Derperella, the (weird) Faverolles, & Friends

[blueberrychickens]

I wish Handsome boy could go live w Derp!! He loves his sf wife he has now.....it will be sad to separate them.....

 

[blueberrychickens]

Is that Panic pants in the picture? ? Very pretty....err....handsome!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Fud Lady, not making excuses for Panic Pants's behavior here, but he may have actually been trying to mount. I've had boys do this before and it sure looks like attacking, but it's definitely a hormone-enraged attempt at 'love'. It's a lot worse when they pick a favorite hen, which is what it sounds like Panic Pants did with Lorp.

My old Easter-egger girl, Chickie, was the object of a rooster's misguided attempts at affection years ago. He was so aggressive with her that I would catch him chasing her around while hanging onto the feathers on her back. It reached the point where she wouldn't come out from under the old chicken coop, which happened to be the only place that the rooster couldn't fit to follow her. My first chicken, Ducki, was another rooster's favorite. He actually cornered her and flogged her after an attempt at mounting, seemingly just because she wouldn't squat for him. Needless to say, both of these boys got the boot.

Right now, my flock is happy, healthy, and rooster-free. I prefer it that way, but I understand that others don't. I'd say if you really want a rooster in your flock, try a really small bantam breed or a Polish. Some banties are aggressive, but they're small enough that I wouldn't think they'd be able to do much damage. A Polish might not even be able to see the hens (but that might be a con, itself, because he likely wouldn't be able to see a predator, either). I have no experience with Cochin boys, so I can't help you there.

Good luck with whatever choice you make.

 

[Nambroth]

Hello Kristin,

Thanks for the advice! Pants would chase Lorp, "pop the umbrella" (flare his hackles all out like an umbrella), and kick her in the head from the front. Maybe he was trying to get her to squat, but it was unacceptable. He really hurt her and I have no doubt she'd be dead if I didn't intervene.

I'm nervous about bantams. One reason I'd want a roo is to help protect the girls. I supervise when I free range but I know that any early warning they get would be good, and we have a lot of hawks.

Unrelated: I've heard polish are very loud?

Mabye I should just be happy to be rooster-free!

 

[drumstick diva]

Nambroth, is it possible you could get some sort of LGD - then you would have protection for your flock and no" Pain in the pants rooster."

 

[Nambroth]

Thank you for the advice! But no! No dogs. I can't afford it, don't have the time, nor the desire.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Nambroth, if you really want a rooster just wait and keep an open mind. The right one will come. At our local feed store, there are over a dozen roosters waiting around for new homes (or a stew pot). On the local BYC threads I follow, at least five people have offered roosters, some very nice, in the past 3 days. So many roosters, so few homes. Take your time, be picky, and you'll find the perfect boy for you and your girls. Of course when you do, please post pics!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

The hackle raising makes me think twice about concluding that he was trying to mount. That's very strange... I'm not even sure what to think about that.

A bantam may not be big enough to fight off a predator, but if he was a good boy he'd certainly warn about hawks and other baddies. That's where the Polish wouldn't do so well, I guess. (I've never owned a Polish so I couldn't tell you if it was true about them being loud.)

I don't want to be all anti-rooster here, either. I've read about all sorts of good roosters out there that have done all sorts of great things. I just wonder how in the world people find them. :/

My only suggestion as far as hawks is that you provide lots of cover for your girls to run to if they spot one while free-ranging. My girls will warn each other if something flies over (whether it's a real threat or not ) and as long as there's somewhere nearby for them to run to, they should be alright. My flock ranges in a woods, so they have lots of bushes and undergrowth to hide in, but there are also doghouses and other structures for them to duck under in the yard. They'll even go for parked cars if they're nearby.

Anyway, I hope things go well whether you find a good roo or not.

 

[Chickenfan4life]

I am sorry about Panic Pants, but I do believe that his behavior was behavior induced by dominance. If Lorp was the top hen, then, despite the fact that she was a hen, he would still try to get her to either be submissive or die. I am sorry to make him sound like some kind of evil ruler, like, "Bow down or die!", but I do believe that that is what he was attempting to do. I have seen our roosters do it to each other all the time. It is just part of how their rooster brain works. I think you did the right thing, getting him a new home. I am sorry you had to do so, though.

 

[Simmonsfunnyfrm]

I think a Salmon Faverolle boy would be a wonderful addition to your flock!!

That said, I have 4 roosters and none are Favs. I have 2 EEs, a bantam cochin, and a light brahma. They are all very nice and good at their jobs, but my favorite by far is my brahma. You just can't beat him. He is always watching out for the girls, he breaks up squabbles, and even though he is huge he is very gentle on the ladies. None of that feather pulling. He will also sit in the doghouse with them when they're laying, whether it's to protect them or to cheer them on I don't know, but he is just the best! I'd consider getting one

Also, I owned a polish roo up until just recently when he passed away but he was not loud. I think I heard him crow maybe 10 times in his whole life. He was 30 weeks when he died but he started crowing at about 12 weeks.