Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Bigfamily4me]

How do you all add roosters to a established flock? Unless roos are raised together, the only way to add a roo is in a seperate pen right?

Another question for the experts....so when you mix two different breeds, the babies (1st generation of pure breed parents) will usually look like one or the other of the parents? I was reading above that roos carry 2 barred genes and hens 1? So for example, I have BR roos-if I mixed these with pure bred _____ the babies would for sure have barring? And when the babies come along-best bet is to sell them as day old chicks to prevent getting stuck with roos? What, if any, breeds can you tell hens/roos from a young age? Thought I read recently on this thread about wing fethers coming in brown for hens and black for roos with a particular breed?

And question #3 (is there a limit?): If you let a broody hen raise chicks....how much can you handle them? Do they need to be seperated from the rest of the flock? And if so till what age?

I'm not an expert at all. But the feather sexing I'm talking about is females have zig zag pin feathers on their primary wings the first 2-3 days of life. The males have straight even ones. There is a video on you tube which shows it. But I will have to wait to see if my sexing is accurate. If these three are indeed all females like I think they are, then I will feel more comfortable using this methods. I'm not one to wait for anything!!!

 

[Celtic Chick]

Quote:

How do you all add roosters to a established flock? Unless roos are raised together, the only way to add a roo is in a separate pen right?

Another question for the experts....so when you mix two different breeds, the babies (1st generation of pure breed parents) will usually look like one or the other of the parents? I was reading above that roos carry 2 barred genes and hens 1? So for example, I have BR roos-if I mixed these with pure bred _____ the babies would for sure have barring? And when the babies come along-best bet is to sell them as day old chicks to prevent getting stuck with roos? What, if any, breeds can you tell hens/roos from a young age? Thought I read recently on this thread about wing fethers coming in brown for hens and black for roos with a particular breed?

And question #3 (is there a limit?): If you let a broody hen raise chicks....how much can you handle them? Do they need to be seperated from the rest of the flock? And if so till what age?

I thought you were trying to get rid of your roos?

Anyway, if the flock has no roos, you can just toss them in after a 30 day quarantine. If you have a roo already, add the new one in a separate pen so they can see each other for a while. When you do finally let him mingle in the flock, try to do it outside free range or in the run, and if it's warm enough, have a hose ready just in case.

I know nothing of chicken genetics yet, but I did read that you can sex Dominique chicks. I cut & pasted this but don't know why it is so tiny or why I can't make it larger.

Oh well. Squint, you old foggies.

"The Dominique pullet has a distinct spot on it's head and a shadow on the front of the feet & legs. The cockerel has a fuzzy head spot and no foot/leg shadow".


I never heard of the brown or black feathering stuff. There is a video on how to feather sex chicks that are 3 or 4 days old or less on youtube.

As for chicks being raised by a broody, I have mine in the house

so they see us all the time, and I think they are way more calm and people friendly than the chicks I raised without a broody. But that is just my experience. I'm sure there are countless other opinions out there. It just depends on the circumstances.
If you have a broody, it is best to give her her own area so she will not be pestered, and to keep others from potentially harming the chicks. Adults will kill babies. I keep mine separate until they are roughly the same size as the adults so they stand a chance in a pecking order fight.

Do you have a broody????? Or are you just looking to start breeding yours?

 

[bigzio]

Good Fish Fry Friday Everyone....suzie has the ho made fries going now... the colealaw is goody...I still have prolly 10lbs of fresh carrots left yet...sweet as can be!

Way to go with the good stuff saved Doc.....glad you knew you would need it one day!

I still prefer the wait til you can tell for sexing chicks....what's the hurry in knowing anyhow?

Good to hear you are ok Cind.

Later..bigz

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Good Fish Fry Friday Everyone....suzie has the ho made fries going now... the colealaw is goody...I still have prolly 10lbs of fresh carrots left yet...sweet as can be!

Way to go with the good stuff saved Doc.....glad you knew you would need it one day!

I still prefer the wait til you can tell for sexing chicks....what's the hurry in knowing anyhow?

Good to hear you are ok Cind.

Later..bigz

WAIT?! Are you serious? Apparently you have forgotten being a new chicken owner. I want to know! I want the eggs to hatch one week in. I want them to come out with pink and blue bows on them! I want them to start laying at 2 months! I think patience comes with age... Are you really patient then?

 

[Celtic Chick]

WAIT?! Are you serious? Apparently you have forgotten being a new chicken owner. I want to know! I want the eggs to hatch one week in. I want them to come out with pink and blue bows on them! I want them to start laying at 2 months! I think patience comes with age... Are you really patient then?

Mmmmm, I think I would like to respectively decline answering that one.

I do know enough to say savor the moment, and take lots of pics.

 

[raimnel]

our black/blue silkie girl is not feeling well?? she's like 3 years old. and the kids FAVORITE! she holds her head to one side and when you pick her up she twists her head around under her. looks bad. kind of looks like that wry(?) neck?? but at 3 years old?? any suggestions?
It's gonna be a SAD SAD day here if she dies.

made baked fish with onions and garlic and ho made fries (as bigz calls them) for supper. told the kids not to like the fries to much cause they just are NOT good for you! lol

anywho, I'm gonna go check on that silkie Later
oooo I gotta wait till the last batch of fries are done. lol

later

 

[Cindlady]

Hi all!

I didn't go back to read too far, not 100% yet, but a bit better.
DrH.. I talked to DH about your stove. So far.... SOLD! Ours is having issues, the heat shield is giving way and so is the bar that holds some of the fire bricks. I think fixing yours would be easier than fixing ours.

At least maybe it would hold up long enough until we can get a new one. We'll have to see when DH can get off to come get it and we'll have to barrow 2nd sons truck 'cause I don't think mine will make the trip. So, no big rush. I can bring up a couple o' roos for trade!

Raim... so sorry about your girl

 

[Bigfamily4me]

So we brought all 3 chicks upstairs for pets and attention. They did pretty well. I was quite surprised by Comet though. HR... Did you guys handle her much? Comet sat in my hand, stretched our her neck and dozed as I rubbed her little neck and head. Rocket and Venus didn't calm down nearly as much. They all throw such a fit getting picked up, but seem to be learning to calm down (at least some). Now if only they didn't pooop all over me...

Any good hints to ake these guys as tame as possible? We really would like these guys to be more like pets...

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Oh and my Brinesa came yesterday! I'm going to try it out at home this weekend. Then I will set it up in one of the classrooms next week when I go in to candle the eggs. I can't wait to show the little kids the veins!

Hopefully the eggs will cooperate

 

[FrenchToast]

Good Morning all !!!

Didn't snap any pictures yet but they are coming !!! Didn't get home from my road trip today until 10;30pm. We have a new additon to our family !!!!

You'lll all have to wait until later for the details !!

Night all !! I'm bushed !!