Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Celtic Chick]

I'm relatively new to the chicken biz and last year was the first time we decided to keep a rooster from a hatch. We have plenty of hens so the ratio isn't the issue for us. We will be integrating the spring hatch in a few weeks and if we still have Wellie we can see how it goes. For us this issue is how he and our RIR roo (Rufus) will get along. Rufus is a mellow rooster and we don't know if he would become more aggressive with competition. Probably would be fine since Rufus has his harem of 26 girls and we think the spring hatch has five pullets in with the Wellie cockerel, so maybe each rooster would be content with the mix. Never can tell. Here is a pic of Rufus he keeps a good watch over his flock.​

As my hubby says - I sometimes over think things when it comes to my chickies.

2 roosters to 31 hens is perfectly fine. As long as each roo has 10-12+ hens each, you "shouldn't" have any (many) issues, but that depends on how aggressive your boys are. It doesn't sound like Rufus will be a problem but the young boy might challenge him in the pecking order at some point when he is older. Once they have that straightened out, things will quiet down. It can get a little bloody though, just so you are aware. Try to keep an eye on them if the time comes in case you have to intervene.

In spring they might start all over again as the hormones rage. It's a man thang.

Good luck!

Welcome Vicki!

 

[babylady4]

That cake looks delicious!

Not much happening here. Looking forward to school starting.......

 

[cuties]

Happy birthday! (Belated)
yes Irish, it was a wonderful visit
hopefully things slow down a bit after this week. 12's again!
bur I have some vaca lined up for this month.
Already have a visit lined up with Delisha. And looking forward to planning out camp day with Terrio!

 

[Cindlady]

Hi All.

Guess it's another slow day all around again.

The cake looks good. Hope your son's comes out as good.

Night All!

 

[irishrovr]

Zucchini, summer squash, peas, tomatoes, kale (what's left of it!), spinach and lettuce all producing fruit! YAY! The heat and humidity are good for something! The chickaroos are getting lots of "kool-ade" these days!

 

[Magnificent5]

Hello all,

New to the site and to having birds. We are in Tomahawk and have 5 hens, 3 black Australorps and 2 Buff Orpingtons. They are about a month old and are doing very well. They seem big for their age so they may be 5+ weeks old. I got them from a friend who only wanted 8 to keep. When they ordered them they ordered 15 and got 17 of which all survived. We have had them a week and they are almost completely feathered already, very little down left on them.

They are all very friendly. One Buff and one Black will jump right up on your lap or if your are bending over on your back. Last night I was in the run sitting on my chair talking to them and the biggest Buff flew up onto my left shoulder. It started to chirp happily and when I looked at it it pecked me in my open left eye! OUCH! Then it thought my ear was a meal worm! I hope they stay this friendly. They already like to sit on our laps and get petted.

For being young they seem to be progressing fast, very fast. We had them in the outdoor run during the day and with it being so hot and humid we left them in there late because the garage was so warm. When we went out the girls had made their way into the hen house and settled in for the night. I checked the temperature inside and it was good. So just to be safe I plugged in the heating pad for them to use in case they needed it, put the small water and feeder inside and closed the door. I checked on them a few times and all was good. The were cuddled up together sleeping like babies. The next morning I let them out and they chirped good morning to me. They refuse to go back in the garage. So the brooder I built for them was used exactly one night.

They scratch like pros and can catch bugs better than my sisters 2 year old hens. Found that they like meal worms way too much. I am hoping to get eggs by November/December.

Any advice is welcome and I will post pictures soon.

 

[cuties]

Welcome Magnificent!
Sounds like you have things under control just be sure that your coop is built sturdy enough to keep out the pesky predators!
Congrats on your new babies!
and if you are ever looking for more, there are plenty of enablers here

 

[Magnificent5]

Very secure. We took the 5x10 chain link dog kennel my two dogs refuse to use and covered it with chicken wire. I put a solid roof on it. The hen house is a dog house we got from Fleet Farm with a hinged top. I put a nesting box on it and it is about 3 feet off the ground. I put two side vents on it and a cute chimney on it for air flow but it should not be drafty. Before winter I will put a wind break inside and a bigger roost for them. It has been a lot of fun so far.

 

[jvls1942]

my young friend Jordan is needing a mature rooster..
he lives near Mosinee, wi..

can we rail road one to him ?

he is just a kid so is not loaded with money ..

......jiminwisc.........

 

[Fuxzi]

Hi everyone! I need some help identifying the sex of one of my chicks! So this is Bean he/she is just about 8 weeks old nicest chicken I had in awhile, so the coloration of the feathers leads me to think he's a he but he's so small and his legs are so thin, not like the other young roosters I have running around. His comb is not red like his father's or the other roosters it's pink like all my other hens. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks