present this year was my chickens and the coop, run, etc.
Our anniversary was last month and my husband gave me a Brinsea heater for my next batch of chicks coming at the beginning of May.

I am very much into gardening, so one year for mothers day my kids got me gardening tools and boots. I was so happy!

I have raised beds in my garden, 12 large ones and this month we've been working on fencing around each one, so the chicks can free range all around the area, but not eat everything I plant.

We have 2 RIR's, 2 EE's, 3 BR's, 1 Dominique, 1 BO, 1 WL, 1 BC, 1 SLW, 1 CW right now and I am getting 1 BL, 1 SF, 1 WR, 1 BA, 1 Wellsummer, 1 GL, 1 GLP and 1 surprise Meal Maker from Meyers Hatchery. So far I love all the chicks we have they are almost 9 weeks and looking like real chickens now. My friendliest ones are the BO, BC, WL, Dominique and the BR's. (Not sure if I got all those acronyms right)

I'm looking forward to the next batch I am getting. I think I won't be as stressed since I'll actually know what I am doing by then.

You guys are great here, I love hearing about the hatching chicks, one day in the future I'd like to do that too. Maybe once I have grandchildren.

I have 3 kids now, one is married for over a year, another wedding for my 2nd son is next year and I also have a 19 year old daughter in college. My kids accused me of replacing them with chickens and they think I am going thru some sort of mid life thing. The fact is I am finally actually doing something for myself and I love it!!!

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Quote:

Yep, you sure don't want to pass the mean genes on to any other roos! hope your lady chickens lighten up on the poor new roo!!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

So....not having had a rooster yet (have one cockerel growing into one right now) I was planning on following all the advice I've learned from folks here with the rooster stick, etc., if I have a problem and seeing how it turns out.

I agree w/you, BDM, on training but that raises a question (and I'm totally "green" so forgive my ignorance...a few months down the road I'll have experience I expect

)


-Is it reasonable to expect a rooster (with that "bird-brain") to be as trainable as a dog? I've trained MANY dogs in my life and so far haven't found one I couldn't train. Just not sure if I can expect the same from a rooster brain.

Mel
It sounds like you tried all the training advice with no luck in the end so I want to just give you a shout out and say I'm sorry you have to get rid of him after all the work and everything you tried. I know it's not easy.

I HOPE my sfh rooster is "easy-going"...but I have a rooster stick ready to go and will try my darndest to train him if needed! We shall see....

 

[bluebirdnanny]

So cold out today. Well for my liking. Too dangerous to let them total free range if I am not outside. They didn't care anyway... they only spent 5 minutes out in the kennel and went right back to the coop. They do spend time normally in the plywood bottomed screened front but today only long enough to eat, drink, move from roosting part when I added more straw. Went out and fed/watered early. They chowed down then went inside the walled section. They haven't been on porch since. Either they are re-arranging indoors or snuggled into bed already! So I closed up the coop door.

Think they know something I don't? Think I will follow their lead, do some house straightening and hit bed early tonight too. I'm just a BIG CHICKEN! LOL

 

[lalaland]

thanks everyone, - it is great to be able to post here about losing a chicken and have people understand.

Leigh, hope everything goes well for you and your daughter.

Hospitals wear you out! I know what you mean about packing - what you can bring can really make a difference for you and the patient. One of the best things a friend did for me when my partner was in the hospital was to bring a basket of healthy snacks - sitting around waiting and being there 24/7 - and finding you missed the hours when the hospital cafeteria is open for a meal - was so nice to have something good to eat.

back to work!

 

[delisha]

Cockerel question:

At what age (range is okay) would one expect a cockerel to be fertile?

All males are different in the same as females laying eggs are different. I have had fertile males at 4 months old. My English Orp took almost 6 months before he could actually figure out how to stay on with out falling off. Right now he is servicing 11 hens and I have 100% fertility so he does pretty good for a 7 month old cockerel.
As far as *training* for aggression. Eventually you just know when to nip it in the bud. It starts when they are young. If you stop it than, it really does not develop. The first time they flip a wing at you, you have missed about 10 aggressive behaviors already. That chest bumping on your hand when they are about 3- 4 weeks old? It might be cute, but, trust me..it is not. It is aggression. A good plink with a finger should stop it. Same with that tall stretch they do. Puff out the little chest and approach...nope..just one little step in his direction and it immediately stops. They are already testing and placing you with in there own little hierarchy. Make sure they know you are the alpha.

BDM... Aries, eh? Me too!

And sorry you're in the hosp again. I know you're used to it but still a bummer anyway. Prayers and thoughts for y'all!

X1000!!

wish I was closer to help

Delisha ..
ok .. I'm daring to post again... ; ) Please tell me why you are afraid to post?
I was daring because .. i have a tendency to stick my foot in mouth.. ; )
and my fingers.. hit key's there not supposed to. .and half written posts.. disappear.. and some get posted before finishing
.. and .. it appeared i made some off color comment about country "birthday" girl.. < it was all taken in stride.. thanks all>
happy birthday.. ,<nice song there loanwizards>
and .. I'm still trying to figure out the "dash board" on this form .. and how to post.. -- .. but really this is such a great group.. thanks to all
Quote: I really do not handle my birds much in the sense of petting and snuggling, hand feeding. I examine them often. Just about anyone can pick up my birds. They do not run away. As chicks that is a different story. Those are wild lil things. I have 60 chicks in my brooder. Probably 20 of them I can easily handle. That is only because those are the ones I have caught to look at over and over because I really like the body structure and have banded them. The 5 week olds in the barn are now easy caught. The first week was horrible to catch them. I had to catch them because I was stupid and added straw with mites with out checking. I had to move the whole group, dust, dunk and get them clean..poor things..took them two more weeks to settle down. Nothing wrong with handling your birds. You are supposed to handle them. The birds I plan on showing this year have to be handled or the judge will not be to happy.

thanks everyone, - it is great to be able to post here about losing a chicken and have people understand.

Leigh, hope everything goes well for you and your daughter.

Hospitals wear you out! I know what you mean about packing - what you can bring can really make a difference for you and the patient. One of the best things a friend did for me when my partner was in the hospital was to bring a basket of healthy snacks - sitting around waiting and being there 24/7 - and finding you missed the hours when the hospital cafeteria is open for a meal - was so nice to have something good to eat.

back to work!

Please let us know the results of your autopsy. Take pictures please.

I am sorry for your loss. Unfortunately chickens are not bred to live a long life.

.I am going to assume it was heart defect so make sure you take organ pictures, specially the heart..look for pools of blood.