Isaac Almost Killed Another SonToday...Deacon Has Recovered, and..... (update 11/30)

[Happy Chooks]

When I was raising up Indy and Rex in the flock with Isaac, it seemed to be working out fine, until that day when I found Indy dead and it was obvious what had happened. But, Rex was still in the flock with his daddy and roosting near him every night, just like Deacon was, then Isaac slept on the floor because he couldn't make it onto the roost with his stiff leg during our extreme cold snap (almost zero*), and got frostbitten feet. He had to be separated for treatment and when he and Rex met up on range for the first time, it was plain that Rex decided those were his hens now and dad could not come back. If I had not broken up the fight, Isaac would be dead (he can't breathe well under stress and had already fallen). I wish I knew how it would have all played out if Isaac had never been forced to leave his flock.

Ah, that's different than a youngin' growing up in the flock.

 

[speckledhen]

Isaac will tolerate young males until they start breeding the hens, then it's on like Donkey Kong. He is sneaky about it, though. He will knock them off the hens, who always scream for Ike to save them, of course. But, his sons can be doing nothing, just standing around and he'll run up behind the unsuspecting cockerel and hit him in the back with both feet. He got a lucky shot in with Indy and almost killed Deacon, too. With Deacon, he was in a confined space so it didn't work out the same as with poor Indy.

 

[chickenflicker]

I think poor Deacon feels he has to attack first now or he'll be attacked...

 

[speckledhen]

Maybe he needs counseling.

 

[cash money]

Maybe

 

[cash money]

That might do him some good

 

[shorttimer]

This situation doesn't look promising, sorry to say. Hopefully a solution will be found.

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you, shorttimer. Welcome to BYC!

 

[speckledhen]

Ha! We fixed Deacon's wagon. DH ran a second line of plastic fencing on the back side of Atlas's pen, about 6" out from the fence. They can't get to each other. The other side has plastic bags hung on the fence so they can't even see each other. Deacon tried and tried, but then, he lost interest and went to dig in the former garden.

Yesterday, we let him out when Rex was out and stayed close by. When he came up on Rex and some of the hens, he started that upset cackling thing and walked away fast. You could see Rex on alert. Later, I noticed Rex subtly stalking Deacon. He got close, walking nonchalantly, picking up leaves on the ground, then made a run at Deacon, who got a minor hit but managed to scoot away from big brother without damage. So, all that was exactly the way it used to be. If he one time doesn't manage to get out of Rex's way, he may end up a goner, but I literally have no place for him, other than to spend nights in an inside pen/cage and roam when Rex or Isaac is roaming so he's going to have to survive or not but at least, he has plenty of room to see them coming and get out of the way.

Don't know if you can even tell from these photos about the two layered fence.





Deacon met up on range with this today, first cat I've seen around here in ages. Nice, friendly, but unneutered male. Chickens were going nuts in their pens, looking a certain direction. I didn't see anything, but then, Deacon started walking briskly toward the power line road and I followed him, saw the cat he was following. Been wanting a mouser, and I bet he's been hanging around more than just today, from all the freak-outs of late by the birds. Trying to locate an owner first, though. Good size cat, obviously has been inside someone's house because he sits at the door and "asks" to come inside. If I can't find his owner, and he stays here, he has to be neutered, period. I have tomcat spray, ick, though I haven't smelled any evidence of it in a very long time. Hope he can avoid the coyotes.

 

[chickenneighbor]

Pretty kitty! Now, would you call him a barred buff tabby? Looks like Garfield! My neighbor's cat now thinks she's a chicken and comes running with them when I go to visit with treats, usually grapes or BOSS. Then she's disappointed