Getting old is kinda sad

[sourland]

"Getting old is kinda sad." I can relate, but the other option is sadder. There's still life in the old boy.

 

[woodmort]

In case you're interested, an update. Putting Old Guy with the pullets didn't help, the Brothers still drove him off. Now he has found a home by the front door--the rest of the birds are staying behind the house. It is fairly protected--he gets under the eaves and behind the evergreens--and my wife has taken pity on him so gives him scraps. She calls him and he comes running for a handout. So he's got a good retirement home for now. Maybe when the next 3 dozen pullets are out and about things will change and with 4 dozen hens to cover the Brothers won't be so territorial.

 

[Mimi13]

Even though this is nature at work, it is still so sad.

 

[woodmort]

He did pop out and scare the Fed-Ex guy

 

[aart]

He did pop out and scare the Fed-Ex guy

Did he say "get off my lawn" whilst displaying his spurs?

 

[FlyWheel]

Lucky cock. When I got older my hair turned grey!

 

[AmyJane725]

He did pop out and scare the Fed-Ex guy

 

[Shadrach]

This is my Ameraucana rooster that I call the Old Guy. He came as the single rooster in an order of six straight-run Ameraucanas in the the spring of 2009. This photo was taken in 2010 when he was a year old. In the 10 years I've had him he's outlived his hens and a couple other roosters. Survived a couple of coop raccoon raids, two weasel attacks and one mink one as well as outside hawks and foxes that got other birds. He has been a good guardian of the flock and sent his hens to cover when he sensed danger. One warning cluck and they disappeared.

View attachment 1768723
Two years ago I again bought six straight-run Ameraucanas, this time got 4 pullets. The two roosters that came with that group have always deferred to Old Guy Until today. Today I found him in the front lawn all by himself while the rest of the flock was down behind the house, I tried to chase him back with the rest but he didn't want to go and as soon as I left he went back out front. Tonight he hung around the pop door but didn't want to go into the coop. I finally caught him and put him in the room where I store feed so he'll be by himself. He has no injuries, no feathers ripped out and I have seen no sign of any confrontation--they were all together last night. He's tended to keep more to himself this spring and hasn't had that swagger. He used to hang with a silver laced wyandotte hen but she seems to have deserted him too. I just think he's suddenly realized he can't be in charge any more and is isolating himself. The two brothers seem to have taken over. Note in the picture I took today how his color has changed, he's almost black.

View attachment 1768724

I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do. I have six, 9-week old pullets that I'm going to integrate into the flock this week, I may put him in with them for a while. Maybe he'll adopt them and keep the brothers away. He's going to be in trouble if he won't coop at night and I can't keep track of him.

Kinda sad to see though.

It's hard work being a responsible rooster. He's done his bit by the sounds of it and is ready to retire. The seniors here tend to like a bit of time away from the bickering and rushing about the youngsters tend to do.
I've got pensioners here and I hope to open the coop one day and find them dead rather than them get sick and have to put them out of their misery.

 

[woodmort]

Well it didn't turn out well. Apparently last night coons made a raid on our oriole feeder then came around to the front of the house and got the Old Guy. Nothing but feathers on the lawn this morning. My wife is really sad as she had made a pet out of him in the couple of weeks he'd been hanging there--he'd follow her for treats. Can't say I'm feeling all that good about it either. Time to get the trap out before the SOB figures out how to get into the coop.

 

[Sequel]

Well it didn't turn out well. Apparently last night coons made a raid on our oriole feeder then came around to the front of the house and got the Old Guy. Nothing but feathers on the lawn this morning. My wife is really sad as she had made a pet out of him in the couple of weeks he'd been hanging there--he'd follow her for treats. Can't say I'm feeling all that good about it either. Time to get the trap out before the SOB figures out how to get into the coop.

I'm so sorry! I was hoping this thread would become one I checked every morning to hear more retirement adventures!