The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

My screen may not be the best either.... Oh well...I WAS pretty proud of myself!

 

[Leahs Mom]

I wish I had made mine like yours -- I think, time will tell. Instead of putting two holes in the bucket, I just put one, then teed with 1/2" PVC, so my mechanisms are more removed from the water and the heat source.

Do you have a photo of your that you could put up?

What are your outside temperatures since you put yours on? Do you have any idea of how hot they heat - not how hot they make the water, but how hot the little heater is to the touch.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes...I may just have to try one of those. What are your outside temperatures since you put yours on? Do you have any idea of how hot they heat - not how hot they make the water, but how hot the little heater is to the touch.



I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING!!!!!

So...how in the heck did you see that??? I think I need a pair of glasses!

me too I'm guessing since I studied and studies those pics and could not see the bulls eye.

course maybe the fact I can't use my glasses when using the computer might make the difference too.

 

[delisha]

I've had 5 eggs so far, and they were all fertilized. Duke getting the job done.

On the other hand, he attacked me yesterday when I pet one of the girls sitting in the nest boxes. I went out to check if I got another egg as I saw the girls going up and down the plank to the coop. I didn't even realize he was in there with them, I guess he viewed me stroking her back as mating with her? I ran to the side door, and as he came out, I pushed him off the plank and walked boldly up to him. He kept running from me, and never came near me the rest of the day. Time to get the stick and carry it with me I guess. DH let them out this morning, and he said Duke charged him. Going to go back over the GB thread, and try to find some of Bee's suggestions. I remember her addressing this.

Until then, lay it on me you experienced chicken keepers of Roosters. Give me some Natural Rooster wrangling advice! I have enjoyed actually having him, and love the benifits of his sounds while they free range, but with all the young ones around here all the time, starting with my 11 year old beauty DD, I will not have it.

BAD BOY DUKE!

Not bad..normal behavior.

You did the right thing. You advance, advance , advance.

Stick training works the best for me so far. You have to use what works best for you. Some kick the roos. It is not something I use, but, it works for many.

I have found through the years if you catch *male behaviors* when they are young, you don't have many fearful adult issues.
One of the first of many signs is wing flipping at you. You might think its cute..it is not cute, it is male aggressive displays.

You are feeding and you gently push a bird out of the way and the bird gives that neck *flare*. You might think this is funny. Again it is aggression. Not funny.

Even when they are day old chicks and you feed, you push them out of the feed dish, some will chest bump you. You need to watch that one. I never do anything to day old chicks, but, gloves off when they start to feather. I have pulled chick feathers for aggressive behaviors. (not pulled out)

Looking for these cues when they are young will save you the headache of dealing with it when it gets a bit scary when they are older. Having a 10 lb. rooster chase your daughter across the yard when you are looking through a kitchen window and powerless to do anything will make you aggressive back in a hurry. It was a terrifying experience for the both of us. She begged me not to kill the rooster. I had to come up with a way to protect her.

I am the alpha, and they all know it. Rarely do I have to correct a male anymore. Others in the flock defer to me and deference to the Alpha is learned behavior.

If they display any type of aggressive behavior, advance, push them away, advance, push, advance, push. Keep it up until they run and avoid. Some take a while. I am not brutal about it, or mean in any way. I am firm. For a few days I carry a stick and do a bit of poking. This last cockerel I think I might have poked a bit too much. He is a bit too afraid of me. He allows me to pick him up, but he acts like it is his last day. I feel bad, but not bad enough I would change it. He was the most aggressive cockerel I have ever had. And it was a long time since I was challenged by a bird. I did not like it one bit.

Never run
Never leave, make the cockerel leave. If you are afraid, throw something or yell. Do not leave. You must make them leave.
Fear of respect works for animals.
They need to understand you are the alpha
How do they naturally display alpha behaviors? Usually through physical means. Even as chick they are already chest bumping and pushing sibling away.
Some think reasoning and giving affection and enough love with make them less aggressive. I personally have no experience with that. I love my animals and invest copious time to them, however I am not going to endanger my eye to a chicken. I love to sit in the grass or at the picnic table and have them gathered at my feet.
Some think you need to act like a chicken..I have no experience with that either.

 

[Mumsy]

Be sure to check at your local Menards, Lowes, hardware, TSC, or farm store for these. Sometimes they're less expensive but even if not, you don't have to pay shipping, of course!

This is neat-O! I'm going to ask my electrician hubby if he has any in his work van! Thanks for linking this.

 

[Melabella]

Not bad..normal behavior.

You did the right thing. You advance. advance , advance.

Stick training works the best for me so far. You have to use what works best for you. Some kick the roos. It is not something I use, but, it works for many.
I have found through the years if you catch *male behaviors* when they are young, you don't have many fearful adult issues.
First sign is wing flipping at you. You might think its cute..it is not cute, it is male aggressive displays.

You are feeding and you gently push a bird out of the way and the bird gives that neck *flare*. You might think this is funny. Again it is aggression. Not funny.
Looking for these cues when they are young will save you the headache of dealing with it when it gets a bit scary when they are older. Having a 10 lb. rooster chase your daughter across the yard when you are looking through a kitchen window and powerless to do anything will make you aggressive back in a hurry. It was a terrifying experience for the both of us. She begged me not to kill the rooster. I had to come up with a way to protect her.

