Why have a rooster? new Pg 10 video pg 13

[speckledhen]

The saga of Lancelot continues. Because Cetawin unfortunately lives in a predator-rich environment (and stupid, irresponsible dog owner environment as well), Lance has had his share of "adventures". Sometimes, even fences don't stop a determined predator. Twice, he took on the same fox, literally rolling around on the ground with it and just about two weeks ago, a roaming Rottweiler made the mistake of getting into the coop. Not only Lancelot was brave that day and lived to tell the tale, though others were lost. The depth of his courage never ceases to amaze me. I sure hope Cetawin will write those stories for us. She writes so well!

 

[RaeRae2]

Why does this chicken owner not put up a suitable chicken run so that the foxes, coyotes, and dogs aren't slaughtering chickens left and right?

I had a terrible hawk problem and after years of losing a hen here and there I finally got smart and gave all my hens away except two. The two hens are my dear pets, they're older, and they don't leave the barn so they are safe. But finally my husband and I designed an awesome covered run off the barn that we are designing now. I have baby chicks, and NOBODY is going to free range anymore unless I'm standing right there babysitting them. I learned my lesson but it took me years.

It's kind of sad to read these stories about Lancealot fending off predators at every turn. That is such a stressful existance for an animal - to be constantly running for their life and fighting for their flock. I would prefer the story end with a proper chicken run made of hardware cloth, buried in the ground that the foxes, coyotes, and dogs can't dig under. I think Lancealot deserves a vacation by now! LOL

For what it's worth, I've had a few different roosters over the years and they caused CONSTANT torment to my poor hens. I don't know how you guys end up with good roosters. Every one I've had were totally worthless psycho maniacs. The poor hens couldn't even eat or roost on the pole in peace without being knocked around, plucked, spurred, forced to the ground and mated repeatedly against their will. Personally I hate roosters. Don't ever want another one on this farm.

It wasn't the crowing, it was the suffering they caused to my girls. I couldn't stand to see it. I was cleaning horse stalls one morning when the rooster started chasing one of my hens. The poor thing was screaming and flapping around all over trying to get away from him. He was chasing her like some crazed psycho devil. I was trying to stop him, and he was totally clueless that I was after him. I finally managed to catch him with the toe of my boot and flip him end over end. He jumped up, hit the ground running, and took right off after that poor hen again. That was the last straw. I gave him away to a woman, but honestly he deserved to be eaten. And I'm vegan! Haaaha! That tells you how much I hated him.

LOL

The saga of Lancelot continues. Because Cetawin unfortunately lives in a predator-rich environment (and stupid, irresponsible dog owner environment as well), Lance has had his share of "adventures". Twice, he took on the same fox, literally rolling around on the ground with it and just about two weeks ago, a roaming Rottweiler made the mistake of getting into the coop. Not only Lancelot was brave that day and lived to tell the tale, though others were lost. The depth of his courage never ceases to amaze me. I sure hope Cetawin will write those stories for us.

 

[speckledhen]

Why cannot a person free range their chickens on their property? I do. I've never had a predator loss in 6 years due to my roosters though I live in the mountains, but I have had dogs tear my fencing down off a tree by climbing it to get in or get out, so as I said, fencing does not always do it. That is not the point. Coyotes, foxes and dogs climb, dig and jump.


I have not had roosters that tormented hens. They just need enough of them so the hens are not overmated. And I have a blue Orpington as well as a Delaware, but in the past, have always had Barred Rock roosters.


So your solution is to give away your hens? Hardly seems a solution to me. I have a huge hawk population here, never lost one to a hawk. I credit my roosters and the tree cover we have. I cannot see Lancelot being happy in a 24/7 penned situation after being raised free ranging his entire life and mine wouldn't be, either.

 

[RaeRae2]

You CAN free range them, but if it's to the point that the predators are harassing them night and day, something should change. That was what I had to do because of the stupid hawks. I lost a lot of chickens before I got smart.

Over the last 15 years, we have probably had 10 different roosters of all different ages and breeds. The only one that was even "somewhat" decent was a little banty kept with large hens. I think the smallest ratio we ever had was 8 hens to 1 rooster. It was typically always at least 14 to 18 hens or so and 1 rooster, and it didn't matter. They were all worthless and nasty.

