Daddy and son roos suddenly switch ranks after six years of a cordial relationship

[azygous]

This is a discussion, not necessarily an advice request. I'd like to share this with you all as an observation following a drastic change in the relationship between my two roosters, Strawberry, a seven year-old Cream Legbar and six year-old Tootsie, a Legbar/EE cross.

It happened two days ago that I caught a glimpse of my two roosters running and screeching after each other not long after I let them out early in the morning to free range before it got too hot. Not long after, the older rooster disappeared. I searched frantically all day for him, thinking the worst and hoping for the best. I have no shortage of predators, but I didn't find a single feather let alone an alarming pile that would indicate he had been taken. I held out hope I'd find him alive or he would return.

Later in the afternoon, Toosie was crowing and I heard, off at a distance, Strawberry replying. I was able to get a direction from Strawberry's reply and then I saw him under a juniper tree about fifty yards from the run. Saying I was both relieved to see him and elated he wasn't dead would be an understatement. I ran to him and he promptly ran off. I went to fetch a treat to lure him back to the run, but he had disappeared again by the time I returned to the spot where I'd seen him. Another two hour search of the pine forest ensued, and I was beginning to think I'd seen a ghost or imagined seeing Strawberry.

Finally, I found him again and lured him close enough with a jar of corn to grab him. I carried him back and deposited him in the run with Toosie. Strawberry proceeded to melt down in panic and fear upon seeing Toosie. This was a shock since Strawberry had been a doting daddy roo and had taken it upon himself to discipline and train his son to be well behaved around humans and respectful to the hens. For Tootsie's six years of life, Strawberry kept a tight reign on him, occasionally engaging in mock cock fights where the two would face off and display hackle feathers, or Strawberry would give chase to Tootsie if Toots stepped out of line in any way. Other than that, the two have been the very best of friends. Now, Strawberry felt bereft of all his rights to food, water, his place in the flock, and yes, his very existence. Strawberry was self exiling.

It didn't take much to reach the conclusion that Tootsie had finally challenged his pop. And won. Strawberry was sporting a badly injured comb and mangled ear lobe. The behavior changes were stunning. Tootsie was now number one and acting like it, growling at his pop and his pop whining and panicking if Tootsie took a step toward him. Like magnetic poles flipping, these two had drastically swapped ranks. Tootsie was the clear beneficiary while his pop was at the other extreme - something resembling a psychotic break. It was clear Strawberry couldn't tolerate being in the same space as Tootsie. I let Strawberry have the bachelor coop to himself and Toots had to sleep in the "jail" in the main run that night.

The next day, I focused on desensitizing Strawberry from his traumatic experience. I built my run with compartments that can be closed off when needed. I left Tootsie in the jail and Strawberry in a section adjacent. They were separated but could still see each other. Strawberry could feel secure knowing a fence prevented Tootsie from attacking him, and I threw three hens in with him to massage his battered self image. After about three hours in proximity to each other, Strawberry was calmer and seemed more self assured. I could imagine Strawberry taunting Tootsie saying, "I have three girl friends over on this side. How many do you have? Oh, right. You have exactly zero."

By that evening, Strawberry was nearly back to his old self, so I decided to try the two together in their bachelor run. Strawberry immediately retreated to the far corner where he cowered. I offered both boys live meal worms to distract them from their strained relationship. Gradually, both boys were side by side taking worms from my fingers. I left them and sat outside the run on a swing and kept a close eye on the two in case they started brawling. All seemed calm, if a bit strained. I left them on their own to go into the coop to roost, half expecting Tootsie to go inside first and Strawberry to remain out in the run overnight.

Later, I was surprised and happy to see both boys roosting shoulder to shoulder on their perch as they have for six years. And twenty-four hours later, they seem to be back to being best buddies. Except for one minor detail - Tootsie is number one roo. At least until Strawberry realizes he can take that back from Toots. Stay tuned.

 

[Brooks_]

Thanks for sharing @azygous. I guess it's one of those things that we accept as true but is different first hand.

 

[Sally PB]

Definitely following.

What a day for Strawberry. And for you too. Hugs for both of you.

 

[azygous]

Not all is back to normal. It's very hard for me to look at that little punk Tootsie as an alpha roo, but both boys seem to buy into the notion that he is.

I've been concerned that Strawberry would either consider himself unworthy of eating or Toots would send a message to him that he isn't worthy. I temporarily removed Toots to see if Strawberry would eat something before going in to roost.

Anyone who believes that chickens can't have complex psychological issues is so very wrong.

 

[Folly's place]

Not quite as dramatic, but recently our big Chantie rooster, four years old, has become second to our two year old EE bantam. Cloud injured his foot over winter, and has lost ground to the much smaller but totally healthy younger guy.
Our May chicks include several cockerels, so we'll see who looks good by fall, as a replacement for Cloud, and possibly for that EE rooster.
Mary

 

[jpalmatier83]

One day, the son must surpass the father. If not, progress stops.



Anyway, hoping for a peaceful and swift resolution to your situation.

 

[azygous]

Yes, Mary, health issues are among the most common reasons for chickens challenging rank in the flock. One thing about Tootsie I didn't bring up is that he's likely suffering from a squamous cancer on one leg. I've tried to treat it for a year, throwing everything at it I can think of. No improvement. The lesion has doubled in size.

Then someone mentioned a study where a substance called serrapeptase might boost the immune system to overcome such afflictions. I started Toots on it as well as a quarter tab of ibuprofen twice a day, and one percent hydrocortisone cream to reduce pain and swelling. Before that, at one point Toots was in so much pain, he lost his self confidence and started behaving with fear towards Strawberry, who began tormenting him, as chickens like to do to the vulnerable among them.

It crossed my mind that the pain management and the serrapeptase may be causing Toots to feel a lot less pain and discomfort, in turn bolstering his self confidence. And that may be what precipitated this reversal of ranks. As I said, this is complicated stuff.

 

[azygous]

Since the polar shift in ranks, the two roosters have been confined to their run with no incident. However, today I let both out to free range. Lest I entertain the notion that all is forgotten and forgiven, Tootsie chased Strawberry so far away from the run that I could barely hear their vocals.

When Toots would feel that he had driven his pop off far enough, he would return to the hens' run and stand guard. I happened to be going into the run when I caught a glimpse of Strawberry trying to sneak back. Tootsie ran him off again. Not just fifty feet or so, but a hundred yards or more. It looked for all the world like Toots was trying to get rid of his pop, which was sad.

So, I stuffed Tootsie into the jail inside the hens' run, which for him is no punishment, nor was it meant to be. I don't want Strawberry to get the idea that he isn't permitted to hang around close by the run for safety reasons. He's much more vulnerable to predators far away from the run and the electric wire protecting it.

Tonight both boys are again roosting should to shoulder as they normally have done for years. I may let only one rooster out to free range at a time to avoid Strawberry being exiled and put in danger. I'd also like to prevent Strawberry being programmed to be a sad loser which has been affecting his appetite.

 

[Mrs. K]

I wonder if the older too might be near the end of his life. I have seen the flock run off a bird that shortly on died.

 

[azygous]

No doubt Strawberry is aging, and Tootsie is aware of it. There is only a year difference between the two. Other than that, Strawberry seem in good health.