BYC Member Interview - azygous - **UPDATE 09-30-23 page 3**

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limited25 said:
Have a rooster that has been separated from his hens for about a month and a half now (waiting for a couple of hens to re-grow feathers due to a feather picking hen). About a week ago we bought five 4 week old pullets and housed them in their own pen near the rooster (that is where the available shade is). At first he ignored them, then crowed and made a noise which caused them all to go running into their coop. Next day he did the same thing; they ignored him and run around playing as usual. Now he is making this EEEEEEEEEEEE noise, which sounds like a squealing noise. Do you know what that means? He is not mean or anything, it is just so odd ... he does spend a lot of time watching them so we think he enjoys doing so. Does that noise even have anything to do with the new pullets?
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I know exactly what the vocal is that you're referring to. My rooster often does it quite out of the blue for no apparent reason. The hens and the chicks will all stop what they're doing and be very quiet. The silence lasts all of ten seconds and everyone is back to their noisy selves doing what they were doing previously.

My previous roos all made this noise, too, and I've never learned exactly what it means. But I'm pretty close to concluding he's just jerking my and the hens' chains. He's chuckling and saying, "Hah! Made you look!"
 
lazy gardener said:
Can you record it and post it? Sounds like he's seeing something that he considers to be a threat. My roo has been doing a lot of day time growling. Different sound than the overhead predator sound. I think there is a 4 legged predator around. One of my gals disappeared yesterday without a trace.
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Sorry about your hen. I will try to get a video of it with my phone, but when the neighbor's cat comes around they all make a bakbakbak noise that sounds rather normal except that it is constant, quite loud, and they are all staring straight at the cat (which I chase away). It was not the noise I expected to hear them make when they saw a predator ... rooster doing it too.

Mostly he seems to be looking at the little pullets when making this noise.
 
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Wow! What a fun read, I enjoyed your interview :) never been introduced but, hello :frow !
Very inspiring to think you've been out there on your own sufficient self for so long. Your ranger stories sound full of adventure (intense, too!), definitely want to know more :lol:
Since your interview, has much changed? Did you ever decide on another house pet? Thor was a pretty cute cat :)
 
**UPDATE on @azygous 09-30-23**​


Update:

Now I'm 81, a lot skinnier if that was possible, a lot whiter on the roof, and much more deeply into chickens. Yeah, azygous is growing old. But that's not news.

As far as participating on BYC, I try to stop in every day for a few minutes. My passions are still baby chicks and chicken behaviors, but it seems I'm more well known for my comments and suggestions on the Emergencies forum. After fourteen years keeping chickens, especially with lymphoid leucosis in my flock all those years, I've learned a lot about sick chickens. Two reasons why I hang out so much on that forum is because I love sharing what I've learned, and I hate it when a chicken is sick or injured. If I can, I might save a chicken life, and that just makes everything so worth it.

My present flock is down to just eighteen including two roosters, having lost three hens over summer. It also includes two chickens that I managed to hatch from my flock despite the LL killing embryos in the egg and infecting those that might survive. One of the roosters, Tootsie is six, and a hen called Ladybug maybe seven. Both managed to survive LL all these years. They are both tough.

I now sell my eggs for $7/dozen. Inflation. Feed rose 50% recently. That in itself is a time marker.

My present passion is learning what effect love and affection has on changing the behavior of chickens, perhaps even setting the stage for chickens evolving to be as domesticated and affectionate toward humans as dogs are. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ding-agent-between-us-and-our-chickens.78307/

Many people have found that handling baby chicks a lot can produce very friendly and trusting adult chickens. Others have discovered that taking care of a very sick or injured chicken can also create a bond that can be surprising in its intensity. Now what I'm seeing is chickens that request to be picked up and loved. When I do this, they snuggle in, eyes closed, and a very special sound resembling a puppy whining is produced, a sound utterly unique among all the chicken vocals I've come to know.

Yes, azygous is getting on in years. My sister recently lamented that all my knowledge will disappear when there is no more me. But that isn't true at all. All these years on BYC, I've learned from the very best, Donrae, Sumi, Lazy Gardner, to name a few that are no longer with us. But their knowledge lives on in all of us here, and the knowledge I share here will also live on as you all learn and pass it on to others.
 
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Thank you for the update @azygous You have helped thousands of people with all your wisdom, you are an incredible well of knowledge!! I have looked to your posts so many times, you have helped us all more than you know. Keeping chickens is a wonderful hobby that keeps us young, and I hope you always find joy within your flocks. :hugs

Thanks for sharing Carol!
 
Howdy Carol, I finally read your 1st interview because of this update! Wonderful, exciting life you have led!

I have seen your posts thousands of times in the ER section and other threads....and the one thing that has always struck me is she's giving advice from experience not just what she has read in Merck Veterinary Manual. You are a true wealth of knowledge at BYC! Folks will be reading your advice long after your gone...so it won't be lost and will continue to help those in need of sage advice!
 

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