Bay Area BYCers!

[Chooklet]

Quote:
I call this the "Fraternity Boy" phase. Just be glad they don't have access to beer and togas!

Most of my boys move past this phase once they get the hang of it, and the girls get used to the concept. The once that stay overly ornery (or is it "hornery"?) don't get to stay in my flock.

LOL, Fraternity Boy. That's hilarious. Thanks for the response, Chooklet. How long does this phase usually last?

Well, as in humans, some boys seem to linger in their "Fraternity Boy" phase longer than others, but if I had to generalize I would say that within a month he should be learning some manners, and the girls will at least have gotten used to the idea. As his style smooths out he will spend lots of time "wooing" the girls - finding little treats for them and protecting them from predators like hawks, hummingbirds, and butterflies, and the girls will come to appreciate the benefits of having him around, notwithstanding the occasional, ahem, unpleasantness.

 

[Mrsfoote]

Yes I agree. My Buff Brahma who is a little over a year has really come into his hormones the the past week or so...even mating our bantam Dark Brahma....thankfully I'm known as the one with the garden hose. Both my boys are pretty rambunctious with the girls. BUT Fabio...the buff brahma got his butt handed to him by our barred rock hen who is the same age as he is AND our Colombian Wyandotte....they ripped him a new one bruised his wattles and all....they'll teach him a lesson....

Of course unless you have some easy girls like I do who like their faces being smashed into the dirty....FLoozies I swear!!!

 

[dedicateddourly]

Dang, I definitely don't want to witness that. Face smashed into the dirt!?

 

[Mrsfoote]

Into the dirt!!! I was like my goodness! Really..have so dignity and class.

 

[jeremy]

Quote:
Debi - She is adorable! Have you shown her the chickens behind the fence to see what her reaction is? We have four dogs -two Labs, a Lab mix and a Chihuahua/Queensland heeler. And consistency and 15 minutes a day is really all it takes to train a dog, well most dogs. Some are just hard headed!! Luckily the labs are very well trained bird dogs. So, when I introduced them to the chickens I had the chickens in a pen and watched very carefully and used the Leave it command a lot. They eventually got the idea. The lab mix has been around chickens in the past and now that they are more hen than chick she doesn't pay them any attention. So the Labs pretty much walk around the birds now. The little Chihuahua is the latest addition and still in training! She tries to herd them on occasion so we have to watch her. We are teaching her the leave it command, but all in all she is very gentle around them. And she was curious and gentle with them as chicks too. She was only 5 months when we got the chicks so as she has grown so have they!

It takes some patience, but by being consistent and watching them you should be able to teach her to leave them alone. Also, keeping her active and engaged - walks, playing and toys - she'll be a calmer dog overall. Besides if she is part catahoula, which are pig hunters by nature, maybe chickens won't look appealing!!

Good Luck and Congratulations!!!!

Thank you, Sandy! I take her out with me whenever I do chicken chores. There is always a fence between them when she is off leash but we do take her right in the middle of them when she is on leash. She is very interested in them and we have to use the leave it command often. She has not quite got the hang of that command yet. I also tell her sternly that they are "My chickens". I have been giving her the almost empty bowl after giving the chickens their morning yogurt treat. I'm hoping that she gets the idea that she is below the chickens in pack order. LOL! One day I was carrying our constantly broody BA from the coop to the fenced area. I didn't know that Pixie was behind me and she jumped up and got two of Precious's tail feathers. Big mama was NOT happy about that. Pixie better be careful because that broody hen has a "fowl" temper!

Debi, when Toby was a puppy we threw him in the chicken's run and let them peck him... he quickly learned he was "below them on the pecking order".

He's never bothered the birds before and whenever he gets too excited we just remove him from the situation and bring him inside until he calms down, always asserting ourselves over him and letting him know that they chickens are ours not his.

 

[jeremy]

Quote:
Renee, thank you for the picture update! I would love to see your other babies.

It sounds like Wickham is going through normal adolescent hormonal behavior... he's going to try and be all over everything for awhile, like Chooklet mentioned, he should calm down though and get the hang of breeding soon. Claude never was too aggressive with his women, he was always a gentlemen and danced his head off for his girls all the time.

How is your other cockerel? Does he have the same tendencies? If it turns out that Wickham is a bit too rough on his hens then you might want to reconsider keeping only the other cockerel.

Pictures! I must see more pictures!

BTW- you and Saul planning on driving up for the Chickenstock on the 5th?

 

[dedicateddourly]

Quote:
Renee, thank you for the picture update! I would love to see your other babies.

It sounds like Wickham is going through normal adolescent hormonal behavior... he's going to try and be all over everything for awhile, like Chooklet mentioned, he should calm down though and get the hang of breeding soon. Claude never was too aggressive with his women, he was always a gentlemen and danced his head off for his girls all the time.

