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- #31
We had another outreach effort involving agriculture where a couple of my birds were employed. Effort was centered on a festival with our land grant university where I was also one of the organizers. As result birds and I got there about four hours before event actually started. Birds immediately caused a stir because they were released immediately upon our arrival. They then proceeded to conduct themselves in manner that is sure to get me visited by grounds staff. As usual people also kept telling me that my chickens are loose and will run away. My birds are old hat at this so I had little concern but still checked with them every 15 minutes or so to confirm. The birds explored the virgin (to chicken scratching) landscaping and began filling up. About an hour into this an American Crow (appeared juvenile from last year or female although females should have been brooding) spotted chickens from some distance away and flew over to investigate. Crow first landed in tree about 30 feet up so it looked down on chickens from a 45 degree angle. Chickens were very much aware of the crow. Rooster engaged crow in stare down while hen continued to warily forage. Then crow began a series of fly overs getting closer to chickens each time. Cock held his ground and displayed both posturing and vocal signals of aggression as about half a dozen humans looked on from within 50 feet of action. Then crow landed on ground about 30 feet from chickens and approached them in what I think was a belligerent act. Then both chickens went after him with crow barely evading a flogging. Crow was not noted near chickens for rest of day.
When the actual festival started another pair of chickens where brought in by another party. These where black (melanistic) version of Americanas that where caged. My birds were denied access to caged birds by perimeter netting and keeper of the other birds. Keeper of other birds had very different narrative from mine about keeping birds, especially with respect to managing roosters for aggressions. The party was also very vocal in that narrative and otherwise had a different emphasis on what was related to public. My emphasis was on behavior and getting birds to walk over and feed from hands of children when children offered food. Other party had kids approach the sometimes jumpy chickens in cage and at least once the hen was pulled out by the displayer for kids to handle. Those birds where not keen on such handling as most are not. That part was good but the narrative was not. Other party emphasized relationship with rooster where human should the aggressor whenever rooster crowed or tried to mate hen in close proximity to the human as allowing rooster to do so promotes aggression towards humans. Displayer also employed head removal for roosters that where aggressive. At same time my bird did everything but behave aggressively towards humans no more than 20 feet away. My display roosters are 4 years plus old. I am going to have to figure out how to get my approach more air time as other party’s aggressive narrative likely carried more weight with audience. Some attendees seemed scared if approaching my birds after dealing with other party.
When the actual festival started another pair of chickens where brought in by another party. These where black (melanistic) version of Americanas that where caged. My birds were denied access to caged birds by perimeter netting and keeper of the other birds. Keeper of other birds had very different narrative from mine about keeping birds, especially with respect to managing roosters for aggressions. The party was also very vocal in that narrative and otherwise had a different emphasis on what was related to public. My emphasis was on behavior and getting birds to walk over and feed from hands of children when children offered food. Other party had kids approach the sometimes jumpy chickens in cage and at least once the hen was pulled out by the displayer for kids to handle. Those birds where not keen on such handling as most are not. That part was good but the narrative was not. Other party emphasized relationship with rooster where human should the aggressor whenever rooster crowed or tried to mate hen in close proximity to the human as allowing rooster to do so promotes aggression towards humans. Displayer also employed head removal for roosters that where aggressive. At same time my bird did everything but behave aggressively towards humans no more than 20 feet away. My display roosters are 4 years plus old. I am going to have to figure out how to get my approach more air time as other party’s aggressive narrative likely carried more weight with audience. Some attendees seemed scared if approaching my birds after dealing with other party.
