I'm back into egg production after about a 20 year hiatus...trying to remember how it all works. In March I bought a dozen pullet chicks and ended up with two roosters. I plan to ditch one and keep the other. One is a Welsummer beauty, the other is a not as pretty Russian Orloff. The Welsummer is clearly the head of the flock and is also a bit aggressive toward me - not scarily so, but I'm about ready to re-name him Tom Petty ("I won't back down"). My set up is such that I don't have to go into the chicken yard unless I choose to, I can access everything from outside. I have just lately started going into the yard with treats and scratch to get the rooster familiar with me as the boss guy. I probably should have done so from the get-go, but they're just a bit over 4 months old it so I figure it's still early. Any other suggestions for a rooster who challenges authority?
Winter care: I plan to run a timer light in the winter months to keep egg production going, but am a bit confused about heat requirements. I live in the Pacific NW which is Zone 8. We get freezing weather but not extreme cold - rarely gets below 20. My previous chickens were kept in a corner coop in our large barn and I don't recall every worrying about heat. This coop is a free standing 4x8 uninsulated wood building so will be colder. I have a wall mounted thermometer inside the coop. At what temp do I need a heat lamp, and how does that affect the whole lighting cycle?
Thanks for tips and tricks.
P.S. A few of the hens have just recently started laying, a bit early, but I'm getting 1-3 eggs/day. I think it is the Orfingtons who are laying - I have a mish-mash flock picked out by my granddaughter.
Here's the two roosters - Roto-Rooster (aka Tom Petty) on the left and Woolley-Bully on the right.
