Utah!

[pawtraitart]

When I get a roo who thinks he's going to boss me around......he quickly learns that it wasn't such a good idea. The trick is to keep in mind.........ALL of the hens are YOURS. The coop is YOURS, the run is YOURS, the food is YOURS. When you are around, he's not allowed to mate the hens, be first at the feeder, cross your path, or do anything that could be even remotely perceived as dominance in your presence. If he comes up to you....chase him off. If he makes a mad dash for the feeder... Chase him off. If he is mating a hen nearby....boot him off. It's got to be tough love with aggressive prone roosters. Once they know that you aren't going to tolerate rude behavior, they meekly....almost casually......turn around and walk in the other direction when they see you coming. That's the way I like my roosters. They leave me alone and I leave them alone.

 

[blujems]

That is good...I will have to remember that when I am out there. It was better when the roosters and hens were together, now they are separated and he has gotten a big head.

 

[pawtraitart]

Roosters don't want to be bad birds....but if you don't establish yourself as the leader then they will fill that void and vote themselves as the bird in charge.

 

[thebirdguy]

I've been making my Spring plans for breeding pens and I think I am going to sell my Pencilled Palm pair... They will be a year old this coming Spring and are turning out really nice, they are from Porters stock. here is a picture from Porters of the breed. PM if you are interested.. I can sell or trade..

 

[RedIII]

Birdguy, so does this mean you're not planning on selling eggs or poults from your Pencilled Palms at Chickenstock?

Please tell me you are at least going to have some of the Black Spanish or Narragansett........??

I think I would really like to try and go to Chickenstock this coming year, but I may have to see if I can carpool with someone part of the way. Who else is planning on going? And does anyone know what the cost is for admission?

Blu, Pawtrait's advice sounds excellent

I do agree with her on asserting yourself as the dominant rooster. I make it a point sometimes to walk toward my boys (especially the EE) and force them out of my space, then do it again for good measure.

 

[blujems]

Birdguy, so does this mean you're not planning on selling eggs or poults from your Pencilled Palms at Chickenstock?

Please tell me you are at least going to have some of the Black Spanish or Narragansett........??

I think I would really like to try and go to Chickenstock this coming year, but I may have to see if I can carpool with someone part of the way. Who else is planning on going? And does anyone know what the cost is for admission?

Blu, Pawtrait's advice sounds excellent

I do agree with her on asserting yourself as the dominant rooster. I make it a point sometimes to walk toward my boys (especially the EE) and force them out of my space, then do it again for good measure.

I hadn't ever thought about it, but it does make a lot of sense. He has always been lower than the ameraucana, so I didn't pay much attention to him. Now that they are separate I just kept on ignoring him. and he is all full of himself. I will work on it and see what happens. just makes me mad that he thinks he can do it behind my back.


So just out of curiosity.....what kind of pen and shelter would be best for turkeys?


I would love to go to chickenstock....hoping it won't be during all the other things going on this spring. between the goat shows and the colorado trip for graduation and milking and baby goats we are going to be very busy.

 

[RedIII]

Okay, so knowing my girls, this is probably a false alarm, BUT - on my way out the door to work today, I passed by the garage where my mom was getting Christmas stuff out of storage. I have two of my pullets penned in there, my Exchequer and my EE/Leghorn mix. Guess who was singing the egg song? Yep, my EE. Could this be a sign of good things to come?

I hadn't ever thought about it, but it does make a lot of sense. He has always been lower than the ameraucana, so I didn't pay much attention to him. Now that they are separate I just kept on ignoring him. and he is all full of himself. I will work on it and see what happens. just makes me mad that he thinks he can do it behind my back.


So just out of curiosity.....what kind of pen and shelter would be best for turkeys?


I would love to go to chickenstock....hoping it won't be during all the other things going on this spring. between the goat shows and the colorado trip for graduation and milking and baby goats we are going to be very busy.

I like to let my turkeys free range (supervised) some of the time, but most of the time they're penned in our garden area, which is about a quarter acre. No netting or anything overhead, just fencing along the perimeters. Keep in mind that they will go over low fences, though. My BF tends to let them run free in his yard, since the neighbor who owns the yard next door doesn't mind if they're on her back lawn. When he pens them, he either keeps them in a smallish, enclosed run or his horse trailer. Turkeys seem to like a lot of room - mine get more aggressive if they're confined to tight quarters. Mostly, I'd say anything that keeps them out of heavy precipitation is fine. You might want to separate them, if the space is small. When one of mine was sick, I put her in a large dog carrier and she was fine.

 

[thebirdguy]

I will have black spanish and narragansett eggs/poults for Chickenstock. I am just suffering from severe cases of notenoughroomitus and having to pick and choose projects.. I decided to do an ameraucana pen and only have 2 pens of turkeys..

With chickens it's a little easier since I can have multiple breeds in my layer pen for variety and fun but for any pure breeding, have to have separate pens. I already have a heritage sexlink project in the works so that's one pen. The layers have one, Icelandics have one, turkeys have 2, the ancona ducks will be coming into the barn once it gets serious about snowing... I only have 5 bird pens finished with space for one more so that means the guineas get to share... and I can't do any more projects right now. LOL

Red... Definitely plan on coming to Chickenstock!!! There was no admittance fee last year and I am hoping to be able to keep it that way again.. We have some expenses but will have hopefully at least one more sponsor plus what we had this past year.. We may have to charge a small exhibitor fee if you want to bring stuff for sale...depends on the sponsors signing up again. I'd like to add a show to the event this year as well and would probably have a nominal entry fee to cover some prizes..

Blujems... You should come to Chickenstock too!! We had a great event last year, especially considering that it was our first year... I think this coming year will be even better!

As far as turkeys go... Mine have been pretty mellow... i raise the poults with chickens until everyone is old enough that I start separating by breeds. Last summer I free ranged everyone together without any problems. The turkeys were the peacemakers too...always breaking up the teenager rooster squabbles..LOL In my opinion just treat them like big chickens...if they have enough room and you handle new introductions correctly you shouldn't have any problems. They are lots of fun and are great eye candy especially when they are displaying!!

 

[Cynthia12]

Lots of turkey talk going on, and funny I came across this today on another site. Too cute..I think someone should make one of these and try it out.

 

[blujems]

I could so see my monster doing this.

Lots of turkey talk going on, and funny I came across this today on another site. Too cute..I think someone should make one of these and try it out.