The Old Folks Home

[dsqard]

I agree that they are cute, but I wouldn't buy a bunch of them either. Probably a good idea not to keep the NN as your flock roo

If your black cockerel is out of my black roo and behavior is somewhat hereditary, then he should be well behaved. Joe took a while for the teenage hormones to calm down, but now he knows he has to woo the girls. He can still be sneaky, but not as sneaky as Squirrel, my lav AM rooster. He is bottom of the totem pole when it comes to the roos I have so he runs around (hence the name Squirrel) all day looking for opportunities.

 

[Arielle]

SCG I have found that Randy gets much more aggressive if I actually hit him with something. The second time he went at me I had a bucket lid in my hand and I wacked him in the head with it (I am not proud of this, I was shocked and it was what I had in my hand at the time). This only seemed to make things worse. The riding crop lets you keep a distance which seems to keep things calmer and the fact that you can just tap them to let them know to "move along now" seems to also keep the situation from escalating. I sure do miss Mr. Cogburn, he was such a good roo.

X2 direct retaliatory aggression escalates my rooster's aggression. I try to not provoke this rooster, aptly named Raptor, but sometimes he comes out of no where and attacks from behind. Only when I have something in my hand like a stick or bucket lid does he eventually run off and I"m pooped out from chasing him, and annoyed at wasted time. If it wasn't for my kids, he'd be Stew.



SCG-- I've been considering the SS also. Which lines did you hatch?? I haven't had any problems yet with the rooster I bought, but our interaction has been limited. WOuld love to hear what your opinonion of the SS is.

 

[ChestnutRidge]

We had a small wedding too. In October in New England.

That sounds lovely. October in New England is beautiful.

It will probably be in Japan in a little mountain pagoda. ind an old-time American preacher man in rural Japan.

Sounds gorgeous.

My speckled sussex rooster is a jerkwad, his brother was, too.

So is mine. I have a scar on my shin from the first time he attacked me - I was shocked. He's done it a number of times since, and also attacks the dog - who definitely gets the better of him. He likes to run up behind you. I've also found that poking or nudging back is more effective than full-on battle. Still, I need to do him in. It's gone on long enough. I've gone to a friend's house to see it done and bought a hatchet, but that's as far as I've gotten.... LOVE my SS hen, though. She's the most friendly and my husband's absolute favorite. (My favorite is the skittish-but-adorable, perpetually-broody Phoenix hen.)

 

[Arielle]

May I suggest somthing easier than an ax if you are not experienced. Sometimes it is less stressful on all to hang the chicken upside down,for ex. tie legs to clothes line, and slit the throat with a very sharp knife.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

My speckled sussex are from Hot2Pot, with an exception of Hoppy (my favorite chicken) who is a SS from Murray McMurray and the love of my life (after BF, of course). Hot2Pot got them from someone else so I have no idea where they come from. I absolutely love the SS. Hoppy is the worlds WORST layer, in fact we're contemplating naming our farm "If Hoppy Laid An Egg" because we've been joking that we should write a childrens farm book based on Hoppys adventures and lack of desire to lay eggs (because other things are so much more important, like eating all of moms tomatoes). The other SS lay decently well, but they just started.



I have a skittish and perpetually broody phoenix too! She spends all winter up on the roost and all spring, summer and fall in a nesting box trying to hatch golf balls. Wide open spaces are not for her. I have to clip her toenails (I was going to insert a joke here but thought I'd be more mature) because she doesn't get out enough to wear them down.



Let the goats out today to frolic and they were all kinds of psychotic - flying sideways down the hill, kicking their heels up. It was fabulous to watch. I am having a tough time converting them to new feed though. The guy I got them from fed Poulin grain, and I bought the Blue Seal equivalent, which looks exactly like it and is only slightly different ingredients-wise. I got some Poulin grain from him to mix with the Blue Seal, and they just pick at it, leaving most. I did an experiment and filled one feeder with Poulin only today and they snarfed it down in about 60 seconds. I am so not driving 25 miles one way out of my way to buy Poulin grain at the closest dealer for these picky goats. Any suggestions?

 

[Arielle]

My speckled sussex are from Hot2Pot, with an exception of Hoppy (my favorite chicken) who is a SS from Murray McMurray and the love of my life (after BF, of course). Hot2Pot got them from someone else so I have no idea where they come from. I absolutely love the SS. Hoppy is the worlds WORST layer, in fact we're contemplating naming our farm "If Hoppy Laid An Egg" because we've been joking that we should write a childrens farm book based on Hoppys adventures and lack of desire to lay eggs (because other things are so much more important, like eating all of moms tomatoes). The other SS lay decently well, but they just started.



I have a skittish and perpetually broody phoenix too! She spends all winter up on the roost and all spring, summer and fall in a nesting box trying to hatch golf balls. Wide open spaces are not for her. I have to clip her toenails (I was going to insert a joke here but thought I'd be more mature) because she doesn't get out enough to wear them down.



Let the goats out today to frolic and they were all kinds of psychotic - flying sideways down the hill, kicking their heels up. It was fabulous to watch. I am having a tough time converting them to new feed though. The guy I got them from fed Poulin grain, and I bought the Blue Seal equivalent, which looks exactly like it and is only slightly different ingredients-wise. I got some Poulin grain from him to mix with the Blue Seal, and they just pick at it, leaving most. I did an experiment and filled one feeder with Poulin only today and they snarfed it down in about 60 seconds. I am so not driving 25 miles one way out of my way to buy Poulin grain at the closest dealer for these picky goats. Any suggestions?

Nail problems at work AND at home!

