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Posted on 06/01/2005 7:34:38 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
I once earned extra money killing turkeys and getting them ready for Christmas. Didnt eat turkey for 10 years after that! : D
LOL we are on the way back now!
I don't think it would really bother me if roosters were fighting each other. It's the raping that bothers me, and my poor hens had no feathers on their backs and necks, and they just squawked so pitifully when a rooster was on them. If the roosters kill each other, this may sound callous of me, but oh well....It's these big roosters beating up these poor hens, and breeding them 20 X a day that I can't deal with any more.
Do you all see the difference, or am I nuts:)? I just want some for bug control that's it.
Becky
No, I don't think I'll try that.
Becky
why not just keep some hens without the roosters? You say you dont want the eggs......
We dont seem to have problems with our roosters and hens. I have seen what you are talking about though. I dont blame you one bit for wanting to stop it.
I can see the difference between mutual squabbling and a rape, but I don't think you'll only see fair fights... if one shows weakness, they may all gang up on it. So you may still have issues where there is a victim.
Let us know how it goes!
It's hard to get just hens, unless you buy them, and I'm cheap I don't want to pay for something I can get for free:) In the past I incubated my own eggs, but then you come out with about a 50-50 mix. Then I have to deal with what to do with all those roosters. No one wants roosters. The last time we just offed them ourselves, and I can't do that again. Too much blood:) eeewwwwwww..
You must have a good ratio of hens to roosters. If you get too many roosters then the gang banging starts and it gets horrible. I had 3 roosters to about 13 hens. That was 2 too many roosters.
Becky
I understand being cheap.... but aren't we talking about less than a dollar each?
deaconjim says that if you paint some pine tar on the backs of the hens, the roosters dont like it and will leave them alone! : D
Well, I'm hoping with no hens around the squabbling won't get that bad, I could be wrong. But if I see ONE geting picked on, I wouldn't have a problem getting rid of one. It was having to do 15 at one time......toooooo many, too much blood, to many headless bodies flopping around:)
Becky
Yeah, I know what you mean...I don't intend to ever have more than 1 roo. If I ever have a hen hatch out eggs with some roos (when we get our farm), I'd butcher 'em pretty quick...before maturity. Wouldn't even bother plucking them...just skin 'em and freeze them for soup.
Same with milk goats. One just doesn't need a billy goat. Breeding shouldn't be done haphazardly...it's one of those things you plan. So you take your nanny to be bred, then after kidding, you can sell the females and feed out and process the males before maturity.
If you buy babies they are that cheap, full grown ones are like 5-7 dollars. Buying babies and raising them can be an iffy thing and require lots of work. If I'm going to do that, I'll just raise my own. Told you I was cheap:)
Becky
I understand.... I wouldn't do well with the violence of it. All of this is telling me that I don't really need farm birds ;~D
The pitbull that destroyed most of our chickens only left us with 2 hens and 2 roosters. They are doing ok. They have free access to the whole 10 acres, but roost in their house at night.
Now I find out what to do:)
I'll remember that if the all rooster flock fails.
Becky
Are your roosters breeding age?
Becky
just gone past the garage, diesel is up to $2.39! Is it as bad where you are?
Yes, they are mature birds.
It's pretty cool when a hen hatches out her own eggs. I had several good broody hens in my flock. Makes replenishing your flock so much easier then having to incubate, altho incubating was fun. I enjoyed doing it and watching them hatch. But it just turned out not to be worth the trouble all the roosters caused. I have a friend who incubates all the time, and always has extra roosters. I plan on getting some from her. If I have problems with coyotes like I did last winter, well it will be easy to replace roosters.
Becky
I don't know what diesel is, I don't really know what gas is right now....I just put it in a pay for it. I know it's costing me about 42.00 to fill my tank.
Becky
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