I am pretty much totally convinced that the problem with the flock is because of the two roosters. Things are going down hill fast now even though it looked pretty good the first couple of days.
Really I think the problem is that 7 of the 13 hens I have are too young to lay yet leaving the other 6 hens to take the brunt of these rooster's attentions. I am suppose to get another four hens but the guy hasn't called me back and even if I do I maybe in the same boat if the new hens turn out to not quite be laying yet like the other seven.
This morning the old black hen was back up and looking perky. Within a few hours she was once again in the corner acting dead and this time her head was bleeding. I checked under her and felt around and as far as I could tell she seemed fine but I isolated her in the big dog crate with some food and water. Now every time I go to check on her she seems a little more alert and has been up eating and drinking.
The roosters keep going to her cage and looking in. My guess is the two brutes almost killed her.
The five remaining egg laying age hens still out are not happy. The roosters are literally keeping them prisoner inside the coop. The hens have taken refuge on the nesting shelf I built for them and rarely come down off of it. I tried taking each one out into the main barn but the roosters were driving them back in as fast as I could take them out. At one point my mother said one of the roosters made to charge at me but I never saw or felt anything if I had well then there would be only one rooster to deal with.
My plan now is to wait until the chickens roost and see if Rocky goes in with them tonight or not. Either way I am going to remove the roosters and leave the hens locked up for a day or so while I decide on the next course of action. I have a feeling if all the hens were laying this wouldn't be an issue but since there are only six sexually active hens it is a problem.
The roosters totally ignore the other seven hens. I mean completely ignore them like they are empty air. The only time they even acknowledge their presence is if one tries to eat something one oft he roosters wants.
Also even Bullwinkle has basically stopped being even remotely gentleman-like and is now acting more and more like Rocky.
So my decision is to cull one of the roosters or both. If only one which one? Rocky is the largest but also the least mean to hens now. He is less attentive and caring in his way but has no qualms about leaving the hens alone occasionally. Bullwinkle will not leave the hens period and is the one really keeping them prisoner. However Bullwinkle also was the one that seemed most protective and gentlemanly at first and will still attempt to court the hens from time to time.
The last consideration is that Rocky is a Barred Rock rooster and I have four Barred Rock hens I wanted to see if they would go broody somewhere down the line and maybe hatch out Barred Rocks. If I off Rocky and not Bullwinkle then I would just get mutts.
Ahhh decisions decisions.
Which one goes Rocky? Bullwinkle? or Both?
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!!
Off Bullwinkle.
ReplyDeleteAnon - I am kinda in agreement with you there. I really like the looks of the Barred Rocks and was hoping to maybe breed some next year. Rocky is a huge bird though I am not sure he won;t break the small Hamburg hen. Of course Bullwinkle ain't much smaller. I have someone who may take Bullwinkle so I may not have to execute him.
DeleteOne rooster must go...it may not maje a difference as to which one it is. I had a similer stuation with my turkeys. The one that wentbwas thd first one I got my hands on. Problem solved and a happy rafter I had!
ReplyDeleteFor what its worth...
Highlander
Highlander - It might come to that. I ejected both roosters out of the coop this evening and man were they pissed. Rocky especially screamed like I was killing him when I grabbed him. Outside of the coop I doubt I will ever get a hand on them so if they go I either need to wait until sundown or shoot one I guess.
DeleteWhen I started with chickens, someone gave me 5 roosters and we already had 3, I must have been out of my mind but I planned on cooking them. Egg production dropped to hardly anything but I didn't figure it out until I finally gave the roosters to an old black guy who must have had a big chicken and dumplings fest planned. Anyway egg production tripled as soon as the roosters were gone so they do have a negative effect on the hens. I have had the best success with one rooster no mater how many hens are present since I am not worried about fertility. I tend to keep the best behaved rooster but the breeding aspect is important if you are going for barred rock, kind of hard to say but you could keep one penned up at at time and see if you can figure out which one is the problem bird, give them both a trial period by his self.
ReplyDeleteSf - Well originally I figured I would wait until we were down to one rooster but these two managed to survive and then I thought I would try getting 8 or 10 hens per rooster but that is proving difficult and the fact I am getting so many hens that just aren't quite ready to lay yet.
DeleteI am thinking overall Rocky is the best behaved really even though he seems to have no protective or coddling skills for the hens. Bullwinkle's entire life seems to be nothing but the hens and he was the one Mom said was acting like he wanted to charge me earlier too.
Keep the Barred Rock. He is a much nicer looking roo than the other. And with the Barred Rock you could even make your own sex links. The other roo you can't (He looks kind of like a mix breed in the pic).
ReplyDeleteOnce you get to one roo then there won't be a dominance issue of who is the top rooster and peace will return to the coop. Send the mix-breed roo to Freezer Camp. Your hens will thank you. ;-)
hobo - I didn't think a barred rock rooster could be used in sex-link breeding at least what little bit I have read on it seemed to say otherwise but in all honesty I was kinda confused by it a bit too.
DeleteYa I am thinking that Bullwinkle is just an extremely jealous type and is trying to keep the hens to himself without directly challenging Rocky. One of em has to go and then I will see what happens with only one rooster. So far the general consensus is Bullwinkle is the one that needs to go. I do know someone who recently lost their rooster and may take him so I am waiting to see if that pans out. If it doesn't then it maybe pellet gun time as the only way I am going to catch that rooster is by letting him into the coop at dusk.
