INCUBATING w/FRIENDS! w/Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs No problem!

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote:
As this is my first year with breeding groups, may I ask a question of more experienced chicken keepers? How much of some of this type of behavior is season related (aka, spring)? I have good roosters and three of the four have started just recently to become more wary of me (and me of them). A few attempts, not outright attacks, really (though, like Tucker, Apoc got a boot in the chest today - gently - because he wouldn't stop going after my boot). Two have what I call posturing behavior, rushing the coop wall or fence when I walk by - when it's to a marked degree, a big face full of water from a squirt bottle does wonders. They are otherwise good flock boys. Just trying to figure out whether some of this is seasonal...

I don't want my roosters to cuddle with me, and don't really handle them, which is fine. I would just rather not worry about them when I'm doing chores.

- Ant Farm

 

[deserteggs22]

I have a little silkie chick with legs like this

What do I do?

 

[kwhites634]

As this is my first year with breeding groups, may I ask a question of more experienced chicken keepers? How much of some of this type of behavior is season related (aka, spring)? I have good roosters and three of the four have started just recently to become more wary of me (and me of them). A few attempts, not outright attacks, really (though, like Tucker, Apoc got a boot in the chest today - gently - because he wouldn't stop going after my boot). Two have what I call posturing behavior, rushing the coop wall or fence when I walk by - when it's to a marked degree, a big face full of water from a squirt bottle does wonders. They are otherwise good flock boys. Just trying to figure out whether some of this is seasonal...

I don't want my roosters to cuddle with me, and don't really handle them, which is fine. I would just rather not worry about them when I'm doing chores.

- Ant Farm

Spring may very well be the reason for the aggressive behavior; never thought about it before. Tucker's the only rooster I've ever had that was even close to being tame. I never attempted to handle any of the others. I wouldn't have tried to handle Tucker, either, had he not been so used to it when I got him a couple months ago. The RSL rooster I had prior to Tucker was real brave as long as there was a fence between us, but once I stepped through the gate he kept his distance. Like your guys, he'd crash the fence when I walked by. He drew blood only once, on the back of my leg, so there must have been a spur involved. The other times, I saw him coming in time to catch him with a boot toe before he got close enough to do anything.

 

[h2oratt]

http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html

 

[h2oratt]

I have a little silkie chick with legs like this

What do I do?

http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html

 

[BullChick]

@kwhites634

How's tucker doing with figuring out who the man is.

Got my first chickens just over 5 years ago, had my first run in with a spur this afternoon. "Shaggy" caught me off guard this afternoon as I was checking feed and water. I saw him coming but wasn't able to move in time after I realized his intentions. Initially didn't think anything of him coming at me like that because the hens and him both will follow me around all over the yard and if they get more than 30-40 foot away they will charge but then stop right at my feet. I'm not typically the type to treat violence with violence but when he tried for a 2nd attempt with me facing him the only defense I could think of was to put my boot up and give him a steel toe to the chest. Some may look at that as cruel but he broke skin on my calf and gave me about a quarter sized bruise, through blue jeans, the first time so I wasn't taking any chances for the second time. He calmed back down after that and went in the run and called his girls like nothing ever happened. All are tucked in and roosting now. He's my only rooster and I'm enjoying being able to hatch my own eggs but if he tries that crap again he's done. Any thoughts or advice. He's around a year old and is typically calm as can be. Sorry for the long post.

Got caught up and heading to bed. Back up and going in about 5 hrs. See yall in the morning.

Unfortunately, the boot is the only way to deal with it. I think we all agree that it's mean, but it's self defense.
You can carry him around like a football several times for twenty minutes or so. Then it is time for the pot. I had a rooster that I chose above all the others, and I really couldn't tell you why. He was a red sex link, the others were a Rhode Island red, five Columbian Rock, and a White Rock. Plenty of great choices, but I was dumb enough to keep a mutt just because he was the under dog. He attacked me in the face three times before someone came and took care of him.
Please don't ever forget a mean rooster has mean offspring.
As for or "why now?", I'll bet part of it is because it's spring, but also they are just reaching their maturity.

 

[BullChick]

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
As this is my first year with breeding groups, may I ask a question of more experienced chicken keepers? How much of some of this type of behavior is season related (aka, spring)? I have good roosters and three of the four have started just recently to become more wary of me (and me of them). A few attempts, not outright attacks, really (though, like Tucker, Apoc got a boot in the chest today - gently - because he wouldn't stop going after my boot). Two have what I call posturing behavior, rushing the coop wall or fence when I walk by - when it's to a marked degree, a big face full of water from a squirt bottle does wonders. They are otherwise good flock boys. Just trying to figure out whether some of this is seasonal...

I don't want my roosters to cuddle with me, and don't really handle them, which is fine. I would just rather not worry about them when I'm doing chores.

- Ant Farm

it may be spring as well as a young roo with his first flock of hens. I dont know the whole story.

I know the Guinea fowl go nutzo chasing each other to show off for the girls in spring. Silly birds.

deb

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote:
That's very helpful. Of course, I just realized in discussing on another thread that for all but one rooster this is related to a new pair of red boots with chickens on them that they don't like. I need to try to go back to the black boots... (aw, shucks...)

 

[Akrnaf2]

OMG!  That was a month or more ago!  Maybe Banti can find it; I sure couldn't. She did a good job on it, though.

She did a great job!!!! @campingshaws

I just take her out once a day to poop

Her food and water is right there for her.

She couldn't be more broody I don't think it affects them, or at least not much. She still wants to hatch chicks despite the box.

I think she prefers it over in the coop, plus she's not taking up a nest box in there where another hen would suddenly decide that's where she wants to lay....

Thanks....

some cookie WITH your coffee?

For those who like a little coffee with their sugar?

No, no I will be 50 ( in a few ours. )

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BENNY!

@mlm Mike

FOR YOU!!!


And these were broody hatches? 

YOU WILL  YOU WILL!!!!!  YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

CLOSE TO MY AGE!  we are getting old!!!!  OMGERDEDEDEEDDDD

For Mike?? Not me??

Yes Sally we are in the first stage of Compost....

Where did I go wrong? The membrane is very wet/slimy?

I dunno, but good luck!

Howdy yall... After getting off for a while this morning, Jace is on the nest again. e
-Banti

Thanks dear Bu!!