I talked with someone the other day about young roos(b/c I have 3 of them!) He said in his experience(years worth)
they all go threw a rowdy teenage stage when they are off the hook! He breeds(silkies, frizz, sizz,banties) He said that he just gives them their own bachelor pad and keeps them isolated and eventually they settle down and outgrow it. He also said that he figured out over the years that if he keeps one old roo in the flock this old boy will keep all of the young roo wipper snappers in check! He said after he realized this he's always kept an old roo around to manage the flock.
This makes sooo much sense to me! I have two banty frizz boys that just can't get along right now(both under a year old) and one super sweet Ginormous Cochin boy that's wants absolutely nothing to do with fighting at all! He's sweet to the girls and does his job well but is gentle and really keeps them safe. My banty boys are NUTS!
I'm just keeping them in their seperate bach.pads until they grow up and settle down a bit! Just a thought....if not...go with plan A..Thor Soup!!!
Here's a pic of one of my tractors/ bachelor pads for my rowdy boys! You could get away with something half this size!
If you LOVE thor(which I know you do from past posts)..and providing his own space is not an option right now then maybe you could find an older roo that would put ol' Thir Boy in his place!?!?
Conscience kicked in, I couldn't leave him out in the cold, it is up to 18*. I clipped his nails, no spurs, and trimmed the hook off his beak (don't judge me
) and set him back in the pen. Seems pretty docile for the time being. Off to town.
Quote:
No judging...you did what you had to for now. The goal is to keep the WHOLE flock happy, not just 1. Get a dog crate at petco or craigslist. Stick him in it in the pen. I agree with what Keri78 said...he should grow out of it. Pen him till then and only let him in with the girls supervised. I would give him a chance to grow up before you send him to the stew pot though.
The trip to town went smooth, no angst to let out. I did pick up some sunflower seeds and suet for the flock. It seems that everyone is behaving right now. Temps warmed to 25*, light wind, so they are out and about.
Thanks for this thread...I feel for you because I am going through the same thing right now...I have 3 hens and 1 rooster all LF Brahmas...I did order Hen aprons for my girls and put them on them yesterday...I will check tomorrow and see how they are doing...I feel sorry for my girls as I am sure you do...Maybe hubby and I will have to work on a bachelor pad for BBQ before he lives up to his name!