I was new to chickens... still am really. Thought maybe I would like to free range so the semi attack rooster that came with my girls stayed. Its been over a month and after two pretty severe attacks we had reached a bit of an understanding. I actually think a lot of his issue was with my one dog who stalked them even in the run. So I had stopped doing anything with them unless the dogs were in the house or in the fenced yard. That had gone well for two weeks. Then Wed we had a bit of an incident. I wanted to pick up a dish and I could tell he was thinking bad things. I watched him and waited a bit then picked it up and he came at me. Tonight all I did was walk in the kennel and I was bleeding so I snatched him up and hung him upside down like I had last time- and thought, and thought and thought. And decided with him relaxed and before I bled out I needed to do it. So its done- it went well for what it was and tonight I will feed him to the other two dogs. I will not offer him up to his enemy. My concern is for the girls-mainly a cochin who is bottom of the ladder and used him a lot as a shield. Do I need to think about rehoming her...will taking the rooster away make the higher up girls more harassing? She is very good about staying out of their way- they just seem to needle her any chance they get. They don't chase- but if she gets within pecking distance they will strike out at her. I have a friend who has a leghorn who just recently started laying and 3 youngsters that are not even laying yet that she just introduced all to each other in a new enclosure this week. I think my little girl could probably slide in there if need be but suppose it would need to be soon. Feeling bad right now about Bud- but I imagine when I go in to feed them in the am and don't need to take a shield along I will feel better about it?
