The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[CherMoz]

That is so awesome!

 

[Turk Raphael]

Usually, when I have a bird that looks very sick, that bird is almost always deleted, without discussion or fanfare. Better to keep all laying/meat/breeding stock free and segregated from ill birds, in a definitive way as my dad would say.

In any event, about 2 months ago, I noticed one of my foundation Chantecler hens had begun to look very tatty, her feathers stuck out like she was showing a lot of the White Wyandotte breed that is part of this breed's makeup and the bird was especially un-kept and dirty. But she was eating and drinking okay but stayed by herself and would refuse to eat much of their evening BOSS treat. At that time, I wasn't aware that I was going to get the wonderful infusion of 'old-family' stock that I now have in my possession, in the form of 10 and 10, cockerels and pullets, located by my Brother and I was not quite willing to dispatch the foundation hen because of the way she had looked just a few months before.

To shorten this a bit, she just about had her neck rung.

Starting about two weeks ago, she began to blow feathers from every part of her body, literally. It soon became clear that I had been witnessing the most dramatic molt that I had ever seen. She still has a large fan of large pin feathers coming in at her hackle area that gives her a partially bald look but it fills out more every day. I will say, I'm glad I held off doing business as usual this time because she is beginning to look as good as she did when I first got her. She hasn't returned to laying yet but I think it's just a very short time coming in the future.

I'ts easier for me to see why you folks aren't as quick a I an to 'off' your birds because you only keep a few. I was in short supply of these high quality hens and didn't want to kill one that wasn't really displaying obvious illness, just discomfort from such a massive feather blow.

TURK

 

[lazy gardener]

good post.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Turk Raphael
Good points. I often try to remember the point you made.... If those of us who have 6 birds lose one, it is 1/6 of the flock. If someone with 60 birds loses one.... well you get - and already made the point.


BTW...one of the Buckeye boys went to a new home yesterday. He'll be an "only rooster" in a flock of 8 hens. He still seems to be very immature, but I know that the bucks mature slowly.

I've kept one; the other of the 3 is being processed today.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I always have a couple of hen that look sick during the molt. I cull sick birds, but many get a week or so before I make the final decision. If they happen to have something contagious, which I haven't experienced yet, than the whole flock is infected by the time one is looking sick, so I don't rush it unless it's obvious it is suffering.

 

[JanetMarie]

BTW...one of the Buckeye boys went to a new home yesterday. He'll be an "only rooster" in a flock of 8 hens. He still seems to be very immature, but I know that the bucks mature slowly.

I've kept one; the other of the 3 is being processed today.

How in the world do you find a good home for a cockerel?

 

[Leahs Mom]

@JanetMarie
I managed to find good homes for 2 cockerels this season. Both folks posted on the Indiana thread (where I live) saying they were looking for a rooster/cockerel for their flocks. I sent them a pm and the rest is history.

I had tried to "advertise" them on the thread several times with no interest. It seems that when folks are in need of a roo (unless there is a specific breed they're looking for) they post a request when they have a need and don't pay any attention if they don't. I just happened to see their posts within an hour of them posting and responded.

Both of my boys seem to have gotten folks that really care about their animals. Both were legit...not folks looking for cocks to fight or people that weren't really prepared to have a roo. A lot of that is because it was on a thread here in which folks either pop in from time to time or frequent. That helps a lot because you have a good idea before who they are. Then the phone calls and personal contact helps you learn a lot about the way they treat their animals.

 

[JanetMarie]

@Leahs Mom Thanks. I have never tried to find a home for any of our roosters we raise. We butcher the extras, but this year I may try to find a home for one.

He's good with people, but right now not good with other chickens. He may be totally different though if put with just a group of girls, because I've seen this behavior before, and that rooster ended up being very good once he had his own flock, and a very good protector.

To try to place a rooster, for me I would probably have to go to the possible new home to inspect. I can re-arrange living areas a bit to keep him, which will probably be what happens.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@JanetMarie

I had separated 2 Buckeye boys off to my shed coop away from the main flock so that they didn't learn bad manners trying to fight it out for top roo. I only left one of the boys with the main flock. So these 2 were just hanging around and still very immature. It was actually a little less drama than even 2 pullets as the hormones haven't completely kicked in yet.


Nice thing for both of the boys that went to other homes is that they are the only roos in the flock so no competition. They can just get down to the business of integrating with their ladies and shouldh't have too much drama.

I'm like you...I want to be sure the homes are decent. With roos, there is always the possibility that someone is wanting to get them to fight...or that they have no clue how to work with a roo otherwise. I was especially blessed that both of these folks were on the thread so I have an idea of their setups and husbandry. The one that went out Wednesday s very much going to a "pet home" in which they are very well treated and cared for. We've been in communication as she's going through the orientation with him and it sounds like it's going very well. The other boy that went to a new home earlier this summer (A Swedish Flower Hen).... pretty much the same. Had a lot of communication when he went out and he integrated well and has been doing well since. That's always a good thing for me. I feel like I want to be as sure as possible that they get a good home if they leave here.

 

[Leahs Mom]

PS: I DO think they are different once put into another flock. Pecking order is totally different once they get into their new home and they can display their own personality without the competition angle.