What to do with my roo...

[BayBay Peepers]

I guess we can't deny creatures want to live , but others have to eat

I wish we were close enough to spring for gardening I'm daydreaming about it now and envious of you at the moment haha

 

[Nupe]

It's hit or miss now. We've been getting some 60+ degree clear sunny days but its freezing again tonight. Today I spread out lime and 6 months worth of coop litter in the garden. Tomorrow if the wind isn't too brutal, we'll get it all tilled under. Within the week I'll start seeds for cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprout indoors and in 2 weeks I plan on getting onions, celery and peas in the dirt. Yummy!!

 

[Nupe]

Update:

Well, I decided that my girls were just getting too much attention from 2 maturing roosters and an opportunity presented itself last week when I was in my local feed store. A guy came in looking for a rooster for his flock, so I offered him my SLW roo and he came and got him that day. All seemed well. The wellie roo started behaving exactly the way I wanted him to. Calling the girls and offering goodies. I even gave him a worm from the garden and he passed it to one of the ladies. He dances for them and doesn't mate them nearly as often as I had observed the SLW and when he did, I never saw the girls squeal to get away. Perfect, right?

Nope, this morning as I brought breakfast in their pen, he decided I was no longer welcomed in his harem. He started attacking me with wings down and feet up. I had to beat him off with my litter rake and the hens went everywhere. So then I had to corral them all back. I was able to come in feed and change out their water without any more violence but he was keeping an eye on me. He gets one more chance, then I'm heating up the scalding pot...

 

[ChickenLegs13]

Yep, his new found authority is going to his head. Don't let him have any authority over you, just keep whacking him with the litter rake until he retreats. He'll settle down in a week or so.

 

[Nupe]

Looks like you're right. This morning he was back to his old self. Acted happy to see me (breakfast) like the rest. He was eating and chattering for his ladies rather than glaring at me with stink eye. I'm still naming him Soup, just as a reminder...

*Sigh* Chicken drama...

 

[Nupe]

Last update on my wellie roo...

I've been acclimating 4 Australorp chicks by keeping them in a kennel inside the chicken pen with the door open wide enough for the chicks to come and go. When I first put them in there, which was just over a week ago, Mr. Soup attacked me for the 2nd time while the chicks were freaking out over me coming to clean the water dish. OK, I dealt with him the same way put him back in his place.

Yesterday, he attacked me while bringing in grass clippings as a treat. This time I was wearing shorts. He left about a couple of scratches surrounded by bruising on the back of my leg and a puncture with a bruise about the size of a nickel on the front of my leg. Strike 3.

I was planning to process some birds today anyway so here he is in the front...



Even with the spurs, he looks less intimidating this way.

Eventually, I'll start looking for a nice rooster from a breeder. Never again will I get a hatchery roo.

 

[Mrs. K]

I just do not think that roosters raised with only flock mates make good roosters. Look for a rooster that is raised by older birds, hens or an older rooster.