This year for the first time I have a BR I just can't tell if it is going to be a roo or not. It is just whiter than everything else. It is 7 weeks old. It had a tough start in that it lost sight in one eye due to some chicken pecking at 4 days. There was a period after that before it...
Mine came the first week of March to cold Montana.
I got one of each of the following:
Buff Orpington
California White Leghorn
Barred Plymouth Rock
Buff Brahma
Easter Egger
Norwegian Jaehorn
Gold lace wyandotte
silver lace wyandotte
Buckeye
partridge chantecler
5 red broilers
5...
I too really like them for the first 2 or 3 weeks. After the first week, I agree you need to boost it with something to prevent it getting dirty. I keep two and swap them, washing them in the dishwasher top shelf.
Get/make a coop and start them in it. Every year they spend 2 or 3 weeks in my studio space b/c my husband can't imagine they can get enough heat under the lights. By week three my studio is destroyed in "chicken dust" and I am forced to clean the studio in ways I don't clean the rest of...
Though they are going on their 4th week. I had a hen from last year's group somehow fly over the fencing and get into this year's batch of chicks. I had a couple of little roos standing tall and challenging her. I was thinking oh no....already. But this post has given me a sense of relief.
I was being despondant because I ended up with so many roos this year. This post reminds me of how good all the past roos cooked up. Not so sad any more.
You are one step ahead of so many, you did the coop 1st! Coops are always a work in progress. Lots of good hints here. I would not fool with a rooster, not necessary and will cause more distress than his is worth.
I think that sounds like a great time for anything but a fried chicken. I have ate much older birds (2 Year culled layers). I sprinkle them with a little Adloph's meat tenderizer and throw them in the crock pot. That meat tenderizer helps to breakdown what to me are stringy more mature...
I would not be without a poop board. It is wide enough to catch it no matter which way their roost. 4 face out and two face in.
IMO it keeps your coop more sanitary. A more sanitary environment means less health problems.
The size is just a recommendation. I think that the lip is very important as I have a hen who really doesn't like eggs in the nest and without it I am afraid I would have eggs on the floor. It is all trial and error really.
You make me thankful for the snow that is falling right now. I don't think I could do with snakes. Lots of rattlers around the area, but we are just high enough that we don't have them at our place.