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The Chicken Club (The Flock)

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The Chicken Club (The Flock)

A group for people who want to raise a few chickens, who have chickens or other poultry, are thinking about getting some poultry, or who just plain love chickens and ducks and geese!

Members: 81
Latest Activity: Nov 22, 2016

Discussion Forum

Homemade Chicken Feed

Started by Angela MacLeod. Last reply by Angela MacLeod Mar 10, 2015. 2 Replies

Laying ducks

Started by Pamela Novotny. Last reply by Pamela Novotny Aug 16, 2013. 2 Replies

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Comment by Ro Donelson on October 29, 2009 at 10:35am
I thought that might be the case. My experience with them has been the same - good layers, but not good citizens.
Comment by Alys Kennedy on October 29, 2009 at 10:16am
Hi Deanna, if you are talking about Red Stars - which are a red sex-link - I have some of them, and quite honestly, I don't like them very much. They can be quite mean to one another let alone a much smaller younger hen. I also know someone else who has the same breed, and they too are not fond of the breed...for similar and other reasons. I personally think when they did the cross breeding they over did it, they focused mainly on egg production, which is nice, but I think it makes for crabby hens! I think at some point in time I will be getting rid of at least some of my Red Stars, even though they are good layers.
Comment by Deanna Lloyd on October 28, 2009 at 11:54pm
Thanks Alys and Ro for the ideas. I think I'll follow your suggestions and wait until the little ones grow up a bit more before I try to integrate. I still let them all hang out a bit during the day as long as I am out there. The aggressive lady is a red sex-link....are they more prone to bullying? Thanks again!
Comment by Ro Donelson on October 28, 2009 at 12:37pm
I agree with Alys' take on this - too young to integrate, and a nasty bully. You're not going to change her, but letting the little ones grow a little more before they are in direct contact with her is probably the best solution - perhaps a fenced area near the bully, but not with her, and/or if you want them to range an escape route they can utilize, where she can't follow if they are appreciably smaller... What breed is your bully, some are more prone than others?
Comment by Alys Kennedy on October 27, 2009 at 10:55am
Hi Deanna
I would wonder if the younger chicks are not too young to really hold their own with the older more aggressive girl; however, since they roam together during the day it is not like they don't know one another - so the little ones may just not be old enough yet. And/or you may just have a very bossy, aggressive older chicken who is abusive - it does happen, and sometimes the only solution is to get rid of the aggressive one. There are hens that will take on the role of a rooster and be very aggressive with it, so she may be one of those. It would be interesting to see what Ro has to say about the issue..........
Comment by Deanna Lloyd on October 26, 2009 at 11:30pm
Any suggestions on flock integration? I have two older hens (born in the spring) and three young ones who are still very small (two months or so old). Right now they are kept in separate areas for most of the day and for the night, but I do let them all roam around together sometimes. One of the older hens is wonderful and doesn't mess with the little ones at all, just goes about her business scratching, but the other is a little pain! Sometimes she will just charge at them for what appears to be no good reason (then again I'm not quite sure what a good reason for a chicken to charge would be). It's not just a quick little "I'm the boss" peck, sometimes it is really prolonged abuse. Ideas? Do they all just need some more time together? Do the young ones need to get bigger before I integrate? Thanks for your thoughts!!!
Comment by Ro Donelson on October 20, 2009 at 9:48pm
A Clutch Klatch at Molly's on a Monday night sounds good. and I like the idea of an informal potluck get together for starters and then if we want a class as such we can add that later. If we have a class, I'm thinking along the lines of a couple hour seminar on a Sat or so...to give folks the basics to get started in time for spring chicks
Kate, your hen's little dance could be as Alys suggested and in the absence of a rooster she could be doing his job as well: letting the others know "there's something good here, check it out..."
Great news on Mad City - I might have to go again!!!!
Comment by Kate Clark on October 20, 2009 at 8:51pm
I like this idea...and hope we could start after the first of the year when things are slowing down. Love your name, Molly!

ALSO...due to overwhelming demand, the Pickford is bringing Mad City Chickens back for another showing- November 7- pass the word!
Comment by Molly Monahan on October 20, 2009 at 10:56am
Yes! A Cluck Klatch! I vote Mondays and can offer my home that can easily accommodate a large handful around a table and a larger crowd in chairs. That is, if another place would be cost prohibitive. I won't be available until Nov. 9th.
Comment by Alys Kennedy on October 20, 2009 at 9:44am
Hi Kate....sounds like your chicken girl is in love with you...that is a submissive behavior usually afforded the rooster...but you most likely don't have a rooster, so she is giving it to you. At least from your description that is my take on it. Any other ideas Ro? As for a class, lets just set up a date, a place to meet and put it out to those on this site and see who shows up...if no one but you and I come, we can just talk about chickens or???? If it is small we could do it here, on either a Monday or Wednesday early evening. I go to bed early, so I would want to be done with it by about 8...perhaps we could do a potluck sort of meeting and talk while we eat. I think it best for a beginning to keep it informal and do what we can to share experiences - things that worked and didn't work.....and if it grows, perhaps it would be something that could be done at the ReStore?
 

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