How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] GREETINGS FROM SALT FLATS TEXAS

Friday, August 24, 2012

Re: [CHICKENS-101] GREETINGS FROM SALT FLATS TEXAS

I'm learning about roos currently as I'm blending two flocks — 13 laying hens about a year old, and 20 or so 17-week old birds. So far, so good, but I have a young rooster I'm calling Demon Spawn. He's a Barred Rock mix(?) that Ideal added to my order, but he stands and is shaped more vertically, like a Langshan, At 17 weeks old, he's twice the size of the other 3 roos and is already mounting my laying flock. He isn't sweet at all, he's more like a stern teacher. He 'evil eyes' the hens and if they don't hop to, he grabs a mouth full of feathers from them. One of my Barred Rock hens is starting to look like a turken. My beloved Buff Brahma is patchy at best, she looks like she's moulting. And there are feathers everywhere. On the plus side he spends all day watching out for the flocks safety, and he calls them in for the night, chasing in any stragglers. I have mixed feelings about keeping him. He is not a beautiful bird, in my eyes. The other roosters are definitely second tier and there has been no fighting between them, which I like. Once again proving that chickens know more than I do, the Danish Brown Leghorn roo, the one I chose to purchase to head up the flock is GORGEOUS but the most timid bird I have. I don't think that he's ever gone straight from point A to point B, he zig zags, running wildly in a panic and as a result is really clumsy knocking things over and tripping all of the time. It's pretty funny actually.
LQ in L.A.

From: CathrynTherese Fitch Walden <cathryntherese@yahoo.com>
To: "CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com" <CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2012 8:30 AM
Subject: Re: [CHICKENS-101] GREETINGS FROM SALT FLATS TEXAS

Brie, The only thing you will miss if you do not get a chick cockerel to raise up is the sweetness of their dances, their guarding their hens from predators, the cockerel's song when he finds a treat and calls his girls to eat it. I love my white rock, bantam WLR cornish, polish, and silkie roosters. Just make sure you get your chicks from an excellent breeder whose bloodline has been bred for egg laying ability, tameness and smartness. I know that sounds silly but it makes a difference in how much pleasure you will gain from your chickens.