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- #2,061
Indeed!
As for temperament, I would have to completely agree with Nova. Can't comment on colours or broodiness yet though as they are not mature, but everything else has shone through.
Today, I decided to do an experiment. Our three advertised cockerels had until this weekend to sell, and they did not. So I am taking the afternoon off to process two. The Welsummer boy is most quite of the three, so he can have an extension in the hope of a sale, the other two, Maran and Araucana aptly named by the kids 'Mr pecker' (which I keep trying to rename Mr Pecky lol) have come to the end of the road.
So, back to my experiment. I have seen a bit of chatter on FB about rooster collars. I watched the video's and was convinced they worked, but did not want to outlay the $15 purchase price, and $25 shipping for something that may not work when it actually gets here. SO I want ed to make a test version. It failed.
I took the two most regular crowers and made velcro neck bands. The idea of the collar is that the boy cannot expand his airway to maximum capacity to crow, they can eat, chirp, make boy noises and do everything else, but when he goes to belt out a full noise tune he can't. SImple enough to test.
I made two loops so I could adjust them and do a little test. I had about a pinky fingers width of clearance (as per the site suggests). As expected they found it weird. Took a minute for teh Maran to get over it, and about 5 for Mr Pecker. Then one crowed, followed by the other! I put a bit more tension on them, stood watch while they ate some scratch and had a drink, then both crowed again, and again. I checked the collars to make sure they were as firm as I felt comfortable and had not slipped or come loose.
End result, for me, they did not work. I might not have had them tight enough, could be flexing the band or they may be bloating their necks or something like horses can do when saddling, but either way, they don't get another weeks extension as they are drawing too much attention with their counter crowing efforts.
In other news, I went to see the other flock, the poorly ones. It's only been just over a week, but I swear they are looking much better already. Feathers still look a bit ratty, but they look more full and some have stubble around their vents. While there I made two long roosts for them to perch on, one runs along to top of the nest boxes to deter them from sleeping on the lid and in their own droppings at night. I didn't get a pic, but will next time I am there.
As for temperament, I would have to completely agree with Nova. Can't comment on colours or broodiness yet though as they are not mature, but everything else has shone through.
Today, I decided to do an experiment. Our three advertised cockerels had until this weekend to sell, and they did not. So I am taking the afternoon off to process two. The Welsummer boy is most quite of the three, so he can have an extension in the hope of a sale, the other two, Maran and Araucana aptly named by the kids 'Mr pecker' (which I keep trying to rename Mr Pecky lol) have come to the end of the road.
So, back to my experiment. I have seen a bit of chatter on FB about rooster collars. I watched the video's and was convinced they worked, but did not want to outlay the $15 purchase price, and $25 shipping for something that may not work when it actually gets here. SO I want ed to make a test version. It failed.
I took the two most regular crowers and made velcro neck bands. The idea of the collar is that the boy cannot expand his airway to maximum capacity to crow, they can eat, chirp, make boy noises and do everything else, but when he goes to belt out a full noise tune he can't. SImple enough to test.
I made two loops so I could adjust them and do a little test. I had about a pinky fingers width of clearance (as per the site suggests). As expected they found it weird. Took a minute for teh Maran to get over it, and about 5 for Mr Pecker. Then one crowed, followed by the other! I put a bit more tension on them, stood watch while they ate some scratch and had a drink, then both crowed again, and again. I checked the collars to make sure they were as firm as I felt comfortable and had not slipped or come loose.
End result, for me, they did not work. I might not have had them tight enough, could be flexing the band or they may be bloating their necks or something like horses can do when saddling, but either way, they don't get another weeks extension as they are drawing too much attention with their counter crowing efforts.
In other news, I went to see the other flock, the poorly ones. It's only been just over a week, but I swear they are looking much better already. Feathers still look a bit ratty, but they look more full and some have stubble around their vents. While there I made two long roosts for them to perch on, one runs along to top of the nest boxes to deter them from sleeping on the lid and in their own droppings at night. I didn't get a pic, but will next time I am there.
