- Thread starter
- #11
- May 3, 2016
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Well, here's my update:
the ducks are definitely paired off. Wilbur chicken is left rather behind as the 2 orpingtons aren't sure they want a friend, but they let her hang around. She's okay, no one's picking on her. Homer duck still will let her come closer and eat with her, though she won't do so with the other chickens.
unfortunately right now I have the ducks separated. they're sleeping in the 'baby house' and it's been 0-3 degrees so i have let the chickens stay inside the big house and actually put food & water in there (which I thought i'd never do!). The ducks are outside in the pen today and the 3 chickens get to stay inside the house (it's 36 square feet, so I think they will be okay shut up though that seems small to me!!)
about a month ago (mid-january) the young rooster stopped fighting back when the drakeling attacked him, and instead he now just runs away. I am not sure why! he seems otherwise hale & healthy. It's as though his stately, laid-back, self just got fed up with the drake not getting the message and so he quit returning fire, so-to-speak. Reggie (the rooster) HATES snow and is happy to stay inside, but if I leave the door open the drakeling zips in there, chases all the chickens round and round making a huge ruckus in the house, and just doesn't quit. I am afraid the drake will chase Reggie out, not let him get in the shelters I have up, and he'll end up sitting alone in the snow all day.
The drake is fine to the chicken pullets. he adores his hen-duck. but he's awful to the rooster and I cant see a good reason for it (except he's just a bird doing what birds do)...but now i'm thinking if I keep him i'll need to pen him separately. I am regretting taking him in because I had a whole mixed flock all peaceable beforehand. And it took 3 or 4 months for his behaviour to develop this way!!! I was hoping for a few ducklings this spring, as I have people who want ducks locally, but i'm perfectly willing to eat him (or let someone else do it) if he won't leave my sweet, kind roo alone.
I'm going to wait a couple more months if I can and see if he mellows out & maybe it's just a stage as spring approaches... or if Reggie will get more juiced up in the spring and fight back. As long as Hesiod isn't going after the chicken hens (which he has not!) I am not terribly worried...but why would a 1.5 foot tall, 10 pound-ish rooster NOT fight back when he's clearly capable of winning?
Reggie is always on watch, chirps to everyone when he finds exciting food tidbits, stands back from treats until the girls have had their fill, isn't constantly breeding them, and will eat out of our hands. He's been fine with my young nephews (7 and 3) though we're watching to be sure he doesn't start getting aggressive with them... he's about 8 months old now. very elegant black orpington, dignified and calm. I hate to have him harassed endlessly and not allowed to hang with the other birds because the drake is being aggressive.
the ducks are definitely paired off. Wilbur chicken is left rather behind as the 2 orpingtons aren't sure they want a friend, but they let her hang around. She's okay, no one's picking on her. Homer duck still will let her come closer and eat with her, though she won't do so with the other chickens.
unfortunately right now I have the ducks separated. they're sleeping in the 'baby house' and it's been 0-3 degrees so i have let the chickens stay inside the big house and actually put food & water in there (which I thought i'd never do!). The ducks are outside in the pen today and the 3 chickens get to stay inside the house (it's 36 square feet, so I think they will be okay shut up though that seems small to me!!)
about a month ago (mid-january) the young rooster stopped fighting back when the drakeling attacked him, and instead he now just runs away. I am not sure why! he seems otherwise hale & healthy. It's as though his stately, laid-back, self just got fed up with the drake not getting the message and so he quit returning fire, so-to-speak. Reggie (the rooster) HATES snow and is happy to stay inside, but if I leave the door open the drakeling zips in there, chases all the chickens round and round making a huge ruckus in the house, and just doesn't quit. I am afraid the drake will chase Reggie out, not let him get in the shelters I have up, and he'll end up sitting alone in the snow all day.
The drake is fine to the chicken pullets. he adores his hen-duck. but he's awful to the rooster and I cant see a good reason for it (except he's just a bird doing what birds do)...but now i'm thinking if I keep him i'll need to pen him separately. I am regretting taking him in because I had a whole mixed flock all peaceable beforehand. And it took 3 or 4 months for his behaviour to develop this way!!! I was hoping for a few ducklings this spring, as I have people who want ducks locally, but i'm perfectly willing to eat him (or let someone else do it) if he won't leave my sweet, kind roo alone.
I'm going to wait a couple more months if I can and see if he mellows out & maybe it's just a stage as spring approaches... or if Reggie will get more juiced up in the spring and fight back. As long as Hesiod isn't going after the chicken hens (which he has not!) I am not terribly worried...but why would a 1.5 foot tall, 10 pound-ish rooster NOT fight back when he's clearly capable of winning?
Reggie is always on watch, chirps to everyone when he finds exciting food tidbits, stands back from treats until the girls have had their fill, isn't constantly breeding them, and will eat out of our hands. He's been fine with my young nephews (7 and 3) though we're watching to be sure he doesn't start getting aggressive with them... he's about 8 months old now. very elegant black orpington, dignified and calm. I hate to have him harassed endlessly and not allowed to hang with the other birds because the drake is being aggressive.
