Funny/Sad/Happy stories of your chickens

[twilightgecko]

So, I had chicks outside for a bit, and the rooster tried herding some of the chicks off with his wing dance despite them being a month old... And then starts pecking at the suspected rooster chick!
I didn't tolerate him pecking the chick, so as the chick ran to me for safety and he chased it, I stopped him... He stared me in the eyes, challenging me, so I poked him in the chest. He hopped back, but was still sizing me up and staring me in the eye, so I poked him again, this time a little harder. He hopped further back and continued to glare, before then wandering off. During the time outside, whenever I even caught him looking at the chicks or approaching, I stared him in the eye without saying a word, and he knew exactly what that meant and respected it, despite wanting to bully my baby boy.

hard getting to know this pecking order thing.. i've had a couple hens challenge me in the past.. i've given them a finger peck to the back of the head [where i see them do it] and once, when one got rough, pecking at me.. the alpha bird came and pecked her on the head, held her head down.. really seemed to be protecting mama..

 

[MageofMist]

hard getting to know this pecking order thing.. i've had a couple hens challenge me in the past.. i've given them a finger peck to the back of the head [where i see them do it] and once, when one got rough, pecking at me.. the alpha bird came and pecked her on the head, held her head down.. really seemed to be protecting mama..

Luckily the roo didn't jump me, as then I'd have to grab him and pin him down. He KNOWS I am the 'alpha bird' in the flock, which is why instead of jumping, he had a stare-off with me and backed off after the two warning pecks. The rooster was protective over the female chicks, pecking at the hen after she pecked at one of the chicks, but then noticed the male chick cuddling with the others and started chasing and pecking at him.

I know he was showing the chick who the boss was, but he himself got reminded of that when he tried challenging me.

 

[MageofMist]

The rooster isn't all grump though. I walked in the kitchen to make some tea, and the rooster and hen were laying down together, so I went to pet the roo as he was closest, I was expecting him to move away like he usually does, but nope, he let me pet and cuddle him for a little. I asked what the honour was about, and he looked to a slice of bread on the table... I petted him a little more and when he had enough, he trotted off towards the table, so I gave him and the hen some of the bread as a treat.

 

[PeepersMama]

The rooster isn't all grump though. I walked in the kitchen to make some tea, and the rooster and hen were laying down together, so I went to pet the roo as he was closest, I was expecting him to move away like he usually does, but nope, he let me pet and cuddle him for a little. I asked what the honour was about, and he looked to a slice of bread on the table... I petted him a little more and when he had enough, he trotted off towards the table, so I gave him and the hen some of the bread as a treat.

and people say that chickens are stupid.

PEOPLE ARE STUPID TOO!

 

[MageofMist]

Ok, this is less of a chicken story, and more a story of my quail chicks...

They are only 2 weeks old, so they are still little babies, and yet I heard an odd sound from the brooder. It sounded a LOT like the mating squeaks they do when, well, mating. I missed what was going on, so I started watching the little brooder to see just what was happening. Turns out, the second-born quail, the white/silver, is possibly a male as it tried mounting the first-born quail, Little Bee. No idea if that means the white/silver one is male or if it is just a dominance thing, but my last batch of quail didn't do that and they were all males.

 

[PeepersMama]

Okay, THAT is weird :/ I've never had quail though, so.... :/

 

[MageofMist]

Okay, THAT is weird

I've never had quail though, so....

No idea either, I am asking about it on the quail side of the forum. My last batch of quail never did it, so it is very odd.

 

[PeepersMama]

No idea either, I am asking about it on the quail side of the forum. My last batch of quail never did it, so it is very odd.

Him, weird.
Feel free to shsare funny quail stories here too!

 

[MageofMist]

Him, weird.
Feel free to shsare funny quail stories here too!

Well, kinda sad but also funny... Is there sheer contrast in temperament between the quail and silkies.
The silkies love being held and run to my hand when I put it in, but the quail freak out when I hold them (to either clean the brooder out or do health inspections) and run from my hand when I put it in, despite me handling them from the moment they hatched and even helping one hatch.

Yet the quail love hanging around the silkies and when Little Bee escaped, instead of flying off like I feared, Little Bee just hid under a sleepy, confused looking silkie chick. You'd think the quail seeing the silkies being happy and docile around me would help tame them too, due to how much they like the silkies, but nope, they are wild babbies that sometimes take food from my hand, but not often.

I don't mind much as Buttons/King/Chinese Painted quail aren't known for being very tame, and are more of a look-and-don't-touch kinda pet, like some types of finches.

 

[PeepersMama]

Well, kinda sad but also funny... Is there sheer contrast in temperament between the quail and silkies.

The silkies love being held and run to my hand when I put it in, but the quail freak out when I hold them (to either clean the brooder out or do health inspections) and run from my hand when I put it in, despite me handling them from the moment they hatched and even helping one hatch.   Yet the quail love hanging around the silkies and when Little Bee escaped, instead of flying off like I feared, Little Bee just hid under a sleepy, confused looking silkie chick. You'd think the quail seeing the silkies being happy and docile around me would help tame them too, due to how much they like the silkies, but nope, they are wild babbies that sometimes take food from my hand, but not often.


I don't mind much as Buttons/King/Chinese Painted quail aren't known for being very tame, and are more of a look-and-don't-touch kinda pet, like some types of finches.

Hm, weird... Maybe they'll chill out as they get older