Wing It Ranch

[WingItRanch]

I feel like cockerels getting into squabbles with the older girls is one of the best ways for them to learn some manners. As long as they don’t corner him and hurt him I would just let it play out. Chasing him away is good for him.

Great! I'm really hoping to keep this guy and the only way he gets to stay is if he doesn't attack.

 

[Tstraub]

Great! I'm really hoping to keep this guy and the only way he gets to stay is if he doesn't attack.

That’s definitely fair. Everyone has to decide how much aggression they are willing to accept. Axl has spurred me twice. Both times were my fault I walked up behind him and surprised him. As long as I talk to him while approaching he usually ignores me.

He does bite my hands somewhat regularly but that’s only because I feed him from my hand. Most of the girls do the same he just does it harder because he is larger and stronger. I don’t consider it as aggressive behavior but my wife avoids him because of this behavior.

 

[WingItRanch]

That’s definitely fair. Everyone has to decide how much aggression they are willing to accept. Axl has spurred me twice. Both times were my fault I walked up behind him and surprised him. As long as I talk to him while approaching he usually ignores me.

He does bite my hands somewhat regularly but that’s only because I feed him from my hand. Most of the girls do the same he just does it harder because he is larger and stronger. I don’t consider it as aggressive behavior but my wife avoids him because of this behavior.

Yeah I gave my first cockerel 4 chances. He repeatedly charged and struck me. The final straw was when he snuck up behind me while I was tossing black soldier fly larva in the grass as a treat. He got me real good that time and was in the fridge the next day.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

So I've been out of commission for a bit and my partner has been tending the chickens, goats, and LGD. He told me that the cockerel crowed twice when he was out there. I haven't heard him crow at all since he was really young so that's great! I love the crowing.

Then my partner told me that when he went to herd in the stragglers for the evening, he heard a commotion and he said 2 hens were beating up the cockerel. He got away unscathed.

I'm assuming this is normal and they were putting him in his place? Poor guy is usually pushed off the roost bars too.

This is a good thing, they are teaching him what will and what won't fly.

 

[WingItRanch]

Bitter cold this morning. Got down to 28! Beau (the LGD) and the goats (Maggie and Daisy) were cuddled in their cozy house with bales of extra hay as an additional wind block for the open part. The buckets of water in the goat pen had a thin layer of frost.

Plan is to get someone to repair the deep water well that has lines going out to the enclosure. Then I'm going to dig down and put in one of those frost-proof waterers that don't require electricity. This will be a a future investment since we plan on eventually getting cattle and more goats.

https://www.horsedrinker.com/how-ba...B9SzgMK9aSsWJLhFPRT6MgBH_qpb2bLjQw9pPSv36Z7Ve

Interestingly, none of the chicken waterers froze. I'm guessing because they were more protected from wind. I gave them some warm mash. The cockerel is looking more handsome every day. He crowed quite a lot this morning. I've missed that sound!

 

[Molpet]

Bitter cold this morning. Got down to 28! Beau (the LGD) and the goats (Maggie and Daisy) were cuddled in their cozy house with bales of extra hay as an additional wind block for the open part. The buckets of water in the goat pen had a thin layer of frost.

Plan is to get someone to repair the deep water well that has lines going out to the enclosure. Then I'm going to dig down and put in one of those frost-proof waterers that don't require electricity. This will be a a future investment since we plan on eventually getting cattle and more goats.

View attachment 4266593
https://www.horsedrinker.com/how-ba...B9SzgMK9aSsWJLhFPRT6MgBH_qpb2bLjQw9pPSv36Z7Ve

Interestingly, none of the chicken waterers froze. I'm guessing because they were more protected from wind. I gave them some warm mash. The cockerel is looking more handsome every day. He crowed quite a lot this morning. I've missed that sound!

My chickens waterers in the hoop coops start to freeze between 28 and 24f.

The turkey's 2 gallon bucket usually has a open hole in the middle. It was -5f when I put it out in the sun an hour after sunrise 8 am. Close to sunset at 4 pm, it had rings with a hole in the middle down to a few inches of bottom.

 

[WingItRanch]

Jeeze... now I know why some of the hens were beating up the cockerel. He just grabbed one of my EE hens and mated her. She didn't appear to consent and was putting up a fight. One of my other hens basically body slammed him off her and chased him away. Good girl!

 

[WingItRanch]

All good on the animal front. Today I finally had my first fig from the tree we planted a year and a half ago. It was small but lightly sweet!

We also discovered a few persimmon trees at the property we recently purchased next door. I don't think they're TX persimmon because they are pretty massive. They take forever to ripen and I've never had one before so wasnt sure what to expect. Super sweet! Only thing I can compare texture-wise would be a peach, maybe. Yum! If we get a lot next year, I'll try canning.

Also, while researching plants around both properties (to make sure I don't accidently poison my goats), I discovered we have Yaupon Holly EVERYWHERE. Holly is toxic to goats... except the Yaupon variety! They love it! Also, it is the only caffinated plant native to the US. Native Americans often made tea with it. We pulled some leaves off, roasted them, and tried the tea. It is delicious!!!! Has a very subtle sweet flavor similar to star anise.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Jeeze... now I know why some of the hens were beating up the cockerel. He just grabbed one of my EE hens and mated her. She didn't appear to consent and was putting up a fight. One of my other hens basically body slammed him off her and chased him away. Good girl!

This really isn't about mating, it's more about becoming flock leader, everyone needs to submit for him to take over. How old is he now?

 

[Auntiejessi3]

All good on the animal front. Today I finally had my first fig from the tree we planted a year and a half ago. It was small but lightly sweet!

We also discovered a few persimmon trees at the property we recently purchased next door. I don't think they're TX persimmon because they are pretty massive. They take forever to ripen and I've never had one before so wasnt sure what to expect. Super sweet! Only thing I can compare texture-wise would be a peach, maybe. Yum! If we get a lot next year, I'll try canning.
View attachment 4268194

Also, while researching plants around both properties (to make sure I don't accidently poison my goats), I discovered we have Yaupon Holly EVERYWHERE. Holly is toxic to goats... except the Yaupon variety! They love it! Also, it is the only caffinated plant native to the US. Native Americans often made tea with it. We pulled some leaves off, roasted them, and tried the tea. It is delicious!!!! Has a very subtle sweet flavor similar to star anise.
View attachment 4268200

Persimmon jam is amazing! Sounds like you've got quite the bounty!