Colorado

Pics
Date sort Score sort
Can I ask some advice from you guys who know more about roosters than me? My big Australorp is my first. I have three older pullets, and three younger pullets and he's being a big jerk to the little ones. I had to split them out when the big ones outgrew the brooder but the younger were not feathered out enough to join them in the coop.

Everyone's been back together for a month now and they co-habitate okay but the roosters being jerky. He and the older gals are about 15 weeks and the younger three about 12. He's the worst about pecking them and lately paces around the coop at bedtime and fusses when they try to come roost, after the big girls are in bed. As soon as he's settled on the roost he pretty much ignores them and they roost up without issue.

Is this just poor teenage behavior he might outgrow as he matures? I sort of assumed he'd just be stoked to have more ladies, but maybe he just doesn't realize it yet? He crows, but I've never seen him tidbit, dance, or try to mount.

Any insight is much appreciated :) I've sure learned a lot about chicken integration already!
 
My roosters are like that with my hens: they both treat the 4 Polish hens like their flock & run off/peck at the other hens. It's nothing I would qualify as serious or bullying, it's just noticeable. I've noticed that my current cockerel has been trying to mate with the pullets that hatched with him & he hasn't figured it out yet, so it's basically just him with a firm grip on the head feathers with the pullet tries to get away from him.

Hopefully, someone more experienced than me can give you a better answer but it sounds like he maybe is just trying to figure out how to behave like a rooster?
 
Robilyn81 said:
Can I ask some advice from you guys who know more about roosters than me? My big Australorp is my first. I have three older pullets, and three younger pullets and he's being a big jerk to the little ones. I had to split them out when the big ones outgrew the brooder but the younger were not feathered out enough to join them in the coop.

Everyone's been back together for a month now and they co-habitate okay but the roosters being jerky. He and the older gals are about 15 weeks and the younger three about 12. He's the worst about pecking them and lately paces around the coop at bedtime and fusses when they try to come roost, after the big girls are in bed. As soon as he's settled on the roost he pretty much ignores them and they roost up without issue.

Is this just poor teenage behavior he might outgrow as he matures? I sort of assumed he'd just be stoked to have more ladies, but maybe he just doesn't realize it yet? He crows, but I've never seen him tidbit, dance, or try to mount.

Any insight is much appreciated :) I've sure learned a lot about chicken integration already!
Click to expand...

You mention your roo is a teenager, what age? Often younger roo's don't really know how to be a good roo unless there is an alpha that models the behavior. Our alpha roo now at two years old is truly a what I consider a true rooster, one that would lay down his life for anyone in the flock, regardless of age or gender. Our roo didn't mature into this state until the last six months. One thing you could do to shake him up and maybe get him to treat everyone the same, would be to remove him from the hens for a few days. Not sure if that will work but it is something I thought of. Maybe after being away from the flock he would then try harder to woo his ladies.
 
First hatch was a success! Day 16 started yesterday at 4:30. This morning I have 26 quail chicks. Still a lot of time left in the normal hatch range so I could get more but I'm super happy.
400
 
UPDATE!! Hey there chicken lovers of Colorado -

so yesterday I walked around in about 100F heat with my baby in the Ergo and a clipboard in my hand pushing the empty double jogger with assorted Nalgene bottles and snacks and maps of my neighborhood. I walked around just ONE block and stayed only on ONE side of the sidewalk... gathered 19 signatures in 3.5 hours, 7 nobody home houses. 19 very happy signers to the "Petition for HOA to allow Backyard Chickens" with 2 families actually WANTING to have chickens and having looked on the Town website already seeing that the Town allows them. I had about 10 people want to join the board only if they could get in new blood. One tried for 2 years to make some changes with no luck so this homeowner is happy I am making some change and aiming for progress. I figure that this is a nice turnout so far. I met some really lovely families and many with children!! I only need 50 signatures total for the HOA to then "talk" about putting it in the September newsletter. I need 107 signatures/votes in person or by proxy for the annual November vote to actually change the covenant - according to the HOA members that I spoke with for June's meeting. I hope to get all 107 this month and expedite the entire process.

I have been doing a lot of praying about what to do and how to go about it. On my neighborhood walk...I knock and then wait, or ring the bell, have lots of dogs barking, then make it very simple: "Hi, we just moved in down the street. I was wondering if you have any feelings about backyard chickens." Then, I wait and let them talk. This way, I am not really saying whether I am for nor against and they get to digest what is happening. There was one NO, but that was after she told me she had no problems with chickens and liked them, started to sign, then scribbled, changed her mind and told me her mother was actually against them and felt that she shouldn't be signing. The whole interaction was a bit odd - the girl was a teenager. I told her she could ask her mother how she felt and take her the clipboard. Nope. The other person who said she thought they were very messy and A LOT OF WORK grew up on a farm and had 100 head of them along with many other animals. We actually ended up talking for a few minutes and I told her I'd really love for HER to be my mentor! She is the perfect person to guide me along my chickenny ways. She said that they are a lot of responsibility. I then told her...I was thinking more like 4 or 6, not 100 and you dont' have to take care of them! I will!! :):):) LOLOLOLOL She then decided she wanted to talk to her husband and perhaps he would even like to get some! Quite a change from the no no no too much trouble too much work so messy so much responsibility...to the 180` well let me see and give me a call in a few days? Sure! Of course, I'd love to call back in a few days!

All in all, this has been truly a nice experience. I have been researching all sorts of coop designs, reading all of your posts, looking up different breeds, finding out about laws and guidelines for surrounding areas and their allowances for chickens, ducks, milking goats, et cetera. I am so appreciative of everyone's input and well wishes. For those of you who are trying to make democracy work, please be brave! Going door to door has been a breath of fresh (albeit very hot) air, and has given me a great way to meet the neighbors on the inside of the subdivision that I normally would not have come in contact with.

Happy 4th of July! Enjoy the summer everyone. Cross your fingers for me.

;)

p.s. What sorts of scraps do you give your chikkies? kale stems? watermelon rinds? grains? bread crusts? ciao for now.
 
Good to hear you are getting a lot of signatures on your petition! It is a long process and you are making headway!

As to the scraps..... well....... actually I give mine a lot of variety most of which is bought or grown just for them. They love radish tops and turnip greens as well as whole (cut in half) watermelons.
Easier to just list lol
Oatmeal cooked and raw
Rice cooked
Swiss Chard
Canaloupe
Watermelon
Spinach
Meat (Lean with no fat or salt on it)
The turkey carcass from Thanksgiving
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Craisins (cause I could lol)
Grits
Yogurt (plain) this was in conjunction with treatment for vent gleet
Apples
Apple sauce
Zucchini
Squash (many kinds but butternut is a favorite)
Cucumbers
Corn on the cob (fun to hang in the run and watch chicken volley ball)
Cabbage
Most any cooked veggie
Noodles of all kinds ALTHOUGH Spaghetti was not appreciated as much as mac-n-cheese
On occasion some home made bread crusts or rolls

Not all at once of course and in limited quantities so they still get a good protein content in the diet.
Long list I know but then they are willing to eat just about anything. I have not tried nor plan to try citrus.

NOTE: I make it a point NOT to fall down in the run as I am sure I would NOT make it out alive!
hide.gif
 

Similar threads

K
Recovering from injury
Replies
1
Views
469
ChickQueen77
ChickQueen77
Grumpy Lady
    • Like
I would like a mixed flock of similar sized brown or colored egg layers
2 3
Replies
20
Views
3K
Grumpy Lady
Grumpy Lady
A
    • Like
HOA Orange County/FL looking for advice
Replies
3
Views
689
DonyaQuick
DonyaQuick

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom