The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Skfla]

Tumbleweed Farm, I agree w/ Fred as well as the previous poster. Only 8 hens and 3 males is just not going to work. Even if they were same age, raised together, etc. & the pecking order was well established-there would still probably be serious bickering. For 8 hens, you should have 1 or MAYBE 2 cocks, no more. Frankly, 2's probably too many & 3 or more is just asking for problems.

In answer to your question, I would move the offending barred rock. If you temporarily move the Sussex it will just happen all over again when he's reintroduced. If the barred is as exceptional as you indicate (any pics? I'm always curious about any big healthy Rock...) then just keep him separate and use him for breeding. Maybe try him w/ 3-4 hens of his own and see if he's still snippy w/ them w/o the pressure of the other roo's. You will probably also need to separate the other 2 roo's as well. Keep your favorite of the two (sounds like the Sussex) and quarantine, eat or give away the other.

You can always add more hens in the spring but it will be a while before it did anything to change the dynamics of your flock.

Regardless though, good luck and hope you have a mild and uneventful winter.

Take care, sk

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Skfla--please see my post before yours--I had a plan from the beginning, was just hoping to move all to own quarters in mid Feb. I never intended to try to keep all together long term. Hubby built me 2 more coops and runs (large) last summer in anticipation of separating them. We are having a brutally cold winter but I'm moving all tonight. Thanks for responding.

 

[Fred's Hens]

This being a breeders thread, this all prompts a few thoughts. As soon as chicks can be sexed, it is best to pull all the K's out of the grow out pens. Cockerels bully the pullets off the feed dishes and can effectively stunt their growth. Cockerels are best raised in bachelor pads where you can observe them and cull them as needed. But, the day comes when they reach the age when they can no longer peacefully co-inhabit the bachelor pad, especially if they see or hear females near them.

To be a breeder, you need much more than a single coop and run. You need the requisite infrastructure and space for proper flock management. Cock pens, cockerel bachelor pads, grow out pens, breeding pens, laying pens, etc. Here's where having multiple breeds to work on adds additional pressure. Having the proper infrastructure required for breeding really isn't an option.

Building, assembling and preparing breeding pens is kind of on everyone's mind at this time of year.

 

[Fentress]

I've decided that 2 males is all I can keep and will split my freeranging flock in to, for the breeding season. I don't plan on attempting to reintroduce the two males, but will put the females back together at the end of the season. So far I have asssumed that this was doable. Will the level of violence between the girls be acceptable? I have always kept a "flock" of chickens but have never reintroduced adults. I know most of you keep your layer flock seperate from your breeders.

thanks.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Kathy, you'll get situated soon, I know. We all wish you the best in getting your set up and all these things worked out. It can be challenging to stay a step ahead. Best regards,

 

[Skfla]

T. Farm, saw your post as soon as I finished hitting enter (If I had an embarrassed emoticon I'd insert it now...). Good planning on your part having the separate coops & runs. Take care and good luck, sk

 

[Fred's Hens]

Single mating requires space and infrastructure, but single matings of a single male with a single female and tracking those offspring with toe punches, leg bands, wing bands, and solid record keeping is the best way forward in breeding to the Standard.

I do mate trios/quads on occasion. Especially if the two/three females are "identical sisters" as it were. Not too uncommon. But even with some of that, proper breeding facilities are required, along with proper egg marking, proper hatching containment, proper toe punching, and record keeping, record keeping and more record keeping.

This is breeding, of course. Not a thing wrong with flock propagation, if that's what you want to do, but it isn't really breeding.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Thank you Fred. Sounds like my 3 pens with coops are not enough. I will have to just stick with one breed--the Barred Rock. I will separate the two BR Cockerels tonight--I want to keep 2 because if one should die before I get enough chicks it will be bad. I will just cull the Sussex. I admire you breeders, it is difficult for the novice.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I've decided that 2 males is all I can keep and will split my freeranging flock in to, for the breeding season. I don't plan on attempting to reintroduce the two males, but will put the females back together at the end of the season. So far I have asssumed that this was doable. Will the level of violence between the girls be acceptable? I have always kept a "flock" of chickens but have never reintroduced adults. I know most of you keep your layer flock seperate from your breeders.

thanks.

Actually, breeding season is such a short period of time that pulling out the breeding females and do the matings is only a month or two of the year. I don't think you'll have any issues.

I pulled out some females for conditioning in a separate place and taking to the Nationals in Knoxville. They were out of their main group for well over 3 weeks, all told. No issues upon their return.

BTW, crowding and boredom is the #1 issue in most of these negative situations. But all you folks already know that.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Thank you Fred. Sounds like my 3 pens with coops are not enough. I will have to just stick with one breed--the Barred Rock. I will separate the two BR Cockerels tonight--I want to keep 2 because if one should die before I get enough chicks it will be bad. I will just cull the Sussex. I admire you breeders, it is difficult for the novice.

YOU ABSOLUTELY want to keep both of those guys.!!!!! There some sick law of the cruel universe that if you only keep on, the coyotes eat him. Since they're both from Good Shepherd stock roots, they're both from the XW Ranch branch, you've got the righ two guys. That big guy being so tough and strong minded? That's a good thing, whether you completely see it right now. Trust me. It's a good thing. There's nothing worse than a Barred Rock male who is a whimp and doesn't mate or keep the females fertile. Trust me.
You WANT him kickin' butt and takin' names, as my old man used to say.