2 RIR's
1 male (by mistake)
1 female
While many people say the males are aggressive (they sure are!
) I have seen our one female be aggressive at times, too. Around the age of 5 weeks old, the male would constantly be chasing around our buffs and continue to peck them every time they tried to eat. The buffs would then run to the top of the waterer in constant fear of being picked on. While the bulk of this was the male, the female would take part in it, too. The female would wait for the buff to jump off the waterer when we refilled the food and placed it back in the brooder and then chase them around. The result of these skirmishes would result in the reds getting hit with a roll of paper towels. (Not hit hard, just hit enough for them to get the point). Eventually they stopped after we picked up the towels. Our rooster (now 14 weeks old) is still living with us and it may stay that way for a bit. I haven't seen much fights occur, but I am keeping my eyes out.
They are smart for a chicken! Our reds run for cover when they heard a predator since the day we got them! Then they quiet down, while the others are just standing there making noise. (They've all learned now) They were the first to learn how to use the ladder in and out of the coop. They seem to only scold other chickens when needed, at least since they were 10 weeks old. I kind of see them as the parents of the other chickens.
They were the first to make, well I don't know how to put this, "adult chicken noises." Not your average chirp or peep, but a "baagaaaa" around 6 weeks old. Their combs (especially the rooster) grew in fast! The rooster had huge waddles by the time he was 7 weeks old! (We weren't thrilled about that!)
They are some bold chickens! The first to walk into the run from the ladder, first to eat something other then their normal food, first to eat out of my hands! (The other chickens don't eat out of my hands, they're pretty afraid of me after seeing the towel beating) So far, we have had close to no issues. We got the female at the age of 2 weeks, and after 3, we noticed something wrong with her leg. She would constantly jump on one, but the other she avoided and held in. We quickly put her in a different brooder with one of our barred rocks, and they're friends even now! The both always need to be sitting together wherever they go.
Good chicken, get get get. Don't get if you have sensitive, low pecking order chickens. Not sure about eggs, YET. Hopefully soon!
1 male (by mistake)
1 female
While many people say the males are aggressive (they sure are!
They are smart for a chicken! Our reds run for cover when they heard a predator since the day we got them! Then they quiet down, while the others are just standing there making noise. (They've all learned now) They were the first to learn how to use the ladder in and out of the coop. They seem to only scold other chickens when needed, at least since they were 10 weeks old. I kind of see them as the parents of the other chickens.
They were the first to make, well I don't know how to put this, "adult chicken noises." Not your average chirp or peep, but a "baagaaaa" around 6 weeks old. Their combs (especially the rooster) grew in fast! The rooster had huge waddles by the time he was 7 weeks old! (We weren't thrilled about that!)
They are some bold chickens! The first to walk into the run from the ladder, first to eat something other then their normal food, first to eat out of my hands! (The other chickens don't eat out of my hands, they're pretty afraid of me after seeing the towel beating) So far, we have had close to no issues. We got the female at the age of 2 weeks, and after 3, we noticed something wrong with her leg. She would constantly jump on one, but the other she avoided and held in. We quickly put her in a different brooder with one of our barred rocks, and they're friends even now! The both always need to be sitting together wherever they go.
Good chicken, get get get. Don't get if you have sensitive, low pecking order chickens. Not sure about eggs, YET. Hopefully soon!
