Thank you @Leahs Mom - I didn't think I would have to make these tough decisions so soon into having chickens. I was hoping to enjoy them a bit first! And of course, it's the sweetest ones in this group that are sick and I think need culling. It's so tough to make that call though. I only did the abx in the hopes that we would see improvement and at the very least it would buy me some time. I guess not. Thankfully, my husband has generously offered to take care of it. We also have a cockerel in with the main coop - all Marans, that needs to go. He was sold as a splash but I'm pretty sure he's a Blue Copper, which is what I was hoping to breed for if he was a splash. He has been one of our favorites up until recently when he has become aggressive. He is really beautiful but I certainly can't keep an aggressive rooster with young children around - and me! He hasn't gone after my husband but has myself, my 9 yr old son and my 5 yr old daughter. Thankfully he didn't make contact with any of us. I can't rehome him in case he is a carrier for MG and since he's shown aggressiveness. So, he and the two sickies that I like are on the chopping block unfortunately. As much as I would love to feed my family and make some gorgeous bone broth with these birds, I'm not so sure I can do it.
@armorfirelady I am definitely going to keep the mint in mind for planting around the coops. I've had 2 local people tell me now that if we have chickens we have rodents- and I don't want rodents!
@Maria G I looked up the Hedemora and they are beautiful birds. The qualities you mentioned are what I am after in my flock as well. Please do post some pics of your flock when you get a chance. I especially would love a heritage breed that has docile roosters! I see pics of kids holding roosters sometimes and I would love to have roos like that. The Marans we have were handled a lot before we got them at 4 weeks (especially the mean one since he was the only light one, but he wasn't mean then) and then we handled them and were in their run with them for a while and then we got a bit too busy and in the last 2-3 weeks the big guy got aggressive. We have another cockerel in there too, who we thought was going to be a pullet but he doesn't seem to be aggressive. I'm hoping he doesn't turn aggressive after the other one is gone.
@armorfirelady I am definitely going to keep the mint in mind for planting around the coops. I've had 2 local people tell me now that if we have chickens we have rodents- and I don't want rodents!
@Maria G I looked up the Hedemora and they are beautiful birds. The qualities you mentioned are what I am after in my flock as well. Please do post some pics of your flock when you get a chance. I especially would love a heritage breed that has docile roosters! I see pics of kids holding roosters sometimes and I would love to have roos like that. The Marans we have were handled a lot before we got them at 4 weeks (especially the mean one since he was the only light one, but he wasn't mean then) and then we handled them and were in their run with them for a while and then we got a bit too busy and in the last 2-3 weeks the big guy got aggressive. We have another cockerel in there too, who we thought was going to be a pullet but he doesn't seem to be aggressive. I'm hoping he doesn't turn aggressive after the other one is gone.