How is your other cockerel? Does he have the same tendencies? If it turns out that Wickham is a bit too rough on his hens then you might want to reconsider keeping only the other cockerel.

Pictures! I must see more pictures!

BTW- you and Saul planning on driving up for the Chickenstock on the 5th?

Thanks, Jeremy. I'll try to have more pics soon. Willoughby, the other cockerel is a total fraidy cat, and hasn't hit puberty yet.

I would love to come to Chickenstock, but both of our work schedules are pretty crappy. No consecutive days off, though thankfully, we've had most of our days off together. I can't wait to hear all about the soiree though!

 

[Country Chick at Heart]

Quote:
Debi - She is adorable! Have you shown her the chickens behind the fence to see what her reaction is? We have four dogs -two Labs, a Lab mix and a Chihuahua/Queensland heeler. And consistency and 15 minutes a day is really all it takes to train a dog, well most dogs. Some are just hard headed!! Luckily the labs are very well trained bird dogs. So, when I introduced them to the chickens I had the chickens in a pen and watched very carefully and used the Leave it command a lot. They eventually got the idea. The lab mix has been around chickens in the past and now that they are more hen than chick she doesn't pay them any attention. So the Labs pretty much walk around the birds now. The little Chihuahua is the latest addition and still in training! She tries to herd them on occasion so we have to watch her. We are teaching her the leave it command, but all in all she is very gentle around them. And she was curious and gentle with them as chicks too. She was only 5 months when we got the chicks so as she has grown so have they!

It takes some patience, but by being consistent and watching them you should be able to teach her to leave them alone. Also, keeping her active and engaged - walks, playing and toys - she'll be a calmer dog overall. Besides if she is part catahoula, which are pig hunters by nature, maybe chickens won't look appealing!!

Good Luck and Congratulations!!!!

Thank you, Sandy! I take her out with me whenever I do chicken chores. There is always a fence between them when she is off leash but we do take her right in the middle of them when she is on leash. She is very interested in them and we have to use the leave it command often. She has not quite got the hang of that command yet. I also tell her sternly that they are "My chickens". I have been giving her the almost empty bowl after giving the chickens their morning yogurt treat. I'm hoping that she gets the idea that she is below the chickens in pack order. LOL! One day I was carrying our constantly broody BA from the coop to the fenced area. I didn't know that Pixie was behind me and she jumped up and got two of Precious's tail feathers. Big mama was NOT happy about that. Pixie better be careful because that broody hen has a "fowl" temper!

Sounds like she is getting the esposure! And that you're laying down the law!!

And as Jeremy indicated they will peck at her if they don't like what she is doing. Even my little Silkie pecks at Sierra if she gets too obnoxious...... I had no idea when we adopted her that that cute unassuming 5 lb. puppy would turn into a 16 lb. rocket butt terrorist! Sierra is just about an inch taller than the chickens so if she does get out of hand into the house she goes. You'll know pretty quickly if Pixie is one of the stubborn ones and will need constant monitoring around the chickens. Keep us posted!

 

[cherylcohen]

Lost my Ginger (aka brahma llama momma) she was the one hen I was keeping from the buff-laced flock. She had gone broody and was watching the coronation chicks. Everyone free ranged yesterday and last night after working till dark at the ranch, I came home to find, no ginger and her babies were huddled in the corner shivering. Babies are fine now, but this morning absolutely no sign of ginger, feathers or anything. She would never leave her babies. I'm just sick

 

[Mrsfoote]

Wow I'm so sorry Cheryl. Had a few close scares. We have a Gold Laced Polish Tina....well My dad has been locking the coop up, because I have been working late. He is always very good about it no issues. Well I asked him one night did you lock them up he said yes...I was like okay great. Something kept saying go out do a head count, but I pushed it away. Well all night I couldn't sleep cuz I had this feeling I'd wake up to feathers everywhere and a dead bird. My dad comes in the next morning, and he said...I was in the back and I heard this cooing, so I looked around, up on the shed under the fig tree branches Tina was sound asleep. I was like OH thank god she had the mind to go up high. So he put her in the coop.


So next night I was gone until Dark, dad locked everyone up for me. So I went to do a head count...no Tina again. So I called my mom out, ( Tina is hers) and we have two huge flash lights looking for her. She is in the fig tree again. So I spoke to a few others. Illia on here suggests I get her another Polish friend, because she can't see very well. The others don't wait for her. So if everyone goes to the coop and she is unaware she just goes into the tree. The other night she made it to the coop all on her own. I was so proud. But I watch her in the Yard...and she seems so lonely. So I'll try and find her a polish friend lol.

So Sorry about your Brahama though. Its hard.