The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[MargaretYakoda]

See it could be he finds them very enticing and just wants to mate them. I know a few of my young boys will chase girls to the ends of the earth. The pullets that give in easily get the dance, the ones that run.. well if they catch them, there is no dancing done.

I'm a newbie, but this sounds about right to me.
Our roo started by chasing the heck out of the australorp girls. He didn't seem to have much interest in the others. He'd get the itch, and take off running after one poor girl, chase her all over the yard, up, down, over, under everything. Eventually he got to the point where he could actually catch one! And for about a week he'd just do his thing on whatever body part was under him. The poor girls were SHOCKED!

About eight weeks later now, he's actually tidbitting and doing other (NICER!) things to get the girls to come to him. And the girls have started laying, so maybe they don't mind his attentions as much as they used to?

 

[camilleathome]

My rooster is "Mr. Bennet" because he has a family of contentious ladies... lol... Yes. I'm a nerd. I've come to be ok with that.

I have a Blue tongue Skink named Mr Bennet, an Ackie named Mr.Hyde(Attitude to fit him he tries to eat anything that goes near him lol), a Western Hognose named Mr. Pork Chop then a pair of Black Pines named Hades and persephone XD.

Only two chickens have names so far that I know. Sid Vicious cause he likes to peck toes hes not really vicious. And Penelope my Silkie(Penny for short). My runner mutt is called Jim the Fish and the female call duck is called Tammy after Tommy from Good fellas and I dont have any other names for the others but their all getting Mafia names XD.

 

[Shan30]

"Erick the Red" Viking name also one I my husband nicknames! Yeah he's a bit of a ginger, beard only! lol

 

[Leahs Mom]

Well - so far I just call him "Mister" or "RB" or Rooster Boy. I like lots of those ideas. I guess I better get at choosing!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Leahsmom, he looks like King Wilhelm to me. My roosters are always Buster. Now that I'm gonna have two.....don't know what to do.

We had a Buster he was great but then thee next Buster did not work out and had to be rehomed. I just know my children will name the next new rooster Buster. At one time we had blue buster, red buster, jumping buster, and chicken dinner buster.

 

[Leahs Mom]

You know...I think my guys may end up named like your busters. Kind of like Aoxa's Pennys.

But...I had thought about Prince Caspian... And that was actually inspired from a couple of the ideas above!

 

[Leahs Mom]

What does everyone do to winterize their chicken housing?

I'm particularly interested to hear from those that have hoop-style houses. How do you keep snow from blowing inside, etc.

 

[mlowen]

What does everyone do to winterize their chicken housing?

I'm planning on putting a tarp on the north side of the run end and closing the door between the coop and run (I have a pop door cut in it that I will leave open.) I'm pretty sure the tarp will keep most of the snow from piling up too much in the run. I may put an old glass window over the eastern window and leave the southern window in the coop open. We'll see if I need to cover it, too. I'm going to see if I can "store" leaves in contractor trash bags I have--to keep them dry and available to easily use as litter throughout the winter. I just don't relish the idea of digging through snow for wet leaves. Also going to try warm water in the morning rather than electricity. I have fitted Arizona Iced Tea gallons with radiator drain plugs so I can fill them and get out to the run with them full. Then I'll put them in a black rubber water pan and unscrew the drain plug. The water will stop at the top of the hole in the jug.

 

[armorfirelady]

What does everyone do to winterize their chicken housing?

I'm particularly interested to hear from those that have hoop-style houses.  How do you keep snow from blowing inside, etc.

Well the sides that are open now at the bottom have been rolled up so all I need to do is roll them down. I am going to put my shaving bales in contractor bags ( prevent shaving brags from being ripped open by nails) on east side as wind blockers. The south end is open but I will put my half moon window well covers up to blocks snow from blowing in off the garage roof. Other than that that's it. I think I will be able to leave the lower half on the south side open year round. The wind doesn't come from that way. Will have to wait and see.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

King Silver, Frostking, Frostemiere, Silver Streak, ....

Devonaire

Flash, Flasher

I simply called mine Buddy Boy..... I scolded, "Coop it Buddy! when I had trouble getting him to go on in with the girls the second night and it stuck. His head comes up when I say Buddy so I will stay with it.