Recent content by Happy Novogens

  1. Happy Novogens

    How to decide which Roo to keep (and which to dispatch).

    Interesting perspective. For fuller context, the older rooster is a full Bielefelder, so the cockerel won't be any bigger than him as far as size goes. 3 of my 5 older hens are slowing down, so I don't know how much longer they'll be around. On the other hand, the 6 hens/pullets (they are just...
  2. Happy Novogens

    How to decide which Roo to keep (and which to dispatch).

    Thanks. Yes, you're right of course that he's a cockerel. For the "old" rooster, I was only concerned about his age as far as eating is concerned. He's fine as a flockmaster. Thank you for the cooking tips. 20 hours is a long time, so good to know. As I was replying in the post just above, I...
  3. Happy Novogens

    How to decide which Roo to keep (and which to dispatch).

    Yes. That is what I'm wondering... how long is it safe to wait out. I might as well let the older Roo live as long as he can. I'm by no means in a rush to end his life. I guess I'm trying to figure out the timing. I also don't want to have to deal with 2 injured chickens. Just because... I...
  4. Happy Novogens

    How to decide which Roo to keep (and which to dispatch).

    I see. That would be a concern then since they spend the majority of their time enclosed in the run. Two of the last three weeks, I had to greatly reduce their free range time because we have had temps hovering around 112F. When it's that hot, I can manage to keep them cool in their run. But...
  5. Happy Novogens

    How to decide which Roo to keep (and which to dispatch).

    Haha. We have a neighbor that has multiple roosters and they crow a ton at dusk, lol. By comparison, I have the "quiet" chickens. I've been wondering how soon I'll need to take action. Right now, the younger one runs away when the older one comes near... he even runs when some of the older hens...
  6. Happy Novogens

    How to decide which Roo to keep (and which to dispatch).

    I was hoping I'd be able to keep them both. They are all housed in a 10' x 20' run most of the time. They are let out to free range for 2-4 hours in the late afternoon. It is when they are out that the younger Roo tries to mount a hen which then incites the older Roo to chase him off...
  7. Happy Novogens

    How to decide which Roo to keep (and which to dispatch).

    Thank you for your reply. That is helpful!
  8. Happy Novogens

    How to decide which Roo to keep (and which to dispatch).

    My youngest Roo is now 5 months old. He's starting to mount the gals he hatched with (6 of them). My older Roo isn't having that. He has his 5 gals. But all 13 chickens are housed together in a run. From what I've been reading, I'll have to decide which Roo to keep and which to eat. :( So two...
  9. Happy Novogens

    Summer heat? I might have an idea...

    It's a challenge! The "coop" is open and airy within the chicken run. So it isn't "cooped up." For the water we use those 5 gallon buckets in the shade and put ice bottles in them. But the chickens also drink from their wading saucers. Those stay cooler because they're in the shade and not...
  10. Happy Novogens

    Summer heat? I might have an idea...

    Yeah, we're in the desert so we deal with the heat for half the year. It's reading 112F right now and expected to be the same all week. We run misters too when it gets over 105. In fact, the wading saucers aren't used until then either. If we use them when it's below 105, then they'll get too...
  11. Happy Novogens

    Summer heat? I might have an idea...

    Aaah... the bigger the bottle, the longer it lasts. Also keeping the buckets in the shade helps too. We also have shallow trays of water for them to cool themselves (in the shade) and they drink from those too.
  12. Happy Novogens

    Summer heat? I might have an idea...

    Ice will melt quickly in water. By using a frozen water bottle, it won't melt nearly as fast so it will keep the water cool for longer.
  13. Happy Novogens

    Summer heat? I might have an idea...

    I use 5 gallon buckets for water. You can see the cup that gets attached to a drilled hole (left bucket). When it's real hot, I put frozen 2 liter bottles of water inside the bucket to help cool the water. Having the bucket insulated like your cooler idea would be even better.
  14. Happy Novogens

    Favorite All Flock feed?

    I came on here to ask a similar question. I've been using Country Companion All Flock pellets for a few years and am happy with it.... except that the price keeps climbing higher. I saw a similar feed at another store: Nutrena Naturewise Flockshield All Flock pellets that costs less so I was...
  15. Happy Novogens

    Arizona Chickens

    Not sure of your situation but it sounds like your chickens are loose in the yard? Have you considered having an enclosed run inside the yard? We have a 10' x 20' enclosed run but we let them free range in the late afternoon until they return to roost. Then they get locked in the run again.
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