Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[mimi5]

:D" Victor " who was supposed to be Verity has happily gone to a lovely forever home

 

Meanwhile Mr Max is now allowed to get up close and personal with his girls (instead of window shopping-see "meet the boys" post) OOOOOoooo and his has

 

Just to add to my interest ......Tilly has gone broody Well it had to happen, what with the sunshine and all

[jimnpaula]

Well, he had an excitable afternoon with lots of new locations and faces! A few stand offs with some of the girls through fences, then indoors for a good eat and drink, a nice evening of cuddles and pottering about the house jabbering away and laying carpet mines. Now having a sleep in a dark cat carrier.

 

He's so tiny! We love him. I think he's staying "Victor"

Paula

[gavclojak]

Oh he is lovely and cute....little guy!!!

[Mrs_B]

So exciting, mimi Really glad to hear some good news for you! Hope your lovely flock has a fab spring and rest of the year

 

Also, Victor looks sooo gorgeous!

 

x

[mimi5]

Ah...... I love the photo......isn't he a sweetie?!?! Looks like he's made himself at home Sensible boy

[Luvachicken]

Oh wow, he is sooooo gorgeous

I'm glad you found him a new home. He looks like he has made himself at home already.

[Valkyrie]

Aaaaaahhhhhh he's lovely. He looks well at home.

[keyhole kate]

He's gorgeous I'm glad you found your boy a good home, even better with an omleteer I rehomed my last of my four Orp Boys today I know they have all gone to good homes but I am missing him already No more hatching for me until I live somewhere I can keep boys

[redsunset]

That made me smile as in aww, love happy endings me...

[mimi5]

I totally know what you mean I hatched 4 lovely boys (and 3 beautiful girls) But I was sad to see them go, but relieved to find them homes I went from 5 boys to none in a few months, sadly losing the dad to Mareks Then I was a boy free zone for over a year......but needed a boy to sort out a naughty bully

 

I don't think I'll hatch again though..........Seems so unfair that so many boys hatch?????

[redsunset]

That's what terrifies me with ever having any baby chooks. I cannot do the 'deed' and I know it's impossible to predict the hatch ratio. It must be the only species on the planet where it's a gross misfortune to be born male as in the battery/meat world u won't go past a day or two old and it's curtains

[jimnpaula]

Not such a happy ending though.

 

Unfortunately we have spent the last few days worrying about him. Worrying about when he crows, worrying about him being lonely, worrying about putting him in with the big girls who beat him up, worrying about shutting him away in cupboards, worrying that we haven't given it enough time, not to mention what do we do on holidays...

 

I've been feeling a bit stressed, but I also feel like I've let everyone down, especially mimi5 - I suppose you can only plan for what you know... and now we know; we're not cut out to be urban cockerel keepers. Maybe I should have researched better, maybe I just had to learn through experience.

 

We care about his welfare and would much rather he lives in an environment where he can free range with other birds, particularly girls his own size, and that place is Beacon Stud. They don't cull boys.

 

We feel so bad , but know it's for the best.

 

Paula (& James)

[mimi5]

All's well that ends well

 

The lady I took the boys from, was not able to keep anymore boys and she would have had the farmer next door cull them I took them both really believing Victor was a girl, despite the lady saying she wasn't sure.... He was a late developer for a pekin But he would have been culled if I'd have taken him back, so my choice to go the re-home route

 

As long as we always do what we believe is in the animals best interests, surely that's the right thing to do!

 

Lucky Victor has a chance to be a happy boy, he's one of the lucky ones

[gavclojak]

Paula you have nothing to reproach yourself about, you gave it a try and it isn't worth you stressing yourself out. I know you wouldn't have taken the decision lightly and you have done what's best for you and victor.

Despite what we think of our neighbours, we do have to be responsible. Good on you for trying Paula

[Old Speckled Hen]

That's what terrifies me with ever having any baby chooks. I cannot do the 'deed' and I know it's impossible to predict the hatch ratio. It must be the only species on the planet where it's a gross misfortune to be born male as in the battery/meat world u won't go past a day or two old and it's curtains

 

You know I never understand that.

Considering meat birds are usually slaughtered at 12 weeks you'd think it would make little difference.

I mean what's with the eating cockerels bit? Surely they would taste the same at 12 weeks ?

[Valkyrie]

Perhaps the breed is too bony and not enough meat to bring it up to full age. The cost of feeding it up to that standard and time is not on the farmers "plus" points box.