Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Smokerbill]

Cooper is still on his own and it's making me sad. I'm just waiting for some reliably dry weather so I can sit out there with them when I bring him back in. I know today is sunny, but tomorrow is rain and I'll be gone all day. I don't want to come home to a wounded Cooper!!!

If there is to be a battle, well let's just say Ralphie is a lot bigger at this point.

I did have a dream a few days ago that I integrated him back into the flock. There was an initial show down between the two roosters, which Ralphie won of course, and then they just coexisted. It was quite nice. I hope that is not wishful thinking.

I have had two roosters live peaceably together before, once they established who was the dominant. At that time, the Buff Orpington was the dominant, and Ralphie is the larger, so I suspect the dominant this time too. Buff Orpingtons tend to be pretty laid back. I think if Cooper does not come after him, Ralphie will just do his own thing and pay him no mind at all.

Is there an easy way you could keep Cooper separated with a few hens of his own?

 

[Smokerbill]

Made my bacon, egg muffin and cheese mcmuffin.
Yum.
Wonder did you buy the peeps straight run?
You could have a roo?

They were listed as pullets, so not straight run. Supposedly, New Hampshire red chicks can be sexed right after hatching. The males (maybe the hens) have a white spot of down on the webbing of their wings right after hatching. It disappears after a few days.

One of mine has a few black feathers on top of its head, and it seems to act more aggressive than the others. Maybe that one's a male. It's the one in the middle of the pic.

 

[ValerieJ]

Is there an easy way you could keep Cooper separated with a few hens of his own?

There is an easy way to do it, but it wouldn't be as secure as the main coop. Also, I don't think it's a good idea to have a rooster with only a few hens. That would be hard on the hens.

BTW, I never thought Cooper was unable to fertilize the eggs. My take on it was that he was partial to the Australorps and they are 8 years old. They don't lay eggs. My 3 new chicks are Australorps, so that should make him happy.

 

[Smokerbill]

There is an easy way to do it, but it wouldn't be as secure as the main coop. Also, I don't think it's a good idea to have a rooster with only a few hens. That would be hard on the hens.

BTW, I never thought Cooper was unable to fertilize the eggs. My take on it was that he was partial to the Australorps and they are 8 years old. They don't lay eggs. My 3 new chicks are Australorps, so that should make him happy.

You might not like this idea, but maybe you could try switching Ralphie out into seclusion for a while and put Cooper in with the hens. Maybe after a while they'd get used to being rotated out, and you'd get some fertile eggs in the bargain.

I know chickens don't like change, but seem to adapt after a time.

Oops, reread your post. So you don't have any hens of the age now that could lay eggs that could be incubated?

 

[ValerieJ]

You might not like this idea, but maybe you could try switching Ralphie out into seclusion for a while and put Cooper in with the hens. Maybe after a while they'd get used to being rotated out, and you'd get some fertile eggs in the bargain.

I know chickens don't like change, but seem to adapt after a time.

Well, there is no indication that Ralphie is not fertile. He is actively mating the younger hens. Problem is I don't have a broody yet this year.

First, I'd like to try the two roosters together. In a perfect world that would work. I will have 15 hens, which is borderline, but probably enough hens for two roos.

 

[Hinotori]

New Hampshire Reds, something I never heard of. They were developed around the same time Rhode Island Reds were and are very similar, but different. They were used as broilers way back when because of their fast growth. Nothing like Cornish cross growth, but good growth for 100 years ago.

So you still think Cooper is shooting blanks, or does he still have no access to your hens? The reds are supposed to be kind of prone to broodiness, so that would be nice.

I had some new hampshires one year. Nice enough brown layers

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm not sure how old they are. They already had wing feathers showing when I bought them a few days ago. What do you think? Nearing 2 weeks old?

Assuming those photos are current, maybe 7-10 days old?

 

[Smokerbill]

Assuming those photos are current, maybe 7-10 days old?

Sounds reasonable. And yeah, photos are today's.

Now that I have replacement chickens I decided to let my barred rocks out to forage, and they're having a great time.

Virgin ground and they're finding lots of worms and grubs to eat. Bet I get some nice eggs for the next few days. LOL

 

[ValerieJ]

My three are a month old now and venturing out into the open air portion of the coop. From left to right in the first photo, that's Sweet Sue, Mary and then Bossy in the doorway.

 

[Smokerbill]

My three are a month old now and venturing out into the open air portion of the coop. From left to right in the first photo, that's Sweet Sue, Mary and then Bossy in the doorway.
View attachment 4091115View attachment 4091116

Nice looking trio! I figured out how I'm going to relocate my chicks to the chicken run outside. Rabbit cage will go into the coop so the chickens and chicks will have 1"x1/2" rabbit cage floor mesh between them, small enough holes that the chickens won't be able to reach the chicks if they try to peck at them.

I'll probably move them out there in a week or so.