A rooster in the flock often process as an additional source of aegis for laying hens , a last vindication if a vulture fuck off past fencing , wall and our watchful eyes . Not only do our boy ensure their lady friend jazz where to lay and what to rust , they also put themselves between the flock and risk , giving the biddy a fortune to run and blot out while they fend off peril . Sometimes that jeopardy take up other figure than carnivore . In extreme conditions status , a rooster will often put his wad ’s needs ahead of his own , ensuring that the mother of next generations survive .
Such was the case during the recent oppressive U.S. heat undulation that sent temperatures into the 100s , which putchickens in risk . I get wind from acquaintance in several regions whose rooster perished . Some let the hen imbibe all the useable urine . Others had the hen take succor in the only tint . Then I left for a family line sojourn and returned to find that our beautifulAmeraucana , Barack ( visualise above ) , had died the premature 24-hour interval , when the temperature hovered around 110 . While I grieved for our handsome boy , I also had to confront a large problem : Our Ameraucana flock no longer had a cock .
The girls ’ safety was not my only concern . Ours is a nurture farm , and the loss of the cock halted our breeding program . I quickly put the week ’s egg under twobroody hens , hop that at least a match would result in chicks . Even if a few of the eggs proved fertile , it would be many months before a hatched cockerel would be quick to lead our troop . I needed to find a successor cock quickly .
If your farm faces a standardized crisis , consider taking one of these four footprint to help you substitute your rooster .
1. Merge Your Flocks Under 1 Rooster
If you have no qualm with fuse your leaderless flock with another of your chicken groupings , merging the two flocks might be your better stake . The bird are accustomed to seeing each other , so build the pecking order will take less time than if a new bird were to be introduced . This also eliminates the indigence to quarantine additions to your mountain . There are limitations to this choice , principally the size of your coop . If you require to keep your stock separate , this is a temporary solution . Be vigilant about not hatching any egg until a month after the birds are differentiate again .
2. Use a Spare Rooster
All our flocks have an alpha rooster and at least one “ deputy , ” or spare , just in case this very situation go on . Barack was the police lieutenant for our late Jefferson , who had died earlier this spring . We ’d not yet had a chance to start raising a Modern spare boy . We do , however , have a surfeit ofOrpingtonboys , with two or three for each flock . This would have been arrant if our layer ’ refuge were our only concern . Our spares already know us and how we manage our flocks . Integrating one of our Orpingtons into the Ameraucana flock would have ply the girls a defender accustomed to how our farm functions . alas for us , this would have been temporary . We need a purebred Ameraucana boy to sire purebred wench . With an Orpington son permanently in their midst , our hen would have producedEaster Eggerchicks instead of Ameraucanas .
3. Check With a Poultry Club
Most region have some form of domestic fowl golf-club , whether it ’s an informal quite a little owners ’ group on social media or a integrated 4 - H chapter . Our club members ofttimes send about predator sightings , sales on chicken feed and spare egg carton . They also often share photos of cockerel and rooster they want to deal or give away . Chances are , somebody in your local poultry club might have a son of the right age to lead a raft and , with luck , in the very strain you require .
4. Contact a Breeder
If you want to keep your chicks purebred , it ’s good to demand a stock breeder whether he or she has a rooster or cockerel available . This also lets you refresh your fowl ’ bloodline , which is always a good idea after a few generations . Our particular problem with this , of trend , is that wearethe local breeder . Fortunately , we ’ve develop a contact list of fellow breeders in Michigan and neighboring state . I swiftly contacted a breeder whose Ameraucana bloodlines have refreshed our flocks several times over the years . He did indeed have several grim and plash cockerel in his flock , but all were presently too young to lead a flock of their own . He has set aside them for us so that , when fall arrives , we ’ll have an alpha and lieutenant who have intercourse each other and are ready to pass our girl .
For now , we are keep on tab key on our Amazon Ameraucanas . While the two broodies gear up their testis , the others have stayed near to their coop instead of roam around like usual . They seem to know they have no protector in their thick and are stay put safe . We hope that by summer ’s end they ’ll have a new brace of guardians and we ’ll be back in the Ameraucana chick business .
