Frazzemrat1
Free Ranging
I'd be very careful. If that young cockerel crowed when your daughter picked up his girl, that can be a sign of aggression. Cockerels/roosters crow to claim resources and females. He was yelling at your daughter 'She's MINE!' I hope it never happens, but he could become human aggressive.When the one first crowed on Sunday it was after my daughter had picked up and was holding the Leghorn pullet. One of the cockerels does seem rather protective of the pullet more than the others. These little leghorns are now living with the rest of the flock of 22 which is all pullets ranging in age from 7-12 weeks. I have 2-3 week old chicks in my smaller coop/run now so until they are big enough to integrate with the larger flock, don't really have a place to keep the cockerels separated. I guess we may have to devise something if the fighting gets worse or they get big enough to do more than superficial damage to each other before we decide who stays and who has to go. If they are together but away from the ladies, they will be less aggressive with each other? I guess I may have to consider making the smaller coop/run a bachelor pad once the babies move out.
I'm not saying your daughter shouldn't be able to pick up the chickens... I'm saying his behavior needs to be corrected, and quickly.