Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[Latestarter]

Well, though they got along for 2 days, the one RIR ate the back end of the other today. Put it down and now the BOs are back in with the one remaining (blukoted and healing) RIR. All things being equal, I expect tomorrow I'll need to put down the last RIR and will be left with 2 BOs for eggs. They don't eat each other for some reason...

Spoiler: Disturbing pics: blood, damaged flesh

 

[B&B Happy goats]

Bad chickens ..... no fighting allowed with latestarters chicks !

 

[Baymule]

That's what my Delawares did. I hated those chickens. RIR's are known for being mean.

 

[Mike CHS]

I think that's why the 4H here uses Barred Rocks exclusively. Every one we have is really docile and we will be getting a rooster.

 

[farmerjan]

They make a little thing that you put in the chickens nostrils. The only way I can describe it is it looks like tiny "granny glasses" but it is red plastic. It makes everything look red to the chickens, and it distorts their sight/perception.. and they stop picking. I think it is called an "anti-picking beak guard" maybe.... Anyway, they do work and you can leave them in their nostrils. It doesn't affect their eating, but can't see "up close and personal" nearly as well. Don't have any idea if TSC carries them, but you ought to be able to get them off amazon, or e-bay or a chicken supply place.
I have seen some Barred Rocks that were very canabalistic in the past, and have had some very easy going Delawares... so it is partially in the strain that you get. I have New Hampshires, and have never had a problem with them yet and my big Black Langshans are not pickers either. Have had it in some of the Sex-link layers in the past.

 

[Latestarter]

The New Hampshires I owned in Colorado were the best birds ever. I bought these cause I didn't want to wait 6 months for grow out and eggs. The BO's I owned before were very placid, easy going, and friendly. No so these two.

 

[farmerjan]

Seems like the BO 's need to go not the RIR's.

 

[Rammy]

Ive had both breeds and would get the RIR over the BOs. Every BO rooster I got was meaner than anything. I accidently got a RIR rooster one time when I got some chicks from a local feedstore. At two months that liitle fart was biting me if I picked him up or would fly at me off the roost pole when I went in the coop. My dog, Barney, got to play with him.
The only rooster Ive had so far that isnt an idiot is my SLW. Hes a good boy. I can even do his spurs without him fussing.
As far as the RIR hens or BO hens, out of the two breeds, the RIR were the best layers. Those BOs just ate and pooped alot. Not much for consistent egg layers.
Right now I have a mix of Australorps, Comets, BR, Americaunas, Colombian Wyandottes, Lakenvelders, and one Russian Orlof. I had two but the idiot went swimming in the cattle trough one day.

 

[Latestarter]

Problem is Jan, the RIR's are now flesh eating as well along with the BOs. The BO's are NOT eating each other, only the RIRs... The RIR's were not eating the BOs either. I think I just lucked into some seriously stupid RIRs. They would just stand there and squeek with each bite being taken.. Chances are even on that the whole lot of them are gonna be gone here shortly and I'll start again down the road.

Had T-storms rush through starting right about 12:30 this morning. Had a little more shower activity since then but nothing substantial. Haven't done a close look but from inside it doesn't appear to even register on the rain gauge. Then around 4ish the wind really kicked it into gear. Forecast high today is 40, right now at 39 with wind chill of 28. Even though not raining, the goats haven't even stuck their heads out of the shelter yet. It is very heavy overcast though. I haven't gone down to feed them yet either. Will head out for that shortly.

 

[Baymule]

LS, get some Pick No More, it works. You can probably find it at the feed store or Atwoods.

https://www.amazon.com/Rooster-Boos...8&qid=1547907668&sr=8-2&keywords=pick-no-more

The wind is BLOWING! It is making the screen doors on the porch slam.