I am the alpha, and they all know it. Rarely do I have to correct a male anymore. Others in the flock defer to me and deference to the Alpha is learned behavior.

If they display any type of aggressive behavior, advance, push them away, advance, push, advance, push. Keep it up until they run and avoid. Some take a while. I am not brutal about it, or mean in any way. I am firm. For a few days I carry a stick and do a bit of poking. This last cockerel I think I might have poked a bit too much. He is a bit too afraid of me. He allows me to pick him up, but he acts like it is his last day. I feel bad, but not bad enough I would change it. He was the most aggressive cockerel I have ever had. And it was a long time since I was challenged by a bird. I did not like it one bit.

Never run
Never leave, make the cockerel leave. If you are afraid, throw something or yell. Do not leave. You must make them leave.
Fear of respect works for animals.
They need to understand you are the alpha
How do they naturally display alpha behaviors? Usually through physical means. Even as chick they are already chest bumping and pushing sibling away.
Some think reasoning and giving affection and enough love with make them less aggressive. I personally have no experience with that. I love my animals and invest copious time to them, however I am not going to endanger my eye to a chicken. I love to sit in the grass or at the picnic table and have them gathered at my feet.
Some think you need to act like a chicken..I have no experience with that either.

Exactly what I needed to hear...Thank you!

Excellent post Delisha,,, thank you. I work with racehorses for a living,, I understand animal dominance in subtle and not so subtle ways. When a 1200 lb 2yo colt is trying to push you out of the way or better yet, mount you, I learned early that fear must be an aspect of it. Respect comes later, fear is your first tool I am just learning as I go with the birds! He is 5 months old, you don't think he is beyond learning do you? I feel not, but have probably let far to many tall stances with the wing flapping go on.

Heading out to do stalls after having 5 teenage boys sleep over with pancake breakfast! Will have my stick in hand when I enter the run!
MB

 

[delisha]

Quote: Finding the ring in a new fertilized egg takes time, knowledge, and experience. The older fertilized eggs are much easier to see. I think you all did very well for these pictures. The reflection from the sun gave false reads. You really needed to blow the pics up to see it correctly.

 

[Mumsy]

Not bad..normal behavior.

You did the right thing. You advance. advance , advance.

Stick training works the best for me so far. You have to use what works best for you. Some kick the roos. It is not something I use, but, it works for many.
I have found through the years if you catch *male behaviors* when they are young, you don't have many fearful adult issues.
First sign is wing flipping at you. You might think its cute..it is not cute, it is male aggressive displays.

You are feeding and you gently push a bird out of the way and the bird gives that neck *flare*. You might think this is funny. Again it is aggression. Not funny.
Looking for these cues when they are young will save you the headache of dealing with it when it gets a bit scary when they are older. Having a 10 lb. rooster chase your daughter across the yard when you are looking through a kitchen window and powerless to do anything will make you aggressive back in a hurry. It was a terrifying experience for the both of us. She begged me not to kill the rooster. I had to come up with a way to protect her.

I am the alpha, and they all know it. Rarely do I have to correct a male anymore. Others in the flock defer to me and deference to the Alpha is learned behavior.

If they display any type of aggressive behavior, advance, push them away, advance, push, advance, push. Keep it up until they run and avoid. Some take a while. I am not brutal about it, or mean in any way. I am firm. For a few days I carry a stick and do a bit of poking. This last cockerel I think I might have poked a bit too much. He is a bit too afraid of me. He allows me to pick him up, but he acts like it is his last day. I feel bad, but not bad enough I would change it. He was the most aggressive cockerel I have ever had. And it was a long time since I was challenged by a bird. I did not like it one bit.

Never run
Never leave, make the cockerel leave. If you are afraid, throw something or yell. Do not leave. You must make them leave.
Fear of respect works for animals.
They need to understand you are the alpha
How do they naturally display alpha behaviors? Usually through physical means. Even as chick they are already chest bumping and pushing sibling away.
Some think reasoning and giving affection and enough love with make them less aggressive. I personally have no experience with that. I love my animals and invest copious time to them, however I am not going to endanger my eye to a chicken. I love to sit in the grass or at the picnic table and have them gathered at my feet.
Some think you need to act like a chicken..I have no experience with that either.

Excellent post. I had Johnny begin to drop the wing and advance at my husband and I just this past August. Before I bought the pullets. I would advance at him and pushed him away but husband would kick at him and then retreat. My daughter came to visit that week and Johnny flew at her legs and terrified her. From that moment I used the above methods. Every time I was outside. Johnny MUST move out of my way from now on. No exceptions. No excuses. Not only am I alpha on my property, all humans that visit or live here are too. I have no tolerance for aggressive animals. Ever.

 

[mlowen]

Leigh, would Delisha's post make another good "what do I do about an aggressive roo?" post on the blog? I thought she explained it very well--must establish you are alpha, must not tolerate aggression, not at all "mean."

 

[Melabella]

Leigh, would Delisha's post make another good "what do I do about an aggressive roo?" post on the blog? I thought she explained it very well--must establish you are alpha, must not tolerate aggression, not at all "mean."

Was thinking the same thing when I first posted...time for another tab on the left of the blog

"Roo Behaviour, what is acceptable, and what isn't"