BUT, all of our roosters were hatchery stock as far as I'm aware and didn't come purebred from a breeder. I have heard that hatchery stock chickens can have all sorts of problems, so who knows.

Why cannot a person free range their chickens on their property? I do. I've never had a predator loss in 6 years due to my roosters though I live in the mountains, but I have had dogs tear my fencing down off a tree by climbing it to get in or get out, so as I said, fencing does not always do it. That is not the point.


I have not had roosters that tormented hens. They just need enough of them so the hens are not overmated. And I have a blue Orpington as well as a Delaware, but in the past, have always had Barred Rock roosters.

 

[speckledhen]

You need to get some decent roosters and you'll change your mind about that. My blue Orpington in my avatar has only had at the most, 5 hens at at time. None were ever overmated. They just aren't aggressive breeders, though you do need some larger hens for the most part.

My environment is just as predator-rich as Cetawin's, but I have more tree cover than she does. I only have a 4 ft livestock fence around 2 of my 5 acres (though the deer keep crashing into it and bending it down) and a drive gate, but every time I open that gate, someone's loose dog bops down the driveway. I'm not going to stop free ranging my flock because the eggs are healthier and so are the birds so I make sure I have good roosters as she does.

If I could be sure of fertility, I'd send you some hatching eggs from big Suede and his ladies. All of his sons are super calm and sweet, just like he is and you'd love his crow, too.

 

[midway]

Lancelot sounds like an awesome example to all the other roosters out there. Hope to hear more stories about him!

 

[Cetawin]

RaeRae2 I shall answer your questions for you...

Why does this chicken owner not put up a suitable chicken run so that the foxes, coyotes, and dogs aren't slaughtering chickens left and right?

I am working on that just as soon as I can either get someone to do it and/or the weather will cooperate. But for the record THE DOG WENT INSIDE THE COOP it did not dig in anywhere. Feel free to go talk to the dog's owner because his 2 beagles are next on the list...they will be shot the next time they are caught here on my property.

I had a terrible hawk problem and after years of losing a hen here and there I finally got smart and gave all my hens away except two. The two hens are my dear pets, they're older, and they don't leave the barn so they are safe. But finally my husband and I designed an awesome covered run off the barn that we are designing now. I have baby chicks, and NOBODY is going to free range anymore unless I'm standing right there babysitting them. I learned my lesson but it took me years.

Free ranging comes with risks and all chicken owners know that. My birds love free ranging and do so with me here with them, however, take the time to read all the cases where predators have snatched birds within feet of the owner.

It's kind of sad to read these stories about Lancealot fending off predators at every turn. That is such a stressful existance for an animal - to be constantly running for their life and fighting for their flock. I would prefer the story end with a proper chicken run made of hardware cloth, buried in the ground that the foxes, coyotes, and dogs can't dig under. I think Lancealot deserves a vacation by now! LOL

He is not fending off predators at every turn but at least when he does have to, he mans up. He is not running here and there for his life and neither are my girls. Feel free to come build my run for me...it needs to be 60' x 32'...that should only cost you about $ 6,000.00 to build with hardwire cloth. My runs are already planned...just need the weather to cooperate BUT they will still get free ranging time because they have the right to be chickens and enjoy their life OUTSIDE a cage.

 

[speckledhen]

I got chickens for better, fresher, tastier eggs, free range eggs, to be exact. If I penned mine up and fed them only commercial feed and they never got out to roam and eat what they could find on my property, then I'd be just as well off buying store eggs. They would be cheaper and much less worry and fuss.

So, I free range my flocks on a rotating basis (they do have pens as well, but only the bantam coop pen is covered) and will continue to do so, even when I have my first predator loss. If it's a neighbor's dog caught in the act, that one will bite the dust quickly-they've all been warned. Free ranging makes for healthier birds and healthier eggs and you do what you can to mitigate the predator risks. Roosters are the first line of defense-that's exactly what they are here for, in addition to fertilizing the eggs.


I'm serious about you getting a better rooster. I'd love for you to have the experience that both Cetawin and I have had with awesome, friendly, alert roosters who are good to their hens and if the fertility was more in than out in that pen, I'd be glad to send you eggs to hatch one of Suede's sons. You wouldn't be sorry.

