My husband and youngest brought home some chicks in the early spring (1 silkie, 2 red breasted old english game bantams, 2 d’uccle, 1 EE and 1 barred rock). The silkie turned out to the cockerel and I had some issues with him and the 2 standard pullets after integrating them into my main coop and flock. (There hadn’t been any issues before that transition). Things eventually worked themselves out with that and the new crew pretty much stuck to themselves and the big girls did the same. The EE pullet had made her way into the bantie flock first and the barred rock was eventually accepted but definitely more the outcast.
A couple weeks ago a hawk got the EE pullet. The barred rock seemed to pull herself away from the bantie flock, which didn’t surprise me. I’ve been keeping an eye on her and the silkie to make sure things didn’t escalate again.
Today I noticed that the silkie was tidbitting and doing his little dance only for the barred rock. When he would tidbit and the other banties would come over, he’d eat it before them, but if the barred rock came over, he’d dance for her and let her eat. Given the history between the two, it surprised me.
He is not tidbitting or dancing for the banties or the big girls (he still runs from them). Is he now choosing the barred rock because they similar sizes and the rest are so much smaller? Will he ever attempt to approach the big girls? He’s about the same size as some of my smaller adult hens, but I also have giants and he’s much smaller than those ladies.
I’m just curious about his behavior. I’ve never had silkies or bantams before so this is all new to me!
Thanks!
A couple weeks ago a hawk got the EE pullet. The barred rock seemed to pull herself away from the bantie flock, which didn’t surprise me. I’ve been keeping an eye on her and the silkie to make sure things didn’t escalate again.
Today I noticed that the silkie was tidbitting and doing his little dance only for the barred rock. When he would tidbit and the other banties would come over, he’d eat it before them, but if the barred rock came over, he’d dance for her and let her eat. Given the history between the two, it surprised me.
He is not tidbitting or dancing for the banties or the big girls (he still runs from them). Is he now choosing the barred rock because they similar sizes and the rest are so much smaller? Will he ever attempt to approach the big girls? He’s about the same size as some of my smaller adult hens, but I also have giants and he’s much smaller than those ladies.
I’m just curious about his behavior. I’ve never had silkies or bantams before so this is all new to me!
Thanks!