The Old Folks Home

[ShrekDawg]

I hope so! Keep us updated on how it works out for you. You may figure out something I haven't. We can share our challenges and successes.

ATM, my coops and runs are quiet. I'm lucky because I have 4 coops and runs, so I can shuffle them around as needed. The good news - I have 4 coops. The bad news - I have 4 coops. It might be convenient for the moment, but cleaning 4 coops? Oy!

I definitely will!!! I think they’ve finally figured out who the dominant cockerel is so that’s good news at least haha bad news is they’ve been crowing at least a couple weeks and have finally got it down

And I know what you mean! I now have the temporary coop and the big girls coop and the new mansion which isn’t finished yet but will be soon.

And now that the temp coop is finished I’m really thinking it might be perfect for ducks or bantams or something.

 

[perchie.girl]

I hope so! Keep us updated on how it works out for you. You may figure out something I haven't. We can share our challenges and successes.

ATM, my coops and runs are quiet. I'm lucky because I have 4 coops and runs, so I can shuffle them around as needed. The good news - I have 4 coops. The bad news - I have 4 coops. It might be convenient for the moment, but cleaning 4 coops? Oy!

My next go round will be one poultry house with workspace... Then four to five partitions. All cleaning will happen from the work space... As will feeding and watering. I have the older coop that I can use in a pinch but after the goats got done with it its in need of repair.

The layout will all be six feet high and cleaning will only take a good rake. Poop hammocks will catch most of the droppings.... This will include the guinea fowl as well. No more high level bombings on my hens.... LOL

deb

 

[ValerieJ]

I kept mine in one happy family.... The main Roo keeps all the Chilluns in line... The batchelor flock orbits around the outside. I usually had three roos. Then any cockrels toed the line or kind of got dismissed to the chaparal. I plan on doing a bachelor partition if it gets overwhelming this time.

Because I wont be free ranging this go around

deb

I'm not keeping mine separated permanently. Just getting through the rough spot. Unfortunately I don't have a rooster to keep anyone in line. That's what I'm trying to accomplish. Eventually I hope to have two flocks, one for each cockerel.

 

[ValerieJ]

My next go round will be one poultry house with workspace... Then four to five partitions. All cleaning will happen from the work space... As will feeding and watering. I have the older coop that I can use in a pinch but after the goats got done with it its in need of repair.

The layout will all be six feet high and cleaning will only take a good rake. Poop hammocks will catch most of the droppings.... This will include the guinea fowl as well. No more high level bombings on my hens.... LOL

deb

Sounds perfect! If I can get one big enough, I might do that too. I know I'll have two distinct sections and a brooding pen. We're looking at building 8x10, so I think that might be the most I can fit into it.

 

[microchick]

Yes, I have read one at least of those articles and the one I read was a very good article.

Usually I separate my cockerels and extra roosters in February. This year with the mild November and December has them thinking it's spring. Most of my hens are bigger than my current batch of annoying cockerels so they either 1) stay out of their way or 2) walk around with one riding on their back like a book bag, totally ignoring their advances.

With my flock, I've noticed that about late August or mid September they start to calm down and I slowly integrate them back into the flock so they add body warmth for winter.

When I separate them, the only roosters I will leave with the hens are my Egyptian Fayoumi alpha rooster, Tut, senior rooster Old Man, a nice looking and well mannered rooster from my 2018 hatchings named Charlie, my SWD boys and one rooster who is blind in one eye and another who is just such a sorry excuse for a rooster that I'm surprised that the hens haven't strangled him in his sleep and put him out of their misery.

I'm serious, this is a nice a little rooster who lets himself get so beat up that he refuses to come out of 'his' nesting box unless I'm in the coop to protect him so he can get a drink of water and grab a bite to eat.

I really don't know what their problem is with him but I'm hoping that if he is one of the boys in the big coop he may get some self confidence and come out of his nesting box and act like a rooster.

Hope blooms eternal.

 

[ValerieJ]

walk around with one riding on their back like a book bag, totally ignoring their advances.

That's hilarious!

Perhaps I should have integrated the cockerels at a younger age. Well, I am where I am. I will try again when I see their behaviors change. The pullets integrated with no problem, so that's good anyway.

 

[microchick]

All of my current bad boys are broody raised. The one who brings me an offering of a piece of straw or grass and lays it at my feet every night chattering away at me was orphaned when he was just 4 weeks old. I gave him a lot of attention, kept the others from picking on him, carried him around a lot and babied him. Now he's madly in love with me. I keep telling him that I'm flattered but happily married but he persists in bringing me his gift every night and dancing for me.

Bo is a little SWD OEGB, just adorable little guy from a smaller than usual egg. I also helped him out of his shell so maybe he remembers that some how even though his mom was a broody.

I do think at least from my experience with my birds that hands on helps a lot with them and integrating them in the flock as soon as you can does also. I usually let my broodies and their chicks in with the rest of the birds when the babies are feathered out. No problems so far.

 

[pennyJo1960]

@ValerieJ I have three cockerel all in one coop. My main coop Red the EE is older one he is allowing the other two he is the only one breeding the birds...
Seem he is doing well as no one has a bare back and I do believe he is not fighting with either of them although the two Marans have had a few chest bumps between them

 

[perchie.girl]

Sounds perfect! If I can get one big enough, I might do that too. I know I'll have two distinct sections and a brooding pen. We're looking at building 8x10, so I think that might be the most I can fit into it.

I have mine designed at 24 x 24... Dog kennel panels reinforced with Aviary wire. Feed and a water reservoir storage in there as well.

I have shared the pictures ad nausium here on this thread

But my layout wouldn't work for everyone... I do plan on having a very large run that is doable here in the desert. 100 x 25.

predators galore here.

deb

 

[ValerieJ]

All of my current bad boys are broody raised. The one who brings me an offering of a piece of straw or grass and lays it at my feet every night chattering away at me was orphaned when he was just 4 weeks old. I gave him a lot of attention, kept the others from picking on him, carried him around a lot and babied him. Now he's madly in love with me. I keep telling him that I'm flattered but happily married but he persists in bringing me his gift every night and dancing for me.

Bo is a little SWD OEGB, just adorable little guy from a smaller than usual egg. I also helped him out of his shell so maybe he remembers that some how even though his mom was a broody.

I do think at least from my experience with my birds that hands on helps a lot with them and integrating them in the flock as soon as you can does also. I usually let my broodies and their chicks in with the rest of the birds when the babies are feathered out. No problems so far.

I had a cockerel raised by a broody before and he was also very sweet like yours. But, eventually, he picked two girls in the flock and over mated them to the point they were about to go into winter with no feathers on their backs. I kept waiting for a molt to fix the problem, but it never came. I would look at them and could see their featherless wings. In the interest of my flock, I had to get rid of him. My girls came back to life and are beautiful to this day.

I haven't had great luck with cockerels and roosters, but I am very committed this time. One or hopefully both of these cockerels are a permanent part of my flock.