constructing a single chicken family unit for porch

[welasharon]

perchie.girl :

centrarchid

Long winded implies more air than info. Therefore you are not being long winded at all. And thank you. Its all very very interesting.

X2​

 

[eggdd]

i agree. this is interesting. i've been following the thread - but haven't been commenting (obviously). thought i'd let you know that i'm reading with every update.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:

and don't be a stranger.... I am finding all sorts of interesting niches and digging in like a tick.....

 

[centrarchid]

The front porch flock has picked up a satellite male. Male is young adult dominique x California grey that follows flock and tidbits, apparently trying to steal Sallie but also showing juveniles some respect. Eduardo chases him once in a while but not far. If something where to happen to Eduardo, then the satellite would likely take over front porch flock and offer Eduardo's juvenile offspring some measure of protection. Eduardo gets insurance at cost of being cuckholded to a degree. Prior to male becoming satellite, he was in business of mating forcebly with hens. I think changes have something to with interactions between testosterone and progesterone in young adult males. Eduardo's breeding season is largely over. Normally, this first season Eduardo would have been a satellite and would not move up to harem master until after this molt. No older, more dominant rooster so Eduardo moved straight into harem master role and did quite well. As I understand it, red jungle fowl males do not typically become harem masters until second breeding season as adult and hold such a role for one, sometimes two years at most.

 

[welasharon]

Once they are ousted as dominate males do they get to hang around the peripherals?
sharon

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
That is question I am unable answer with games. Once conflict escalates beyond display into actual combat, they do not stop until one or both is no more. The game cross with red jungle fowl might be suitable for finding answer but would take a couple years to setup.

 

[welasharon]

I was afraid of that.....

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
I am looking into keeping red jungle fowl x game cross males to see if they will work. Will be doable only if they are more predator wise than pure red jungle fowl.

 

[centrarchid]

Red jungle hen flew in behind me from nest somewhere in scrub. She scared the bejesus out of me! Eduardo gave warning hawk sound as she approached my head from behind. I have resolved to finding her nest by triangulating like used to find beehives in woods. Next time I will have it pegged.

She also beats on her own juvenile offspring, while Sallie, the vicious American game gets along with entire juvenile flock. Sallie still woops on red jungle hen when she gets chance.

 

[centrarchid]

Today a red fox came calling and attempted to take a stag (dominique x American game) from free-ranging subflock operating in territory centered on chicken tractor to west of front porch flock's territory. Scoob tharted foxes effort and chewed its but as well. Front porch flock does not appear to have been pursued in any way, never-the-less they have moved furthur into cover of day roost and quited down. I expect if fox where to target the front porch flock, multple chicks would be lost before balance would figure out flying into trees is smart thing to do.