I adopted that other family of chickens-A funny thing for a change

[southerndesert]

Quote:
X-2 this is best for you I think as well....

 

[tennesseeckn]

For roosters to live together peacefully, one of them has to accept that they are not the head honcho. It sounds like your new roo is plenty big and tough enough to claim that position but Connor does not want to accept it. If he would rather be killed by another rooster than loose his place as alpha, then the fighting is going to go on until someone is really badly injured. I've read on here about them loosing wattles, ears, even eyes. I couldn't bear the thought of my boys hurting each other that badly, so I just built more pens.

I wish I could have given you hope that it would all work out.

 

[stormylady]

At this point, knowing how busy you are everyday, I have to agree with everyone else and remove one of the Boys. I was hoping it might work out given the chance but it doesn't look that way. I'm so sorry.

 

[mstricer]

I had the same thing happen except, mine were brooder mates, one was a GJ and one was a Spitzenhauben. They both had their own coops and flock. Well one of the Spitzenhauen hens thought the bigger coop was where she wanted to be, well you can guess once she went everyone else followed. Well the Jersey and the Spitz started fighting almost every day. You probably think that the Spitz got his butt handed to him, NOPE the Jersey did, I came home from work and found that the Spitz killed the Jersey. It was sad. He was chased away from his girls and beat up bad. So more and likely if your leghorn isn't giving up he will probably get killed or hurt bad. Sorry not such a good story.

 

[bobbi-j]

Is your leghorn still in the cage? If he is, and the other rooster can get to him, your leghorn has no place to go to get away. If you let him out, watch for a bit and see what happens. If he won't give up, he's going to get the snot beat out of him again and again. I agree with the others who have said that if you aren't ready to deal with the serious injury or loss of one of your roosters, get rid of one.

 

[RedheadErin]

That is what I was afraid of. I feel bad for Connor....its not his fault he's such a dum-dum. However, he is going to have to recover first before I send him anywhere. I can't take him to my friend with a torn bloody comb. Building pens and so forth is not really an option. I dont have the time, space, or cash for that right now.

I am sort of tempted to give it one last try, to let them just duke it out. Connor will lose the fight, sure. But I'm afraid of how badly he might lose. He's not a bad guy, really...just not leadership material. I was hoping to keep him and his two sisters together, but if I can really have only one, it will have to be the one who can keep his ladies in line.

While Connor has been convalescing, Seamus has been out in the yard with the girls (life is SO not fair!) and he really does do a better job of keeping them all in line. They do wander into the neighbors yard (another problem we will have to solve---one problem at a time, please!) but we notice he is keeping them mostly within his line of sight. All the girls get along fine. My kid says one of the new girls picks on Brigid the WOnder Chicken, but that does not surprise me. My kid is homeschooled; he does not understand schoolyard dynamics.

Wow. this is depressing. What was meant to be a nice addition to our family has turned out into a bloody drama.

Next question...in case my friend dows not want him, anybody know how I can unload a rooster, besides sending him to freeezr camp?

 

[RedheadErin]

Quote:
Yes, he is still in the cage, but he COULD retreat to the back of it if he wanted to. Apparently he doesn't want to.

 

[bobbi-j]

Skip the freezer and go directly to the crockpot?

If you sell or give him away, you will have no idea how he's being treated or if he's in someone else's freezer. Are you ready to completely let go like that and not wonder where he is or what's happening with him? If not, you're better off just eating him yourself. A nice lesson for your kid on where our food really comes from, or what life was like "back in the day" when people routinely raised their own food.

ETA - It's much easier to eat them when they don't have names. I learned that one the hard way, but it was a steer, not chickens.

 

[stormylady]

Just one thing before you decide who is to go, Is this new Rooster good with people? I know you said he is good with the girls but is he good with you going out there and messing with the girls? I would take this time when Connor is healing to find out for sure what his nature is, you haven't mentioned his temperment so.... just asking?

 

[hispoptart]

I'm sorry but I feel really bad for connor, He was there first yet he is the one being locked up like he has done something wrong. He is defending his girls and his territory, it's not his fault this stranger is bigger and meaner them him. I would be giving away the one who you brought into a happy flock and caused all this trouble.