You have a barred rooster and a silver-based hen (the Hamburg) and the cross will create 'sex link' chicks.
DeleteThis article is a good read on hybrids: http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/what-breed-is-it-understanding-sex-link-chickens/
And if you like the look of the Barred Rocks, ask around for a heritage breeder. You'll be amazed at the difference between the hatchery birds and the true bred-to-standard Rocks. They are pretty spectacular.
I don't much care for roosters with my laying hens. Generally they seem to worry the heck out of the poor ladies. Not worth dealing with him with the girls. When I want fertile eggs, I'll put a roo in for a time. But when I've hatched all I want - he's back on his own in a roo pen. Everyone seems happier - cept maybe the roo!
ReplyDeleteCactus Jack
Cactus Jack - I hadn't really thought about it to be honest. I figured having a rooster around would be a good thing and then someone gave us three of them. They were neat to have around and did the job I wanted. They went around and ate bugs all around the barnlot. It was great. One went off to roost outside and got eaten and then the women-folk talked me into getting hens. That apparently has ruined a good friendship lol as the two roosters seemed to get along fine before the hens showed up.
DeleteOne of the meanest roosters we ever had was a barred rock. Wow! My DH finally smacked him with a garbage can lid in the middle of an attack. Got so I could not go into the chicken yard without him coming after me. He tasted good, though.
ReplyDeleteTewshooz - So far the Barred rock appears to be the least apt to challenge a human although he is big enough that he doesn't take a no answer from any hen either. Bullwinkle at first appeared more gentle with the hens but has become more violent and protective over the last few days.
DeleteBoth Mrs. PP and my Mom are trying to find Bullwinkle a new home to stop me from offing him. They have already told me if I try and cook him up they won't eat him too.
Bullwinkle needs to have a date with the stewpot. Unless you're looking for fertile eggs for hatching keep Rocky in a separate run for a while, let the other grow up a bit. If we are intending to keep more than one rooster we keep them separately caged from the flock. The loss in egg production is too much!
ReplyDeleteRo - Well I don't really have another place to keep Rocky separate unless I build one. Which is a possibility I have the stuff here to do so. I am going to get rid of Bullwinkle and see how Rocky does on his own then it may come down to offing Rocky as well.
DeleteWow, so much happening at The Small Hold this past week. Chickens, goat - your place is jumpin' with activity. I think you're right that stress is why you are't getting eggs yet. Not only do they have a new place to become accustomed to, but new chickens as well. I agree that the roosters don't help. If one of them isn't stepping up to the plate as protector and finder of food for the hens, then they probably both should go. When we've had more than one rooster, we find that one will usually take on roostering responsibilities, while the others band together and become rabble-rousers, constantly chasing and attacking the hens. A good rooster is one that stands alone and is not too "friendly" toward humans (i.e. bold), but keeps as respectful distance and keeps watch out while the hens forage. The hens seem to know when they've got a good watchman and will heed his warnings and run for cover. Of course a rooster isn't actually necessary unless one wants to hatch eggs. So that's my 2 cents! Love your adventures. They're the real life stuff of homesteading. :)
ReplyDeleteLeigh - We are getting one or two eggs a day from the six that are laying right now. The layers don't seem bothered by the younger hens at all as the young ones pretty much stay away from the old girls. The roosters did make sure that the two reds and four blacks became good friends though and stopped any skirmishes between them.
DeleteI did see Rocky kinda a keeping an eye out for the little Hamburg hen when she was outside the first day. Now that Hamburg goes off by herself and disappears each day if the coop is open.
Hey there PP :-)
ReplyDeleteA little off topic, would you be a dear and email me your header picture without words, so I can make you a banner for my blogroll??
MissK - Sure. I think your email addy is on your blog I will get right on that :)
DeleteMmm tough call. I would keep the rooster that was nicest in manners to the girls and you and Mrs PP. Nothing worse than a bully rooster who is mean to the girls or you. We had one a few years back,, had being the key word. He wound up meeting his maker as he just got meaner as time went on... sighhhh
ReplyDeleteTexan - Well it is a toss up. Bullwinkle seemed the most gentlemanly at first but then turned into a jealous control freak. Rocky is pretty much a give up now - I got mine see ya kinda rooster until Bullwinkle started holding them hostage then he too became a control freak. I did see Rocky keeping watch for one of the young hens outside though so who knows at this point.
DeleteHey Man- I know its been a while. Lol. First off I am thrilled you finally got some chickens. I firmly believe it depends on the breed of bird. I would take those mean ones out.
ReplyDeleteI at one time was keeping my roos separate, then I got Jersey Giants... Very docile. I now have my big black male in with all the ladies and there are no issues. My girls were stressed for a day or two, egg production dropped a bit but it is back up now. Make sure your girls are getting some laying mash. I also give mine greens from the garden....
Hey Man- I know its been a while. Lol. First off I am thrilled you finally got some chickens. I firmly believe it depends on the breed of bird. I would take those mean ones out.
ReplyDeleteI at one time was keeping my roos separate, then I got Jersey Giants... Very docile. I now have my big black male in with all the ladies and there are no issues. My girls were stressed for a day or two, egg production dropped a bit but it is back up now. Make sure your girls are getting some laying mash. I also give mine greens from the garden....