Junior, a half Americauna half EE, was doing the six month old hormone thing a couple of weeks ago. Started biting my pants leg and tugging, no attempt at flogging so far but his spurs haven't really come in either. I chocked it up to hormones, me needing to establish dominance, and the fact that I'd left him to his own devices for a couple of weeks due to a shortage of time. Heck, hubby had been feeding them and getting eggs for a couple of days. Therefore no immediate stew pot. I hatched him, and for the first few months of his life he thought I was momma and would call and call for me, a noise that would shut up as soon as he was perching on my arm. When he was first integrated with the older birds he would hide all day and not come out unless I called him by name and stayed with him in the run.
Well... I didn't have to do much about the dominance issue. When he started getting frisky with the girls a few of the older, more well established hens took it upon themselves to put him solidly in his place. Here he comes running to me and his body language is just screaming "Mommy help me!" And proceeds to hide behind my leg and stare at the older girls in terror. That was when the attack on my pants leg ended.
The other day I was sitting on the little doghouse I got for the ducks, and this whole hilarity repeated. He looks around for me as they're pecking him off the girl and I called him by name. That bird is not dumb, he tore across the run and jumped for it, landed on my shoulders and sat there until I pulled him down and put him on my knee instead because I don't fancy getting pooped on. No attempt to peck me, no scratching, nothing. Just sat there like a good boy as I talked to him, petted him, and kept one eye on the hens. The last thing I want is a squabble of wings in my face. Feels like getting slapped, especially since Junior is getting bigger than the girls now. But he knew I'd rescue him.
As it is I like him, I really do. He's not as bad as the roosters my papa had growing up, and yet he's not as good as his dad. But then, his dad was a giant coward that wouldn't lift a claw in defense of the hens whereas I suspect Junior would. I never intend for him to get that opportunity. He'll let me walk right up to him and pick him up anytime. No catching necessary. All that aside, we keep that run padlocked so none of the neighborhood children can wander in. Caution is always prudent.
