how many DSers are expecting chicks?

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how many DSers are expecting chicks?
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chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 6:16 pm Post subject:
Aw, bless. Give him some wives in a little pen and see whether he jumps on them when you let them out.

JRT

Joined: 16 Jan 2010
Posts: 46
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 6:23 pm Post subject:
He is in a pen with five hens yet there is still no contact.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 6:25 pm Post subject:
Hmm. I wonder if you took him out for a bit - a few days or a week - and then put him back in - are they older than him? If so, he's probably bottom of the pecking order and is still acting as a juvenile.

SandraR

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 2346
Location: Devon

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 6:41 pm Post subject:
I'm sure CF will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think IG prefer smaller groups.Saying that mine is in with 4 hens and seems to manage them all. I think Chez is on the right track. Also if he is still growing feathers he may be under par. When Cocks are fertile they often have a red line on their legs.

JRT

Joined: 16 Jan 2010
Posts: 46
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 6:44 pm Post subject:
The hens are about nine months and he is at the moment bottom of the pecking order he is however trying to go futher up as he is costantly fighting.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 6:46 pm Post subject:
I would certainly take him out, then, give him a bit of a break from them and then put him back with them and see if that changes the dynamic. Do you have any other hens that you could run him with for a week or so, that he could get some practice with? ie, they wouldn't see him as bottom.

JRT

Joined: 16 Jan 2010
Posts: 46
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 6:54 pm Post subject:
I'm afraid not but I am hoping to get some more in 2 weeks. And I don't have another pen.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 6:57 pm Post subject:

Well, in the mean time, I would split him off either by himself or with one hen - the least bossy one - and then see what happens when you put him back in with them a few days later.

But also, perhaps, wait and see what Castle Farm and Nat S say - they are both 'game' people, I think, and will know more about the personality of the breed.

Edit - ooops, sorry, didn't see the thing about not having another pen ... could you speak nicely to a parent and get them to help you make one?

JRT

Joined: 16 Jan 2010
Posts: 46
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 7:04 pm Post subject:
I will try but unfortunatly I don't have the room.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 7:09 pm Post subject:
You'll just have to wait for him to get a bit older, in that case ... if they are fighting, then he is trying to establish himself, so it shouldn't be too long. You should be alright by the summer ...

JRT

Joined: 16 Jan 2010
Posts: 46
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 8:18 pm Post subject:
Once he does get older if I cross him with a cuckoo maran will this make a good meat bird

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 8:30 pm Post subject:
Marans are supposed to be nice eating ... so maybe. Why not start another thread about the best crosses for meat-birds? It's that time of year and I am sure that a lot of people would be interested. I think that Indian Game crosses are supposed to be good, aren't they?

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 8:32 pm Post subject:

Chez wrote:

I think that Indian Game crosses are supposed to be good, aren't they?

Yup. I keep contemplating getting hold of a cockerel and crossing it with some LS ladies.

JRT

Joined: 16 Jan 2010
Posts: 46
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 8:32 pm Post subject:
I shall I'm doing it now.

SandraR

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 2346
Location: Devon

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 10 8:50 pm Post subject:
Just a thought - Indian Game really do prefer space, I don't know how big your pen is but they do do better if they have plenty of room.

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