The New Flock 2021: Back to Basics

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Cochins boys sure like strutting their stuff, and have no problem fighting if the mood hits them. I guess I'm so used to it, and I like their spunk. They are definitely a different kind of chicken. They can be frustrating, but more often make me laugh with their antics.

 

[speckledhen]

Cochins boys sure like strutting their stuff, and have no problem fighting if the mood hits them. I guess I'm so used to it, and I like their spunk. They are definitely a different kind of chicken. They can be frustrating, but more often make me laugh with their antics.

I admit I adore all those boys. And Bodie always impresses me with his leadership abilities. He's the quintessential good flock leader. Now that Axel has calmed down, other than taking an occasional run at poor Forrest, he's showing his sweet nature. And Bee loves him, is always grooming him until he cries uncle, LOL.

 

[speckledhen]

The boys are getting along pretty well still. This morning, I realized that Luna, one of the original splash Cochin girls, is not right. She is lethargic and sleeping a lot. I feel no bloat and her keel doesn't seem skeletal, but she definitely has lost weight. They just turned 3 years old the first week of April so I have no idea what is wrong. No injuries, seems to have okay color. I'm perplexed, really, but my first bantam Cochins years ago, Shadow and Xander, each died at just over 4 years old, no explanation for those, either. Maybe it's the typical longevity. Lisa?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So very sorry Cynthia. I've had them live anywhere between 3 years and 10 years. The hatchery birds do seem to live shorter than breeder birds. I think my oldest hatchery hen was 8 and the one from the show breeder made it to 10. Most seem to pass at around 4-5 years. No idea why.

I have a fresh group of mottled Bantam cochins and some polish that are doing well. They are around 10 weeks now. I guess I just keep adding more knowing their lives will be short, but hopefully enjoyable for them. They are goofy little birds.

 

[speckledhen]

So very sorry Cynthia. I've had them live anywhere between 3 years and 10 years. The hatchery birds do seem to live shorter than breeder birds. I think my oldest hatchery hen was 8 and the one from the show breeder made it to 10. Most seem to pass at around 4-5 years. No idea why.

I have a fresh group of mottled Bantam cochins and some polish that are doing well. They are around 10 weeks now. I guess I just keep adding more knowing their lives will be short, but hopefully enjoyable for them. They are goofy little birds.

Thank you, my friend. I hate to lose that sweet little Luna, but nothing I can do about it, nothing to treat. I just hate losing hens and being left with such a disproportionate number of males in there, but they don't seem to wear too much on the hens, not much in the way of feather loss. Hope you're doing well out there in WI. How many birds do you currently have anyway?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you, my friend. I hate to lose that sweet little Luna, but nothing I can do about it, nothing to treat. I just hate losing hens and being left with such a disproportionate number of males in there, but they don't seem to wear too much on the hens, not much in the way of feather loss. Hope you're doing well out there in WI. How many birds do you currently have anyway?

Chicken numbers, about 40 in my Bantam flock, about 20 free ranging in my big shed of various standard breeds and a few mixed bantams, the 11 polish and 15 Bantam cochins, I also have some more standard chicks coming in 2 weeks of various breeds, 15 more.

We opened up my shed so everything can mingle. Seems that's enough to keep the foxes away. I've had zero predation this year so I thought I would restock. I have too many males to females too, so adding extra females to balance that out.

I probably went overboard. I had given up the idea of free range chickens. I do love seeing them all out foraging, so I'm happy to have more. I haven't released the polish and cochins yet. I'm still scared for them. There's no rush. I'm enjoying chickens again.

I also have 16 turkeys, 15 geese, and 4 muscovy.

 

[speckledhen]

Wow, sounds like you're in chicken heaven! I need to restock, but I can't until most of these are gone. My husband's infirmity makes life more difficult, trying to maintain this homestead, trying to do content for the YouTube channel and at the same time, keep quilting for my creative outlet. Having too many groups separate is harder than one big group, which is actually the goal.
The bantam Cochins are just great little guys. Mace, who is with my late Hector's big hens, will not go into his pen at the end of the day even when all his four hens are already on the roost, not until I come to lock them up. He runs up and down the barn aisle, comes outside the door to look for me then leads me back to his pen. He won't go in until I tell him it's okay, that I'm locking the door. Then, he jumps onto his little separate roost bar and settles down. He really takes his responsibilities seriously, they all do.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Mace sounds like a wonderful little rooster. Love my Bantam Cochin roosters, even if some are occasionally trouble making stinkers. The good traits far outweigh the bad.

 

[speckledhen]

Mace sounds like a wonderful little rooster. Love my Bantam Cochin roosters, even if some are occasionally trouble making stinkers. The good traits far outweigh the bad.

I completely agree! Mace doesn't like being picked up as much as the main flock's roosters, but he does his job with dedication. Even Axel and Dane have found their places in the flock, though Axel had to get over his obsession with taking over in order to be accepted again. Dane is very much like his sire, Gunnar, not wanting to engage, which is why it was surprising when he lost it on Axel and changed his brother's tune. Axel will still will take a run at Forrest or Dane (who does not engage) but the other roosters will intervene. Axel still reacts properly to my "No fighting!" yell, shows some intelligence. When the other roosters break up a potential fight, it's over in 3 seconds. I love that I can actually have multiple roosters in one flock successfully, never been able to do that for long in the large fowl breeds, only the Belgian D'Anvers and bantam Cochins. That makes a lot of eyes guarding when they're on range.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

All my roosters are bantams except one who is half Bantam. They are so much easier on the hens and take their jobs seriously. Hens are always accompanied when out foraging. They are good boys. I find the crowing more pleasant too.