I enjoy allowing the majority of our birds to free range and most choose to roost in trees on their own accord. We feel that a good offense and defense when chicken keeping is the best strategy. The dogs can only do so much since they are penned in about a 1/3 acre lot and our entire property...
My heavy birds roost in the chicken house. But the lighter layers like the Leghorns, Legbars, Games, and Game mixes all roost in trees. We have 3 LGDs adjacent to where they all roost so I don’t lose very many in the trees. Not enough that I notice anyway.
Why would you be shooting? Just set traps if you have a varmint issue. Where do your chickens sleep? Because when a varmint gets in my chicken house they do far more damage than taking any out of trees. Do you close up your chicken house at night?
Thank you! The Buff pullet is getting on my nerves. I know the Red Leghorn rooster is fertile, he had excellent fertility last year. But as soon as my husband put the Buff pullet in with the iBTR rooster he topped her so I’m hoping for fertile eggs. Maybe the Red rooster and the Buff pullet...
There is good news and bad news on the Red Leghorn project. I candled the eggs I set on Tuesday (or was it Monday? 🤔) and the two Buff x iBTR eggs are developing. However the Red x Buff eggs are not. Completely infertile again. They were infertile back in the winter also. The Buff pullet...
My Game hens are the big mouths here. They are constantly singing their egg song and are pretty dramatic about the entire experience. Then they stir up all the roosters who perpetuate the drama. The Leghorns that aren't new layers sing for a bit, then go about their day. These Game girls are...
I had some Rhode Island Reds from a hatchery once and they didn't go broody either. If you want true Heritage versions of the breeds you want, do not purchase from hatcheries. You will need to find a breeder that has kept the line bred to standard of perfection (SOP). Hatcheries mass produce...
Yes, and some will grab a chunk of your flesh and try to wring a hunk out of you. Especially the Games. Some are mean ol’ heifers. And some of the little Game mamas are sweet as pie and let me pet on them while they set.
Maybe not all lines of Game are created equal then because ours are crazy broody. And very fierce mothers. They are old lines of pit game, mainly Kelsos and one line of Gray.
That’s how it goes. When you want them to go broody, they don’t. And when you don’t want them to, they all go broody. The chicken code of conduct is to do the opposite of what the humans want them to do. Which is why my Stargazer Lilies perished. The chickens ate them all. 😩