American Gamefowl

[roosterhavoc]

He is a mid June hatch. I think I have seen it before with cocks where they look Hennie during the summer. The stag in this case has poor feathering from being kept to tight at night on an extended road trip to Montana. I wander if one of the grains in the wild bird mix has a lot of estrogen like chemicals in it.

I’m not sure, maybe soy? Supposedly the estrogen like effects are pretty minute though.

 

[centrarchid]

I’m not sure, maybe soy? Supposedly the estrogen like effects are pretty minute though.

There appears to be no soy in the bird mix. I’ll get pictures and ingredient lists. There is a lot of sunflower seed in one of the mixes. Another is dominated by a mixture of millets. Yet another has a lot of nuts including peanuts.

 

[roosterhavoc]

 

[roosterhavoc]

 

[roosterhavoc]

 

[roosterhavoc]

 

[roosterhavoc]

 

[roosterhavoc]

 

[Wild Iris]

I have heard about roosters sometimes being aggressive towards people, but what about hens? I have an American Game hen that is a rescue--don't know her history, but I think she's fairly youngish. She is in a double crate beside the run of my flock of 6 laying hens. I hope she will be able to integrate with them soon; I tried it once before, too early and in too small a space, and they wouldn't stop fighting.

Anyway, twice today, when I went out, she flew up at me as I approached her crate (while she was still inside the crate). She has never done this before. I don't know how to read this behavior or whether it is significant. Is it a sign of aggression? A sign of friendliness? Nervousness? It was a particularly windy day with a storm approaching, and all the hens have been noisy and fidigety all day. None of the other hens have ever flown up toward me while in the run, though.

Other than this, she has struck me as more calm and even-tempered than my other hens. Although very alert, she has never seemed panicked. She approaches me (while in the crate), but does not try to peck at my fingers through the wire like the others do.

I am new to keeping chickens, and I like her very much; I would appreciate any insight to understand her better.

 

[Mossy Dell]

I have a couple hens who fly up on my arms, shoulders, or head because they want me to give them treats when they see the magic silver bowl. Game hens don't attack unless you are messing with their chicks, in my experience.