 

[Cetawin]

Speckledhen has met my Lancelot just as I have met her wonderful roos. Both hers and mine are loved, well cared for, spoiled and respected. They do what roos are put here to do...the fertilized eggs, look out for the girls, provide us with smiles and joy, and they sacrifice for the girls. I am sorry you had roos that you feel were buttheads but sounds to me like normal male behavior...it is called mating.

You talk about me letting Lancelot be terrorized basically but you fail to see that it is not a daily or weekly event. My predator issues have been the cause of specific predators. One coyote who returned several times before being killed, one fox I have yet to kill and one dog that is now dead. My coop has not been breached at night, ever. The fox snatched a girl from inside my garage less than five feet from me...her little roo was chasing after her. But he was a bantam and could not catch the fox or he would have died fighting it I am sure.

You say you finally learned your lesson...you got rid of the birds rather than protect them? Try feeding crows and eliminate your hawk problem, learn to shoot and ARM yourself so other predators can be eliminated but let your chickens be chickens. No animal deserves 24/7 confinement in my opinion...but I do not blast someone for confining their birds so back off those who free range theirs.

Do they look like they are running around in fear or terror?



[VIDEO]

Does Lancelot look stressed? He loves me and I have no fear of him getting right next to my face because I trust him and can...



[VIDEO]

As Speckledhen suggested...get a good roo and I think your perspective will change.

 

[RaeRae2]

No need to get your feathers ruffled.... I'm simply saying that reading these pages of this rooster fighting off predators at every turn had me concerned.

And yes, I gave the hens to a friend who does not have any predator or hawk problems. I knew I didn't have the time and money to build a run, so instead of letting the last 4 of them be gutted and plucked on my front lawn, I rehomed them to a place they would be safe and happy until such a time that I could build a run so they would be safe. Seemed perfectly logical and responsible to me. I kept the two girls who never like to venture out of the barn anyway. If they do go out, they stay right around the foundation of the barn and run back inside if they hear a hawk.

I agree with you about free ranging chickens. It's wonderful, it makes them happy, and I enjoy watching them catch bugs. I don't eat eggs, so any difference in egg quality is unbeknownst to me and irrelevant in my situation. But if free ranging comes at a high death toll, I think something else has to be figured out. I apologize if I misunderstood the number of predators that Lancelot is fending off. It seemed to be a lot when I first read the thread.

With my current chicks, I plan to keep them in their run (husband is planning it now - it will be very big!) but then let them out for a couple hours before bed time when I am out there doing chores. I know hawks can still get them, but having 2 hours of exposure a day versus 16 hours cuts down the risk considerably. And in my experience, every time I have seen a hawk in the sky, it was in the morning and early afternoon. They must go to roost early as I have not seen them later in the evening. A certain number of chicken casualties is to be expected when you free range even a couple hours a day. I know and accept that.

Arming myself with a gun is a moot point. it is beyond my ability to kill an animal for doing what comes naturally to it - hunting, killing, eating. So that would never happen. I own a rifle. I love to target practice. I am a very good shot. But it would take some pretty bizarre and extreme circumstances for me to ever take a shot at an animal of any kind. I have never shot an animal in my life, I abhor hunting, and I don't intend to change my opinions now.

My predators are predominantly hawks. In all the years on this farm, we had 1 fox, 1 time come into the barn and kill 1 chicken. Right now a coyote pack moved into our woods, and there are 2 of them that have been stalking my very tiny Class A Miniature Horse, who has been lame and slow moving all winter. I have moved her inside the barn in lock down for the last week until the coyotes move on. I also have had my retired Dad stay at the farm each day to watch and make sure they don't try to come into the barn. Dad's constant presence around the farm, and the Mini horse removed from their menu, hopefully will encourage them to leave. I will protect my tiny horse but I won't go out there shooting coyotes. The hawks are federally protected so shooting them is out of the question anyway.

In any case, your Blue rooster sounds wonderful! I am happy to hear that you enjoy him so much. Perhaps at some point far into the future I would try a purebred, gentle rooster from a breeder, but for now I just love my hens and chicks and am having so much fun with them.