Goats--some grains do taste better than others. You have the right idea of using their old grain to blend into the new grain, when the old grain is gone, it's gone. Then stay with the new grain. Hungry goats will eat. THe mostimport aspect of blending the grains for 1-2 weeks is to transition the grains in case the composition is actually quite different--and you know this because that is why you got some of the Poulin grain. My sheep ate BLue Seal for years. THey just need time to adjust and forget how tasty the Poulin grain is. ( Yup I have sheep too)

 

[GardenerGal]

I waited too long to treat my turkey's bumblefoot. Should have tried to clean it out when it was small. Turkeys seem to get it easily, maybe because they are heavy and more likely to get cuts on their feet from stepping heavily on sharp stones. If I get turkeys again, I will be paying extra attention to their feet.

The Three Muskateers are a popular theme for animal names! I had four black-tailed white Japanese bantams named -- you guessed it -- Porthos, Athos, Aramis and d'Artegnon (Dart for short). Alas, Porthos and Dart passed away prematurely, but Aramis and Athos are four years old now and grace the poultry barn with their charming personalities.

GG-Funny you should mention bumblefoot in turkeys. I went to a farm yesterday to pick up two peafowl eggs (put them under a broody this morning) and her tom had large swellings on the middle pad of both feet. I asked about it and she said it happens sometimes (she didn't seem concerned at all) but he is too mean to try to doctor on. On que, he tried to flog her and it terrified her. She said he does that everytime she comes out to the coop and run. Now, I've only had poults, never a grown tom, but is that common? I thought they were generally docile and even downright friendly. I don't want won't have a 30 pound bully in my yard - I'd have him on my table.

Arielle-what do you know about hatching peafowl? Are they hard to incubate? I did some fast research and it said it was best to start them under a broody. I can move them in to the bator anytime as it is empty but if the hen will hatch them okay it would be easier to leave them (except that she has been sitting since mid June as it is!)
Do you call the 3 Musketeers by their given names, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis? I assume D'Artagnon was the one that the cops were chasing......

 

[GardenerGal]

Thanks for the good wishes. The wedding will happen eventually, just not in the near future. We're middle aged people with famly commitments and the other complications of life, and we've known each other for almost 10 years, and we know that things will happen in due time.

That's a funny story about the "fourth Musketeer." In my mind's eye, I am seeing police herding a stubborn turkey around town. Too funny! My Bourbon Red used to fly up on top of the barn, and strut with his tail in full fan. There was a cranky neighbor up on the hill behind us, and the turkey would "moon" him from the roof of the barn. I have photos somewhere of my "roof turkey" strutting and "mooning."

I'm so tempted to get another Bourbon Red. The tom I had was gentle and sociable. When he was young he used to chase the neighbor kids. He'd fly over the fence into their yard and trot after them. I don't think he was chasing them so much as tagging along, but I did end up clipping his primaries. That put an end to the fly overs, and to the rooftop "mooning" shenanigans. Tho' I kinda missed those!

The "better to ask for forgiveness" is the way I always brought home new critters when I was a kid. I would ride my bike to the poultry farm and get a half dozen bantam chicks, or a pair of goslings, etc., and bring them home and put them in a coop or hutch and just go about my business as if nothing was different. Until my parents noticed. Then I'd tell them I'd turn to a Life of Crime if they didn't let me keep them! They never made me take anything back, but I don't think I would have made good on my threat if they did. Maybe a little tantrum or two...but no crime.

I love the sound of your upcoming wedding!! Have patience, you will have a wonderful wedding.

I have several poults as I am still hatching. ANd the Three Muskateers! I sold the Fourth Muskateer as a pet. THe woman emailed me to say a few days later he had escaped and was herded for hours by the police in their cruisers thru town!!!

The 3 boys free range and usually follow me up to the garden or watch while we are building coops. Generally quiet and underfoot! I really like the breed. I have an order in at Porters, will see how these other breeds compare. Haven't told DH yet about the newest turkeys. What is it Gibbs on NCIS says?, " Better to ask forgivness . . . " I sold a surprising number of poults this spring/summer. I highly recommend them, I feel my children are safe around them.

 

[Arielle]

GG-Funny you should mention bumblefoot in turkeys. I went to a farm yesterday to pick up two peafowl eggs (put them under a broody this morning) and her tom had large swellings on the middle pad of both feet. I asked about it and she said it happens sometimes (she didn't seem concerned at all) but he is too mean to try to doctor on. On que, he tried to flog her and it terrified her. She said he does that everytime she comes out to the coop and run. Now, I've only had poults, never a grown tom, but is that common? I thought they were generally docile and even downright friendly. I don't want won't have a 30 pound bully in my yard - I'd have him on my table.

Arielle-what do you know about hatching peafowl? Are they hard to incubate? I did some fast research and it said it was best to start them under a broody. I can move them in to the bator anytime as it is empty but if the hen will hatch them okay it would be easier to leave them (except that she has been sitting since mid June as it is!)
Do you call the 3 Musketeers by their given names, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis? I assume D'Artagnon was the one that the cops were chasing......

Sorry for the delay in answering -I missed this post.

I have little , well actually, NO knowledge about peafowl . Yinepu is a hatching guru, if she is still on BYC, try her.

No the 3 toms, are not individually named. THey are together always, where one goes the others go. I'm not naming them, just in case they are sold, or become dinner. And they act exactly alike, not easy to distinquish between each individual.

 

[GardenerGal]

Arielle, if I can reorganize my barn to accommodate a turkey again, I may ask about buying one of those three jakes. He would be a pet, guaranteed! But I don't think I could accommodate more than one, and you may not want to split them up because they seem so comfortable together (understandable!).