1yr old Rooster, 2 month old hens

[CrisAnderson27]

So, I spent about 2hrs in the coop tonight, just sitting on a stool hanging with the birds. At first Johnny was on high alert. Pacing back and forth across the back of the coop...head super high. He'd fluff up...lean forward...and peck the ground in front of me (from a safe distance of course lol), trying to goad me into attacking . After awhile of me just completely ignoring him physically...though looking at him and talking to him...he came over within about 3' of me and ate a little...looking up at me here and there from the corner of his eye (I was busy entertaining and being entertained by my pullets as well...who were swarming me, legs, arms, shoulders...and even one on my head occasionally...rubbing their faces on my hoodie lol). I let him eat. It honestly seemed like he hadn't been down to the food, and that the girls being distracted was 'his chance to eat'. Which leads me to believe his aggressive behavior might be due to being badly outnumbered by strange birds. Even though they all pretty much leave him alone.

Anyhow, after about an hour or so, he finally got up on the third roost back from me (18" spacing), diagonal across the coop. With a quick lean I could have got a hand on him...so it wasn't too far.

Progress!!

And I caught this:

He's definitely a pretty, pretty bird...and doesn't seem as small now as he looked originally. That roost is almost 4" in diameter.

 

[aart]

I wanted them for a few reasons...partially looks, partially because black birds can help deter crows...and partially because chicks and eggs do still sell reasonably well. Same reason with the Ameraucana's...though they actually lay reasonably sized eggs lol, along with the colors.

But you're 150% correct. There's probably 10 ads for chicks, hatching eggs, and birds on my local craigslist (within 150 miles).

Looks I get....and he's a fine specimen.
Not sure about deterring crows.....and crows chase hawks off, so not sure why you'd want to deter crows. Chicks, will you get a AC hens too?

Do you have true Ameraucanas....or Easter Eggers?
One of the biggest disappointments I had just after starting with chickens was how hard it is to find Am's......and how the hatcheries and masses call EE's Am's.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Looks I get....and he's a fine specimen.
Not sure about deterring crows.....and crows chase hawks off, so not sure why you'd want to deter crows. Chicks, will you get a AC hens too?

Do you have true Ameraucanas....or Easter Eggers?
One of the biggest disappointments I had just after starting with chickens was how hard it is to find Am's......and how the hatcheries and masses call EE's Am's.

I actually meant 'think they're crows' and 'deter hawks' lol.

I've currently got 13 viable Ayam Cemani eggs in my incubators...with two due to hatch in the next 7 days...along with 14 blue/black/splash Ameraucana. They're as real as I can find! I got them here:

https://tarboxhollowpoultry.com/

She said she'll have blue wheaten next spring.

I agree completely on the EE/Ameraucana garbage. So many post saying their birds are Ameraucana, when they obviously aren't. I can say though they're usually ok being corrected...an d it sucks, because they were usually outright lied to.

 

[aart]

I actually meant 'think they're crows' and 'deter hawks' lol.

Ehhhh....I think the black birds have to actually chase the hawks....but, maybe.

I've currently got 13 viable Ayam Cemani eggs in my incubators...with two due to hatch in the next 7 days...along with 14 blue/black/splash Ameraucana.

Ah, I forgot you were incubating...and probably forgot the breeds too. I CRS

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Ehhhh....I think the black birds have to actually chase the hawks....but, maybe.

Ah, I forgot you were incubating...and probably forgot the breeds too. I CRS

I don't know...lol. I've just read that black chickens in a flock are a hawk deterrent. It may not even be remotely true...and at this point I'm not 100% sure when/if I'll be free ranging...but if it helps, it helps!

And yep! 7 days for the Ameraucana and the two Ayam Cemani. Then the other incubator has 11 more Ayam Cemani in it.

It's going to be REALLY HARD to not hatch my own eggs on rotation lol.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Oh! Also...Johnny is doing MUCH better with the girls. Sitting with him, holding him, and time all seem to be having their effect. Today I called the girls out for scratch (I use it for entertainment for them, not as a feed source). Johnny actually came out with them. He usually neeeds some motivation via me entering the coop lol. He also calmly pecked scratch, unless the girls got too close in a group of more than 2 or 3. Then he'd peck one and they'd all scatter with a very short chase on his part.


So, here's to hoping he'll settle down completely. I should hopefully have my new coop/enclosure finished this weekend too, which I think will be a huge help.

 

[Boccom]

Im hatching Ameraucana like you but mine are silver Ameraucana

 

[Boccom]

when I said hatching I meant raising them right now they are 2 weeks their are 2 Silver Ameraucana 2 Australorp and 1 Buff cochin

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Im hatching Ameraucana like you but mine are silver Ameraucana

Nice! They're such cool little birds! My Barred Rock girls are sweethearts, but also very independent. Ameraucana seem to be much more of a 'people' bird, lol.

 

[Boccom]

half my flock are barred rock and my buff orpington that passed was really nice like most of them