YO GEORGIANS! :)

[PapaChaz]

lol I just started haven't got my first egg yet....but it is a lot of work.but I also like watching them its relaxing

^^this^^

I can go sit and watch them scratch around and just relax. I have days I can barely get out of bed, those days, I spend a lot of time just sitting watching the chickens and yes it helps


but those days I have to clean the poop tray, or clean up a soft shelled egg that was laid from the roost to the floor........yeah Flower, I get it

 

[Henthused]

There are just some days I feel like selling all my chickens and saving myself a lot of work!

I definitely know where you're coming from, but if I sold or gave them all away, I would probably start over again next year. My DH says I am a glutton for punishment, projects, projects, projects

 

[PapaChaz]

Just had a funny experience down at the coop. It actually started yesterday, only I didn't realize it at the time.

Yesterday, while doing my daily walk through and spending time in the run with the kids, I heard something, looked around and the hanging feeder with the oyster shell was swinging wildly back and forth, and the rooster was standing there looking kind of dazed and confused. I thought 'silly rooster' and didn't think any more about it.

Until just now......so I'm doing my daily walk through again, and when I get in under the rain tarp, about the same place as yesterday, the rooster comes sneaking up behind me, takes a flying leap and hits my leg. I realize this is what happened yesterday, only the poor boy missed, LOL. So I turn around, he's standing there with his head cocked, like "come at me bro......"...... so I did, a swift but gentle kick, and he suddenly realized he's NOT the baddest dude in the run.

So I stepped toward him, issuing the challenge, and he ran up the ramp and inside.

Then he'd walk back and forth from one pop door to the other and when he'd see me, he'd jump back and squawk. He spent a few minutes in there trying to call the girls in. None of the girls would come inside with him, which I found hilarious. I'm sure they just didn't want to try to get past me, but to him, I just proved who the dominant male is. I eased back and let him come out, but any time I'd step toward him, he'd squawk and jump away.

We'll see if he remembers what he's learned later......don't mess with the old man!

 

[rossfam06]

Just had a funny experience down at the coop. It actually started yesterday, only I didn't realize it at the time.

Yesterday, while doing my daily walk through and spending time in the run with the kids, I heard something, looked around and the hanging feeder with the oyster shell was swinging wildly back and forth, and the rooster was standing there looking kind of dazed and confused. I thought 'silly rooster' and didn't think any more about it.

Until just now......so I'm doing my daily walk through again, and when I get in under the rain tarp, about the same place as yesterday, the rooster comes sneaking up behind me, takes a flying leap and hits my leg. I realize this is what happened yesterday, only the poor boy missed, LOL. So I turn around, he's standing there with his head cocked, like "come at me bro......"...... so I did, a swift but gentle kick, and he suddenly realized he's NOT the baddest dude in the run.

So I stepped toward him, issuing the challenge, and he ran up the ramp and inside. Then he'd walk back and forth from one pop door to the other and when he'd see me, he'd jump back and squawk. He spent a few minutes in there trying to call the girls in.  None of the girls would come inside with him, which I found hilarious. I'm sure they just didn't want to try to get past me, but to him, I just proved who the dominant male is. I eased back and let him come out, but any time I'd step toward him, he'd squawk and jump away.

We'll see if he remembers what he's learned later......don't mess with the old man!  

Mine tries that with me but with my girls he attacks them. My poor 3 year old has a huge scratch down her left leg. I felt do bad for her. She didn't even cry or come tell me what happened until I saw it when she got out of the shower. I am trying another technique vs taking him down. I pick him up, stroke his wattles, and hand feed him a grape. I don't want to sell him but he is not nice to my kids like my other roosters.

 

[PapaChaz]

Mine tries that with me but with my girls he attacks them. My poor 3 year old has a huge scratch down her left leg.

I felt do bad for her. She didn't even cry or come tell me what happened until I saw it when she got out of the shower. I am trying another technique vs taking him down. I pick him up, stroke his wattles, and hand feed him a grape. I don't want to sell him but he is not nice to my kids like my other roosters.

well if that had been my grand daughter, he might already be on the smoker. And I've given her the go ahead and kick if necessary, although she'd probably kick him way harder than I did, it was more like I pushed him away with my foot. He doesn't want to come around me now, that's for sure. Of course she won't be down there without me so it's probably a moot point

 

[Flowerbh]

I read several articles about rooster behavior. Most of them had the idea that you shouldn't try to 'be a friend' to a rooster. When you do that, you are making him think they are an equal. At some point, they think they can challenge you. Think of it like siblings....they fight a lot over toys and stuff......but if you keep the relationship more impersonal, it would be more like a boss and a worker....you don't really fight with the boss. As far as kids go, I just don't think kids should hang out around roosters. The roosters think of them as 'harmful' to their girls.

