Things You Wish You Would Have Known?

[bullrunslabs]

Why never again with the RiRs?

The ones I had were viscous, unfriendly, horrible birds! The hens were meaner than my roosters (granted the roos were other breeds). They hen pecked both my BR's, to the bone in like 36 hours, my australorps, and two of my orpingtons, they flew and wouldn't stay in, if we went into gather eggs they would create such a ruckus in the hen house that none of or docile birds wanted in, two of them went broody but abandoned the eggs about two weeks in. We had five of them, and one by one they got picked off by predators, and once the last one was gone, we didn't have any issues with hen pecking, none with egg eating, none with aggressive birds when we would go to gather the eggs. The kids were so terrified to go gather eggs that it took me about a month to get them back out into the coop after the last one was gone. They did lay beautiful eggs daily... My cousin loves her RIR's and says that she has never had the problems I had, but I had such rotten luck with them I would never do that to my good hens again!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Why never again with the RiRs?

They're not as "docile & friendly" as the Orpingtons & Wyandotte breed, guess you could say they're more independent but are good layers.

 

[RodBrandt]

Um, but they don't like vacuum cleaners. And don't wear flip-flops into the coop, even if you have run in just for a second and don't have time to change into shoes. With nail polish on your toes. Nevah evah!!

 

[crealbilly]

The ones I had were viscous, unfriendly, horrible birds! The hens were meaner than my roosters (granted the roos were other breeds). They hen pecked both my BR's, to the bone in like 36 hours, my australorps, and two of my orpingtons, they flew and wouldn't stay in, if we went into gather eggs they would create such a ruckus in the hen house that none of or docile birds wanted in, two of them went broody but abandoned the eggs about two weeks in. We had five of them, and one by one they got picked off by predators, and once the last one was gone, we didn't have any issues with hen pecking, none with egg eating, none with aggressive birds when we would go to gather the eggs.  The kids were so terrified to go gather eggs that it took me about a month to get them back out into the coop after the last one was gone. They did lay beautiful eggs daily...  My cousin loves her RIR's and says that she has never had the problems I had, but I had such rotten luck with them I would never do that to my good hens again!

My hens stay tore up from other hens pecking on each other. Plain and simple truth RIRs are just plum mean chickens - I really can't say much more than that. My RIR roo has a much better temperament then my RIR hens and that's not saying much - since I would consider him a mean chicken but the hens are just aewful to each other. I put a couple of RIR hens in with my cornish X with hopes that they would mellow out. Yeah right it's wasn't 10 minutes and the Cornish X were hollering becuase the RIR hens were pecking them too

 

[MultipleAnimals]

Quote:
We used hardware cloth on our runs and used fencing staples to fasten it to the wood frames - you hammer these staples in. We've had a few nocturnal visitors recently that came through the semi-secure outer run. We lost 2 chicks, and that was the end of not closing the little coop up at night. That run is about to be enclose in hardware cloth as well. Right now it is a hodge podge of different types of wire fencing tied together with zip ties. Sorry about the losses and Good luck!

How well does hardware cloth work for keeping predators out of the pens and coop?

 

[Garjzla]

That if you don't spend all of your time with those chicks for a few days, they'll despise you the next time you make contact with them.

Or that spoiling roosters is a BAD idea.

 

[Folly's place]

I find that the production red types (including hatchery RIRs) are pushy and tend to feather peck and harass mild mannered birds of other breeds. Especially the sweet and gentle Salmon Favorelles! I've had a much more compatible flock without them. Right now I have white Chanteclers, Speckled Sussex, EEs, splash laced red Wyandottes, BC Marans, and Belgian d'Uccle bantams. Also MANY chicks!!! Start with a variety of breeds that look interesting, and see what you like. Too many choices! Mary

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Lololol. My production red varieties are so super friendly... My leghorns are the worst, followed by my BBS Ameraucanas, especially the black one. She is a HUGE bully all the time to every single bird. My production reds seems frankly docile, sweet and friendly compared to them.

 

[bullrunslabs]

Lololol. My production red varieties are so super friendly... My leghorns are the worst, followed by my BBS Ameraucanas, especially the black one. She is a HUGE bully all the time to every single bird. My production reds seems frankly docile, sweet and friendly compared to them.

It is amazing how each blood line can almost be like a completely different breed! My cousin swears hers are the sweetest birds ever.

 

[bullrunslabs]

Another thing I wished I had known is that Ameraucanas from the hatcheries are just Easter Eggers hidden behind a good name. I spent so much extra money to find out through BYC's that I have a whole group of beautiful EE's.