Thursday, September 24, 2015

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo






When we got our new chicks in the spring it only took a week or so before Reece picked one out as a rooster. Both Justin and I were in denial, there was no way we had a rooster...again. You see, this is our third flock of chicks, and both our first and second flocks had a rooster.

The first time we thought it was awesome. The cock-a-doodle-doo in the morning, the master looking after his hens, and the beautiful colours of his feathers, we were smitten. We named him Harry, and enjoyed having him around....until he became a little too protective of his flock, and became aggressive with both Reece and I. It wasn't fun, and he was very quickly re-homed.

The second time we were a little more hesitant, and played the wait and see game. Barney turned out to be a great rooster, he loved his flock, he loved us, and it all seemed to be going well. And then winter hit, and he began to peck at Tophat. Every morning when we opened the coop she would be missing more feathers from her beautiful plumage, and then one day her tophat was gone, completely pecked off by Barney. We were sad that she was being picked on, and knew we had to find a home for our second rooster. The unfortunate part is no one wants a rooster who is mean to the hens. As we searched for a home, Barney became increasingly nasty to Tophat, and the morning we went out to find Tophat bleeding and hiding in the corner we knew Barney had to go. Later that night Justin gave Barney a calm and peaceful farewell, and placed his body in the woods. The next day he was gone, and while it wasn't the easiest thing for us to do, we felt a little better knowing his spirit was living on in another animal.

And now here are with our third rooster, T-Rex. He began to cock-a-doodle-doo in late August, confirming Reece's suspicion that we had yet another rooster. He has shown a little aggression to all of us at one point or another over the last month, but we have all done our best to put in in his place, and it seems to have worked, for the time being. There were a few upsets within the flock as they figured out their pecking order, but they have it figured out now, and all the hens seem happy.

So, we will play the waiting game with T-Rex and see how it goes. We are quite happy to have a rooster as long as he knows his place. I love going out to the coop in the morning and listening as he wakes up his flock, and the world around him. It is a beautiful sound.

And now I can't leave out the most exciting part of our new flock...they are laying! They started about ten days ago, and their little eggs are a joy to find. Our flock is used to free ranging around our yard, but those new hens have been laying eggs just about everywhere, so until they get used to laying in the coop, they have been enjoying some time in the chicken run, and we have been treating them to lots of scraps, and of course, chicken cakes.

30 comments:

  1. Oh what a story... Issa would love to have a roster, but as we are in town, it is not possible for now. Perhaps next year when we move? Or perhaps seeing one at neigbourgs or friends would be enough?

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    1. Indeed! I do love having him, and we hope to keep him, as long as he behaves himself :)

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  2. As much as I like the sound of a rooster crowing in the morning, I am glad we don't have one. We live in a subdivision, and I'm sure our neighbors would not be happy if we had one waking everybody up early in the morning. Maybe the third one is the charm for you, good luck with T-Rex!

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    1. Yes, not good if you have neighbours, they aren't always understanding. Lucky for us our neighbours are trees and wildlife :)

      I hope so too, thanks Anke.

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  3. I'm hoping trex behaves himself....for his sake and for your family!! I think the universe is telling you you need a rooster, just saying.

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  4. What a beautiful flock and coop. I hope t-Rex behaves himself (he has quite a name to live up too!)
    How perceptive of Reece - how did he know?
    We once had a rooster and then someone gave us some chicks, one of whom turned out to be a beautiful white rooster also. The older one didn't like the younger one one bit and was quite nasty to him. We gave the old guy away and then the new guy got killed by a fox!!! So now just ladies in the coop!

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    1. Thanks Emma. Not sure how he knew, but he has been saying it pretty much from the beginning. It was very strange.

      Ah, yes, I have heard two roosters is hard, although we know of some who have two and they worked it out between them who would be the top of the pecking order. Sorry about your rooster. Not nice Mr Fox.

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  5. Those roosters are something aren't they? I have two roosters, one for each coop and while Lannister the wee Bantam rooster likes me, the Arcadian rooster Zeus does not like me at all so Alex is in charge of that coop.

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    1. Oh Tracey, they are. We are hoping this guy behaves himself so we can keep him. Fingers crossed.

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  6. Fingers crossed for this rooster, but very exciting news on the eggs.

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    1. Thanks Sally. Yes, so nice to have more eggs, we might be able to sell some soon :)

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  7. Being present for T-Rex's first atempts at crowing was one of the highlights of our trip to visit you guys. My daughter still loves imitating him in memory and we all get a good chuckle out of it. Here is to hoping it all works out this time. Such a beautful bird...

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    1. Aw, that is so sweet. I am glad you guys were here to hear him :)

      Fingers crossed. Only time will tell. Thank you!

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  8. Wow. We lucked out getting eight chicks and none of them being roosters. do your chickens every make into the garden. I'd like to let ours loose in the yard sometimes to do weed control however I'm worried the'd try to hop the fence to go into the garden. Really I'm more worried about the hawk who I call Dante who likes to come and bath in our kiddie pool and who takes frequent rests on the coop!

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    1. You know, most people do only get chicks, it just seems for whatever reason we always end up with a rooster.

      No, the fences keep them out. They do get into my flowers beds, but those don't have fences...yet :)

      Yes, birds of prey are tough. We have turkey vultures circling all day long here, but as of yet they have never swooped down to take a chicken (touch wood). We did have a hawk try to get into the run from above once, he didn't realize we had chicken wire all across the top. Poor guy hit hard and then flew off.

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  9. Oh how lovely Kim- I am so happy for you, chickens have always been on the "wanted list" here - I bet you are enjoying the fresh eggs immensely.

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    1. Thanks Camilla. We are loving the increase in eggs, might be able to sell some soon :)

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  10. I love your coop...and those eggs are ginormous!!! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and T-Rex

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    1. Thanks Erica! Those eggs are actually small, they are the first eggs of the chickens. They look big in my little hands :)

      Thank you, we will need all the help we can get :)

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  11. We had a rooster too! Our beautiful Buff Orpington was bigger than the others right from the beginning and I had my suspicions, but then the crowing and brutish behavior started and I knew for sure. I'm hoping to get a couple more chicks in the spring and I'm already feeling a little concerned about getting another boy because what do I do if the other's a girl? I already have a pair of hens, they might gang up on her. I wonder if I should get three just in case...Good luck to you!

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    1. Thanks Jennifer, we can use all the luck we can get. And I say yes, get three :)

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  12. Oh I do hope you will be third time lucky! How wonderful to have your own eggs. We would love some but not sure we have the room :(. We have been building out the front of our house and our front garden needs a good makeover but I want a space just for the children (the back garden is entirely a productive allotment space) and there is a big canoe rack...........so maybe I will wait until the children are older and don't want a space outside!

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    1. I hope so too. It really is wonderful having our own eggs. I hope one day you too can have some chickens :)

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  13. hes beautiful!! i hope he stays good natured and settled. aggressive roosters are no fun at all

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  14. What a story about your roosters. Hope things work out with T-Rex. Enjoy those eggs, my friend! :)

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    1. Thanks Alexa, I hope so too. And yes, we are!

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  15. I'm sorry your roosters haven't been working out. Hopefully T-Rex will behave. My dream of having chickens is on hold since Panda is allergic to eggs. I'll just have to live vicariously through your beautiful flock for now.

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    1. I hope so, so far he is behaving, and enjoying his time with the ladies :) Oh no, I am so sorry about that, I know how much you wanted your own little flock.

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