 

[katiedarling]

Mites. Yay. That's what the pox looking markings were on Stanley & Blanche's combs. From day one, I have had DE in the coop and I add a little with the new layers of bedding each time I do my weekly maintenance. I could swear I read/was told that DE was good for preventing such things. And, I guess now the poor guy is dealing with a secondary issue. He has a lower respiratory infection and is unhappily quarantined in a crate in my dining room. Pretty sure he'd rather be with his ladies. Vet gave me some baytril to give him for that and also a dose of benadryl to help calm the itching and bring down a possible low grade fever. Poor little guy! He's feeling pitiful. He did do really well on the ride to see her. I wasn't expect him to be so chill, considering it's his first car ride since the day I brought them home. The crazy thing is, both DH and I have been checking and rechecking them and everything else for mites and couldn't find any evidence. Other than the little specks on the combs.

So, tonight's plan? I get to go get new bedding material, some garden and poultry dust and completely clear all that stuff out of the coop first thing in the morning!

I already have the heebie geebies just thinking about it. I guess this explains they delay for eggs, maybe. They're too busy itching and feeling crappy to lay any. I'm sure they've all got them and it's likely that the newbies have been exposed since they've had some meet & greets. I'm assuming that is a possibility. Thoughts?

I'm bummed that all that bedding that was going to be composted now has to be trashed.

 

[carcar80]

Papa you're nicer than I. There's no light kick with me- I'm goin' for a field goal if you flog me. As far as kids and roosters, I'm with flower- once the adult rooster behavior kicks in, kid time is over.

 

[katiedarling]

Just had a funny experience down at the coop. It actually started yesterday, only I didn't realize it at the time.

Yesterday, while doing my daily walk through and spending time in the run with the kids, I heard something, looked around and the hanging feeder with the oyster shell was swinging wildly back and forth, and the rooster was standing there looking kind of dazed and confused. I thought 'silly rooster' and didn't think any more about it.

Until just now......so I'm doing my daily walk through again, and when I get in under the rain tarp, about the same place as yesterday, the rooster comes sneaking up behind me, takes a flying leap and hits my leg. I realize this is what happened yesterday, only the poor boy missed, LOL. So I turn around, he's standing there with his head cocked, like "come at me bro......"...... so I did, a swift but gentle kick, and he suddenly realized he's NOT the baddest dude in the run.

So I stepped toward him, issuing the challenge, and he ran up the ramp and inside.

Then he'd walk back and forth from one pop door to the other and when he'd see me, he'd jump back and squawk. He spent a few minutes in there trying to call the girls in. None of the girls would come inside with him, which I found hilarious. I'm sure they just didn't want to try to get past me, but to him, I just proved who the dominant male is. I eased back and let him come out, but any time I'd step toward him, he'd squawk and jump away.

We'll see if he remembers what he's learned later......don't mess with the old man!

Stanley started doing that to me the week before last! I read somewhere(I forget) that one way to stop it, is to do that. Basically just get in his face and give it right back.

I read it also helps to chase him around when he challenges you and also that if you snatch him up, take him out of his familiar space(so he's forced to trust you to protect him) and walk around with him for about 5 minutes each day, he'll stop challenging you all together. Allegedly, he's supposed to get the picture that you're the head roo and he's only the OG, when you're NOT there. Admittedly, I've tried this and it seems to work. In a few days, he's back to not bothering and I can approach him and any of his ladies whenever & however I feel like it. We'll see how long that lasts!

It probably also confirms to my neighbor that I'm a complete weirdo for walking around the front yard talking to a rooster.

 

[katiedarling]

Mine tries that with me but with my girls he attacks them. My poor 3 year old has a huge scratch down her left leg.

I felt do bad for her. She didn't even cry or come tell me what happened until I saw it when she got out of the shower. I am trying another technique vs taking him down. I pick him up, stroke his wattles, and hand feed him a grape. I don't want to sell him but he is not nice to my kids like my other roosters.

This is one of the very few reasons I'm thankful I can't have children. If I did, I'd probably not keep one or put up with one. He'd be gone at the first sign of aggression. Also, all of my friends who do have children that visit have been told that the roosters are off limits. They can come see the chickens, but the roosters will be put in the coop as long as the kids are around. I don't even want to go down that road.