The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!
- Thread starter Bulldogma
- Start date
I would agree except it didn't sound like she was isolating to pick one to stay in the flock, it sounded like ALL these are to be processed. Why keep the roo that is going to dominate to the point of either injuring himself, the others, or keeping them from eating and gaining weight before being processed?
huh! that is definitely something to think about - am facing my first rooster selection in the next month or so - planning on one or possibly two out of 8.
There is already a dominant one, who was crowing at 4 weeks! by 6 weeks, he was trying to coax over other chicks with the funny chuckle that means "look at this treat". He does, however, run off a pullet or two for no obvious reason.
Two others are crowing at about 11 weeks, but they only do it out of his sight, while they are hiding under the pine trees, so I can't see who is crowing either.
My fav is this totally clueless, bumbling roo who is a loner and usually sticks very close to me. Probably bad rooster stock though - a lav orp without a tail so far, but he is going to be pretty.
I have a couple of araucana roos too - and at least one icelandic roo.
There is already a dominant one, who was crowing at 4 weeks! by 6 weeks, he was trying to coax over other chicks with the funny chuckle that means "look at this treat". He does, however, run off a pullet or two for no obvious reason.
Two others are crowing at about 11 weeks, but they only do it out of his sight, while they are hiding under the pine trees, so I can't see who is crowing either.
My fav is this totally clueless, bumbling roo who is a loner and usually sticks very close to me. Probably bad rooster stock though - a lav orp without a tail so far, but he is going to be pretty.
I have a couple of araucana roos too - and at least one icelandic roo.
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Oooooh I never though of him just keeping the others in check! Maybe I will place him with the ladies and see how he treats them and handle him a bit to see how he is with me. None of these guys has ever shown me aggression but they are only 4 months. He is keeping them away from food and water.
We are planning on keeping one black and one blue.
The plan was to break the neck, take the sample and then bleed them out. Good thought on getting used to how they react. Perhaps I will do a few that way and then practice on the rest before culling. I just don't want to cause unnecessary pain but also think this is a skill worth learning. Especially in my current situation as I want to take samples from every bird at about 6 months when they are old enough that the antigens should be showing up.
If we get any positives, we will be going bird free until next spring and starting over. So really hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. For now, no birds in or out.
We are planning on keeping one black and one blue.
The plan was to break the neck, take the sample and then bleed them out. Good thought on getting used to how they react. Perhaps I will do a few that way and then practice on the rest before culling. I just don't want to cause unnecessary pain but also think this is a skill worth learning. Especially in my current situation as I want to take samples from every bird at about 6 months when they are old enough that the antigens should be showing up.
If we get any positives, we will be going bird free until next spring and starting over. So really hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. For now, no birds in or out.
If this were the case I would think one of two things or both. 1. The pen or run is too small for the number of chickens in it. 2. There aren't enough feed and water dishes to go around. In my situation, everyone gets a chance to eat and drink. Broody's with chicks will run off birds from the feeders and water pans too. So will dominate hens. But they can't run off everyone at the same time from a dozen feed and water dishes. I do not feed and water my flock inside the coop or runs for this very reason. The only birds I feed separate from the flock are those new chicks in the brooders or trios in breeder cages. At this time of year, everyone but the brooder chicks are outside.
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Delisha- I guess I am guilty as charged 
tho I don't keep their food filled 24/7 I did give a half a scoop around noon cuz Edie was pestering me. *sigh*. Ok I will feed them tonight & then nothing tomorrow for them. I told my mom the plan & she said she is going to hear them at her house 
. I will have my hen sitter just feed them at night while we are gone this weekend camping. I better warn him he is going to be swarmed............
Would u believe my dogs food is measured so they don't over eat and stay a healthy weight? You would think I would do the same with the hens.........guess their show and complaining convinced me other wise
ETA- any suggestions on the amount to feed per hen? Should I try the amount they can eat in 10 minutes or something like that? I guess I worry more cuz the tots have to wait till the big girls are done and I am afraid there won't be enough left for them..........another feed bowl wouldn't help the girls would just chase them away from that as well :/
tho I don't keep their food filled 24/7 I did give a half a scoop around noon cuz Edie was pestering me. *sigh*. Ok I will feed them tonight & then nothing tomorrow for them. I told my mom the plan & she said she is going to hear them at her house . I will have my hen sitter just feed them at night while we are gone this weekend camping. I better warn him he is going to be swarmed............Would u believe my dogs food is measured so they don't over eat and stay a healthy weight? You would think I would do the same with the hens.........guess their show and complaining convinced me other wise
ETA- any suggestions on the amount to feed per hen? Should I try the amount they can eat in 10 minutes or something like that? I guess I worry more cuz the tots have to wait till the big girls are done and I am afraid there won't be enough left for them..........another feed bowl wouldn't help the girls would just chase them away from that as well :/
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I forget do hens stop laying when they are moulting?
And update on bumble foot. The smaller scab came off today so I applied more drawing salve and wrapped it up again. It looks like new skin underneath. No hole where I was digging out stuff before. The bigger scab is still there but was raised on edges so I could pick it off. More salve and wrapped again. I am going camping Thursday so I will remove her boots so she doesn't walk around in dirt filled boots. I plan to just spray them with blue kote and when we get back I will start wrapping again. I am hopeful this clears up for good!
And update on bumble foot. The smaller scab came off today so I applied more drawing salve and wrapped it up again. It looks like new skin underneath. No hole where I was digging out stuff before. The bigger scab is still there but was raised on edges so I could pick it off. More salve and wrapped again. I am going camping Thursday so I will remove her boots so she doesn't walk around in dirt filled boots. I plan to just spray them with blue kote and when we get back I will start wrapping again. I am hopeful this clears up for good!
There is only one feeder and waterer in there. I didn't think it would be an issue with only 11 critters. I will definitely try hanging a couple more.
Not sure it will do anything tho. They literally pile into a corner and just stay there. None of them even try. This morning he just wouldn't let them come outside so they had the food but no water.
I will put a few more out there tho to give them a bit more of a chance if nothing changer by the weekend, I'll put him with the ladies and see what happens. Will another one just step up and do the same thing?
Funny, he never did this when the girls were mixed in with them. Guess he was distracted
It is possible, but if one (of the scared ones) was that determined to be head guy I would think they would have challenged him already.There is only one feeder and waterer in there. I didn't think it would be an issue with only 11 critters. I will definitely try hanging a couple more.
Not sure it will do anything tho. They literally pile into a corner and just stay there. None of them even try. This morning he just wouldn't let them come outside so they had the food but no water.
I will put a few more out there tho to give them a bit more of a chance if nothing changer by the weekend, I'll put him with the ladies and see what happens. Will another one just step up and do the same thing?
Funny, he never did this when the girls were mixed in with them. Guess he was distracted
K's right, you won't get a mature at 8 wks bird, and *everyone* will warn you about keeping Cornish about. Pugnacious is the most loving term used... even for the females. BUT, check
naillikwj82 and search the meat bird section for CX ... some people use Cornish over Delaware or Buckeye and get pretty good results at 18wks or less. Obviously, not using Show styld Cornish, due to the AI problem. I've been researching doing something similar, for similar reasons.
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