lizziemt
Chirping
- Jun 24, 2016
- 15
- 9
- 57
Hello, all, I'm a first time poster. I have 4 pullets that I thought were hens. I've had suspicions that one, if not two, were roos. But hadn't heard a cockle doddle doo until today.
We purchased 2 auracana chicks and 2 buff orpiington's from the local feed store in April. One of the chicks, Dusty, an auracana, has been much more stand offish than the rest. Doesn't want to sit on lap, etc., and we have just let Dusty be Dusty. While I've wondered if she is really a he.
Well today I went out because someone was making a racket. It was Dusty. As I approached, Dusty began pinning down the girl lowest on the totem pole, a BO named Goldie. Dusty was attacking her at the neck, pulling out her back feathers, and as I looked around there were lots of Goldie feathers littering the run. A few days ago I noticed Goldie in a strange position, faced into a corner with head lowered to the ground and hunched over. Didn't know what to make of it.
Dusty wouldn't stop. Goldie was taking that odd position I noticed a few days ago, and was obviously hurting and panting and making a strange little hacking noise. I wanted to remove Dusty, but it is very hard to manage him/her now, so I pulled Goldie out and put her alone out in the back pasture. This cooled things down.
Dusty hasn't gone after either of the other girls, although I think we might have a second roo, a BO.
I'm not keen on Dusty. If the BO was the rooster I'd say ok. While I had my back to the chickens someone definitely crowed, for the first time. I'm not sure it was Dusty, but judging from all the noise he was making earlier, I think he just finally managed to figure out how to crow.
Not sure how to manage this, as Dusty is solely picking on Goldie. Maybe she's matured faster? I think I should get Dusty in a cage when he acts this way, but for today I'm wondering what to do. I think I'll leave Dusty in one run and move everyone else to the other side. This is complicated by having two older chickens that we've been working towards integrating with the chicks/pullets. I'm thinking about combining everyone but Dusty, caging him at least tonight, and then see what happens tomorrow.
I'm reluctant to"let the chickens work it out", as I think Goldie might be injured. But if Dusty's our roo, is he behaving normally or do we have a problem roo?
Any thoughts or advice? Thanks very much for reading.
We purchased 2 auracana chicks and 2 buff orpiington's from the local feed store in April. One of the chicks, Dusty, an auracana, has been much more stand offish than the rest. Doesn't want to sit on lap, etc., and we have just let Dusty be Dusty. While I've wondered if she is really a he.
Well today I went out because someone was making a racket. It was Dusty. As I approached, Dusty began pinning down the girl lowest on the totem pole, a BO named Goldie. Dusty was attacking her at the neck, pulling out her back feathers, and as I looked around there were lots of Goldie feathers littering the run. A few days ago I noticed Goldie in a strange position, faced into a corner with head lowered to the ground and hunched over. Didn't know what to make of it.
Dusty wouldn't stop. Goldie was taking that odd position I noticed a few days ago, and was obviously hurting and panting and making a strange little hacking noise. I wanted to remove Dusty, but it is very hard to manage him/her now, so I pulled Goldie out and put her alone out in the back pasture. This cooled things down.
Dusty hasn't gone after either of the other girls, although I think we might have a second roo, a BO.
I'm not keen on Dusty. If the BO was the rooster I'd say ok. While I had my back to the chickens someone definitely crowed, for the first time. I'm not sure it was Dusty, but judging from all the noise he was making earlier, I think he just finally managed to figure out how to crow.
Not sure how to manage this, as Dusty is solely picking on Goldie. Maybe she's matured faster? I think I should get Dusty in a cage when he acts this way, but for today I'm wondering what to do. I think I'll leave Dusty in one run and move everyone else to the other side. This is complicated by having two older chickens that we've been working towards integrating with the chicks/pullets. I'm thinking about combining everyone but Dusty, caging him at least tonight, and then see what happens tomorrow.
I'm reluctant to"let the chickens work it out", as I think Goldie might be injured. But if Dusty's our roo, is he behaving normally or do we have a problem roo?
Any thoughts or advice? Thanks very much for reading.