February 11, 2021

And the Chicken Report

Last time, I showed you our first baby goats of the year. This time, I'll update you on our chicken news. We got our Dominque chicks in September, so they're almost 5-months old, and pretty much gown up. 

First pullet egg laid just the other day.

Of the original twelve chicks, nine turned out to be roosters. We only keep one rooster, so over the past couple of weeks, Dan has been thinning the flock. Here's our keeper. 

He was the least bold of the bunch, and so became a likely candidate for keeping. Bold cockerels are often thought to be friendly, but in our experience, these usually end up being the most aggressive. They're bold because they have no respect for the humans. We prefer roosters that respect our presence with a little distance. In return, we respect theirs. 

Each of the three hens seemed to have her own personal rooster, all of which are gone, so now everybody has to adjust. The two in the above photo now allow Mr. Rooster to tag along, but the third hen has been more reluctant and slower to hang out with the "flock."

Mrs. Lone Chicken keeps Dan company while he works on the buck barn.

My ideal number of chickens is six hens and a rooster, but we'll take what we've got. We're happy to have fresh eggs again and hopefully, one these will brood some eggs to hatch! Even so, four is actually the perfect number for the chicken tractor, which we'll put to use this summer. 

And the Chicken Report © February 2021

23 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

Nice-looking birds!

Leigh said...

Gorges, thanks! They look just like Barred Rocks, don't they? Except the combs.

daisy g said...

Egg-citing! Love when they start earning their keep! ;0D

Mama Pea said...

Bummer of a ratio of roosters to hens from your twelve! Why does that so often happen? We've got new chicks coming this spring and are (as always) hoping for more girls than boys!

Cockeyed Jo said...

People often overestimate the number of laying hens they actually need. I'm glad your number works out. Are your hens free range? If so they need a more aggressive rooster. They are needed to protect the flock of free ranging gals. Ours started out mellow and then became aggressive of the free ranging girls. He finally treats me with respect since I hit him to the head with the shovel. Now he keeps a shovel handle distance from me at all times whether I have a shovel or not. LOL

Leigh said...

Daisy, :)

Mama Pea, I'm guessing we're not the first ones to ask that question! I hate to think that producers dip into the straight-run chicks to top off their pullet numbers, but I still wonder about it. Especially, since society is pretty much okay with anything-for-a-profit. Hopefully, I'm wrong about that.

Jo, from my observation, there is a learning curve to good roostering, although some tend to be better "naturals." Right now they get some pasture time, and I noticed yesterday that the third hen has started to follow the others. Mostly, they'll be in the chicken tractor.

Ed said...

Whenever I talk to people who get unsexed chickens, the resulting mixture always seems to favor the roosters. I'm beginning to think something is going on. Perhaps those that got a majority hens are silent so not to jinx their luck.

Leigh said...

Ed, I reckon the only way to know for sure is to look at the normal ratio of males to females in all (or a very large sampling) of eggs hatched. Hatcheries might have an idea, since they do know how to sex them and do sell all one or the other as well as straight run. One wonders if they'd be willing to spill the beans, LOL

Bonnie said...

I think it’s always worth the extra money to buy sexed chicks. The first time we bought chicks we were excited about getting 5 free ones. 4 turned out to be very aggressive roosters that chased our kids! They met their maker quickly. 😁

tpals said...

I usually get 50/50 when hatching my own (or when the hens do it) so you have to wonder. That is a handsome boy. What's his name? I'm careful not to name excess roosters, but keepers are different.

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

An aggressive rooster is a fearful thing. Good call.

I miss having poultry. There is always something reassuring about seeing them in the yard.

Leigh said...

Bonnie, I definitely would have gotten pullets except the breed I wanted was only offered as straight run(!) We figured we'd put the extra roosters in the freezer (which we did). So it wasn't a terrible loss, it just would have been nice to get more hens out of it!

Tpals, that's the thing we want to know! No name for the rooster yet, although Dan usually comes up with something. The last one was just Mr. Rooster and all the hens were Mrs. Chicken. :)

TB, it's interesting in that these have quite a bit of personality. Maybe the breed? We're planning to get more Muscovy ducks this spring; another bird we really enjoy. Actually, I loved my guinea fowl, except that they wouldn't stay in our yard.

Retired Knitter said...

Very nice looking birds. Beautifully marked.

Nancy In Boise said...

Pretty! I've had good luck getting sexed chicks, only ever had one fail, but we have a smaller flock. I had to give away a really friendly little roo once, kinda broke my heart, but can't have them in the city, too loud. And only wanting eggs :)

Leigh said...

RT, a refreshing change after our last, solid color chickens.

Nancy, that's great! In my case, one rooster would have been welcome. But not if we lived in the city like you do. You're right that they are too noisy for neighbors.

Rain said...

Wow that's a heck of a lot of roosters! They look really nice. :)

Leigh said...

Rain, too many! Lots of chicken dinners. :)

Goatldi said...

Winner winner chicken dinner! It’s funny that because the other day some friends were here who have had chickens for a long time and they actually have had Dominiques and they love them but with that said they are always so impressed with my roosters. The last two roosters I’ve had Mr. Robert Redford and Mr. Paul Newman now with us are a cross between a white leghorn and a Wheaton. I get really nice tempered roosters and what’s interesting to me is I’ve also had Rhode Island red and Plymouth barred rock roosters they’ve all been very agreeable. Which I will agree with you having non-aggressive roosters that have been raised from eggs without any social interjection from older parents tends to be a walk down the road to aggressiveness kind of like bottle-fed kittens who have no respect for humans because they think they are on equal footing? Be that what it may your flock is lovely and your freezer is full so you can’t fight it a good deal all around!

Cederq said...

I have to ask, what came first, the egg or the hand that holds it... nice chickens by the way.

Leigh said...

Cederq, lol. Nice take on a very old joke! I think it was Gorges who had a meme I liked - "I ordered a chicken and an egg off the internet to see which one comes first." :)

Cederq said...

Miss Leigh, I like old Mr Gorges, we have had a few interesting comments back and forth. I am sure had I lived there we would be a couple of old guys sitting on his porch passing away time talking about the weather, the times about us, and what's for dinner...

Cederq said...

I forgot to mention on my two previous posts, I am moving back to Northern Alabama and will be purchasing a small plot of land to restart a homestead and to be as detached and sufficient enough on my own to be safe and comfortable and not worry about what the price of bread is and food at a store... With you living in Southern Appalachia, perhaps be somewhat neighbors...

Leigh said...

Cederq, I'm glad to hear you are getting a place to homestead! It's a good part of the country to live in, isn't it? I'll be just two states away to the right.