- Mar 25, 2009
- 1,299
- 16
- 171
Well, I might have to medicate myself to sleep tonight. I moved the "little" guys on out. I've built them as tough a house as I can imagine, and they're locked up in it. They don't have a rain-shedding roof yet, but they have a secure wire one (I've tied a tarp over the whole thing for now). No pics today; maybe I'll get them tomorrow.
Quite a show this evening, though. We situated everything, then I went into the run to take a couple "volunteers" and put them on the ground. The "omega" hen and one of the dumber rank and file presented themselves and I took them out, and they ran around and pecked and did chicken things... the other 5, including the roo, just watched.
The current alpha hen was the first to jump out on her own, and the first of the Welsummers came after that, but the Roo, the other Welsummer, and one Wyandotte just didn't want to come out for anything. The roo kept perching on the edge of the door and almost falling out--then he'd panic and run to the back of the coop. He'd peck the ladies on the head, trying to get them to go out first, then perch and almost fall again. Then he'd sit down and contemplate all that grass, just out of reach.
Eventually the Wyandotte jumped out, and immediately the roo started chasing the last hen until he booted her out the door. Well at that point, the large audience gathered assumed that he would pop right out. Nope. He sat down and checked out his new bachelor pad and looked very satisfied with himself.
That only lasted so long, though. He started peeking out the door, checking out all the hot chicks... then he he'd look at the ground again, and get scared and run back to the back corner again--and start peeping!
Finally, probably and hour and a half after I had the first chicken on the ground he came out. Just in time for it to get dark.
My rooster's a dork.
Quite a show this evening, though. We situated everything, then I went into the run to take a couple "volunteers" and put them on the ground. The "omega" hen and one of the dumber rank and file presented themselves and I took them out, and they ran around and pecked and did chicken things... the other 5, including the roo, just watched.
The current alpha hen was the first to jump out on her own, and the first of the Welsummers came after that, but the Roo, the other Welsummer, and one Wyandotte just didn't want to come out for anything. The roo kept perching on the edge of the door and almost falling out--then he'd panic and run to the back of the coop. He'd peck the ladies on the head, trying to get them to go out first, then perch and almost fall again. Then he'd sit down and contemplate all that grass, just out of reach.
Eventually the Wyandotte jumped out, and immediately the roo started chasing the last hen until he booted her out the door. Well at that point, the large audience gathered assumed that he would pop right out. Nope. He sat down and checked out his new bachelor pad and looked very satisfied with himself.
That only lasted so long, though. He started peeking out the door, checking out all the hot chicks... then he he'd look at the ground again, and get scared and run back to the back corner again--and start peeping!
Finally, probably and hour and a half after I had the first chicken on the ground he came out. Just in time for it to get dark.
My rooster's a dork.
