It will depend on the time it takes and how you are going to ship it.
If you have shipping that you are pretty confident will make it in less than 24 hours, maybe 30 hours. I would consider it. But if it is going to be more than that - and I really wanted it, I would consider going and getting...
I am not sure if Canada has it, but contacting your county extension agent might be of help. Local 4-H clubs often have kids with poultry. And often times in the bigger cities, there are poultry clubs. And post at your local feed store.
Mrs K
What breed is that rooster? Would you consider the tail and sickle feathers worthy of breeding?
It is amazing to me, that while I have had chickens for years - I really don't know how to look at them, and what to see.
Please keep teaching @Sic, that is what I want to learn.
I kind of felt like you, and to be honest, for years my main characteristic was is the bird alive? Laying? enough said.
But I accidentally stumbled on another posters post, and they were discussing what to look for, and I realized that I really did not know much more than symmetry in the beak...
Another idea, let the big girls out to free range, lock the littles in the run. This lets them explore a bit without being chased, gives them a chance to find the escapes.
The next day, you can keep everyone in.
Ugh! Sometimes keeping chickens is hard.
I think I would put pin less peepers on all the hens with him for now. Easy and quick and gives you time to consider long term.
I had a rooster that lost his muff and beard, and a lot of the feathers on his neck. He seemed to like it.
Good luck,
Mrs K
This is so true. Just about the time you say "my chickens never..." There they go just 'nevering' like a pro.
I have to laugh, cause I too, have a production red - she went broody and lays a GREEN egg!
A pallet laying flat on bricks, the bricks lift it high enough that it can offer a perfect escape. Put it towards the middle, so that it can be reached from all four sides. I tend to feed my chicks there.
I don't use the hardwire, just line my chain link with a smaller chicken wire, and just the lower part of the run.
You mentioned a rooster, alerting to problems - you want to make sure (I think it is instinctive) that chicks pick up on that. Mine are with the flock, but not in the flock until...
Ohhh, I see what you mean. And yes, I think mine has one, he carries it like that most of the time.
I find this very interesting. I was very impressed with the video that Ted Brown shared. I always knew that one should handle them, that feathers can hide a lot of sins, but specific area...
The thing with cockerels, is they are a crap shoot. What you really need is a couple of plans. Because sometimes bachelor pens work well, sometimes they work for a while, and for some birds they won't work, no matter what you do.
As Ridgerunner states start with 4 ft sq for the coop and 10 ft...
^^ is very good advice.
I agree with Ridgerunner, I think you have two roosters. I also agree with BigBlueHen - don't let him sit on you.
I like a cockerel that calmly gives me about a 5 ft diameter of space. Just casually moves away from me.
Mrs K
I would let them out. Overcrowding causes way more problems.
If mine are under a broody, I let her manage it. If they are not with a broody, mine are with the flock by 3-4 weeks. I have safety zones and escape routes through out my run.
I have insane amount of predators, have been wiped out...
Taking pictures of chickens is hard, but taking them and then cropping them really helps.
Feet my husband says are more important in a breeding animal than one might think. I think this bird has straight toes, but when photographing him, I see a feather on his short spurs, those might be...