Good Morning Fellow Fermenters!!
I need some advice. I have two roos (20 weeks) and 12 girls (7 poults--20 wks, 7 hens--4 yrs). My boys have decided they are men. Out of 12 girls, they have zeroed in on one of my Australorps, Lena (4 yrs). Hellooooo, there are 11 other females in the flock, but they want her. What do I do? (I am watching her for stress, blood, etc.)
Lisa
I had two roos at one time that were brothers (in my mixed breed, egg flock). They would work in tandem. If one caught a hen, the other would wait til he was finished and then he would hop on. When he was finished the other would hop on. This would go on for a good 15 minutes! One time I witnessed those two boys. One caught the hen and climbed on, the other couldn't wait his "turn" and he hopped on top of his brother so I had a stack of 3 chickens like a mini tower! Those boys made me so mad. If something hadn't taken them out, I would have! I'm really glad they hadn't fully matured because that much weight on top of one hen, I'm afraid would damage her! And good for your Aussie! Young roosters in a flock of hens or pullets are like rapists being released from jail. There's no courting, no offering of food, no protection. They are in it for themselves and they really need to be taught some manners! Hopefully your Aussie will stand up for the other hen that they like. I've seen my hens gang up on the rooster (or try to) when he grabs one of the girls.I am winging all of this for now. I was hoping being brothers, they would battle it out between the two of them and one would become head roo and the other would be subservient. When I went
out to the coop this morning it looked like a war zone. I opened the gate and there was a big ruckus. They had tried to mount another Australorp, Angie (4 yrs) and she tore into them and won with a mouthful of feathers.Is this a girl thing that I am pulling for the hens????
Lisa
