JacquelineJ
Chirping
I'm a first year chicken owner. I've read many books, websites, forums and facebook pages. I've asked for help more times than I care to admit. Largely I have a happy flock. But I made some errors along the way, one of them quite recently.
Everyone knows (even me) that when you remove a bird from a pen then put it back after many days that bird is now the lowest on the pecking order. That, however, didn't stop me today when i was in a fog doing my rounds and I almost lost a really great rooster because of it.
About 2 weeks ago, while going through the "rooster candidates" I came to the bird we called "Hatchet." Incidentally it is his baby pic is my avatar, back when i liked him. I don't especially like Hatchet now, and if i am honest it's for the emotionally ridiculous reason that he never warmed to me the way another of the roosters did. Stupid reason. Hatchet, is in fact a great rooster. He's got good earlobes, clean shanks, he's a nice enough looking mottle, he's gentle with the girls when breeding, he finds them food and he doesn't beat up the babies. The hens love him, but I don't.
(again, for stupid emotional reasons)
This morning I grabbed him and put him in the freezer camp with the other candidates, to see about trying someone else. Then I went to refill the water can to do the rest of the pens. I was gone about 15 mins. I heard a crow I've never heard before. It was like a victory announcement.. it struck me as very odd. I walked back to check the freezer pen and smashed into a corner feet all a splay and no head in sight was Hatchet's lifeless body. I was sure he was dead. There was blood and no life signs. The other mottle was the one screaming victory and every other bird in my yard was silent.
In that moment I rushed in and scooped him up I carried him to the cabin. I washed him and stroked him and inspected him, he was alive but in shock. He's been thoroughly beaten, lost half a dozen feathers from his crest (which was a full crest and actually very attractive) and has two gashes, one on his comb and one on a wattle. It could have been worse, but I feel absolutely terrible.
It wasn't until then, when i'd caused him unnecessary pain that i realized I was being a jerk. He is a great rooster and there is no promise that any of the others will be better, but because he's been less "chummy" with me I was willing to push him aside and even put him in a hostile situation.
There you are. Confession of an idiot. Human pride nearly got in the way and cost me a super rooster.
He's currently in the yard with all his girls - even beaten they still love him. Whew.
Everyone knows (even me) that when you remove a bird from a pen then put it back after many days that bird is now the lowest on the pecking order. That, however, didn't stop me today when i was in a fog doing my rounds and I almost lost a really great rooster because of it.
About 2 weeks ago, while going through the "rooster candidates" I came to the bird we called "Hatchet." Incidentally it is his baby pic is my avatar, back when i liked him. I don't especially like Hatchet now, and if i am honest it's for the emotionally ridiculous reason that he never warmed to me the way another of the roosters did. Stupid reason. Hatchet, is in fact a great rooster. He's got good earlobes, clean shanks, he's a nice enough looking mottle, he's gentle with the girls when breeding, he finds them food and he doesn't beat up the babies. The hens love him, but I don't.
(again, for stupid emotional reasons)
This morning I grabbed him and put him in the freezer camp with the other candidates, to see about trying someone else. Then I went to refill the water can to do the rest of the pens. I was gone about 15 mins. I heard a crow I've never heard before. It was like a victory announcement.. it struck me as very odd. I walked back to check the freezer pen and smashed into a corner feet all a splay and no head in sight was Hatchet's lifeless body. I was sure he was dead. There was blood and no life signs. The other mottle was the one screaming victory and every other bird in my yard was silent.
In that moment I rushed in and scooped him up I carried him to the cabin. I washed him and stroked him and inspected him, he was alive but in shock. He's been thoroughly beaten, lost half a dozen feathers from his crest (which was a full crest and actually very attractive) and has two gashes, one on his comb and one on a wattle. It could have been worse, but I feel absolutely terrible.
It wasn't until then, when i'd caused him unnecessary pain that i realized I was being a jerk. He is a great rooster and there is no promise that any of the others will be better, but because he's been less "chummy" with me I was willing to push him aside and even put him in a hostile situation.
There you are. Confession of an idiot. Human pride nearly got in the way and cost me a super rooster.
He's currently in the yard with all his girls - even beaten they still love him. Whew.
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