The Backyard Bantams
Songster
So I recently found out I have a sweet little cockerel called Poppy. I live in the suburbs and I am not allowed a rooster, so I will have to rehome him soon. (he is not crowing yet)
He is around 7 months old. He has hackle feathers, a few saddles growing, and no sickles yet. He has always had a larger comb and looked like a boy, but the guy I got him off sexed them by the pelvic/laying/hip bones, which is quite inaccurate.
So, no crowing yet, but recently, he's been more aggressive. I have 3 bantam pullets/very young hens. 2 of the, (kiwi and chai) are not laying, and have virtually no comb development, although they are about 7 months old. So for the past week or two, every few minutes, he sticks his head up, flaps his wing, and naruto runs across the yard to chai or kiwi, then starts pecking them. I don't think he's hurting them really, so I haven't done anything about it, I think he's just asserting dominance. He's become a little more violent recently, again, they don't get hurt by it, no marks, they aren't sore, but it just annoys them a little, because they do the sassy tail wag.
So anyway, I have one little hen that just started laying about a week ago, she's laid 5 little tiny cream eggs. She was squatting for me for a week or more before that. I was looking out for Poppy to attempt to mount her but saw nothing until now. Basically this morning, maybe one yesterday, he comes up behind her and tries to jump on her back, trying the grab hold of her neck a little to steady himself. Then he falls off. Ebony (the hen) is not impressed, does not squat, does not lift her tail. She just walks off. Poppy is not doing the funny mating dance or tidbitting. Ebony has not ONCE squatted for him. Only for me. So, I think he's trying to mate her, but uh.........not succeeding. I imagine it's hard anyway, Ebony is a TINY girl, about 1kg, Poppy is still quite small, but probably almost double her size....they are also uh....extensively fluffy in the butt region........Anyone know whats going on or what I can do???? Thanks!
Ebony
Poppy (roo) OOF JUST REALISED I DON'T HAVE A RECENT PICTURE OF HIM. THIS IS FROM A LONGGGGG TIME AGO. I WILL EDIT THIS AND PUT A BETTER ONE IN SOON!
He is around 7 months old. He has hackle feathers, a few saddles growing, and no sickles yet. He has always had a larger comb and looked like a boy, but the guy I got him off sexed them by the pelvic/laying/hip bones, which is quite inaccurate.
So, no crowing yet, but recently, he's been more aggressive. I have 3 bantam pullets/very young hens. 2 of the, (kiwi and chai) are not laying, and have virtually no comb development, although they are about 7 months old. So for the past week or two, every few minutes, he sticks his head up, flaps his wing, and naruto runs across the yard to chai or kiwi, then starts pecking them. I don't think he's hurting them really, so I haven't done anything about it, I think he's just asserting dominance. He's become a little more violent recently, again, they don't get hurt by it, no marks, they aren't sore, but it just annoys them a little, because they do the sassy tail wag.
So anyway, I have one little hen that just started laying about a week ago, she's laid 5 little tiny cream eggs. She was squatting for me for a week or more before that. I was looking out for Poppy to attempt to mount her but saw nothing until now. Basically this morning, maybe one yesterday, he comes up behind her and tries to jump on her back, trying the grab hold of her neck a little to steady himself. Then he falls off. Ebony (the hen) is not impressed, does not squat, does not lift her tail. She just walks off. Poppy is not doing the funny mating dance or tidbitting. Ebony has not ONCE squatted for him. Only for me. So, I think he's trying to mate her, but uh.........not succeeding. I imagine it's hard anyway, Ebony is a TINY girl, about 1kg, Poppy is still quite small, but probably almost double her size....they are also uh....extensively fluffy in the butt region........Anyone know whats going on or what I can do???? Thanks!
Ebony
Poppy (roo) OOF JUST REALISED I DON'T HAVE A RECENT PICTURE OF HIM. THIS IS FROM A LONGGGGG TIME AGO. I WILL EDIT THIS AND PUT A BETTER ONE IN SOON!
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