Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

[LaurenRitz]

I put all the female chicks on their new roost last night. This morning they went right back to their old area. We'll see what happens tonight.

Although the fact that they did find their way back might be a good sign.

 

[LaurenRitz]

The Sussex-Dorking mix can't get up to the roost without assistance yet. I have left the ladder up, but yesterday they were roosting on the top rung again. I put them up. The boy ran from me and was trying to get up by himself. Right now he can fly about 2/3 of the way up, so about 8 feet. Rafters start at 12 feet.

I am wondering if he is going to be too heavy for rafter roosting. They are currently 10 weeks old. Should they be able to fly that high, if they're going to as adults?

 

[Perris]

A chicken - especially a heavy breed - can do damage to their legs and feet landing from a height especially repeatedly. I've never had Sussex or Dorking so I don't know about them, but I cringe every time I see one of the tree huggers land, even on a soft lawn.

 

[kattabelly]

A chicken - especially a heavy breed - can do damage to their legs and feet landing from a height especially repeatedly. I've never had Sussex or Dorking so I don't know about them, but I cringe every time I see one of the tree huggers land, even on a soft lawn.

Sussex can get to be pretty hefty. Even if they could manage that height in an emergency I'd be surprised at one choosing to roost at that height every night unless they had a much easier way up, and I'd want them to have a good landing pad - something like a big heap of leaves or loose straw, a couple of feet deep at the very least.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I had a Jersey Giant hen who preferred to roost on those rafters, so I figured it should work, but watching him struggle just to get up makes me wonder.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Well my cockerel became dinner. I felt bad but better that than an injured human. And now the hens and pullets are all foraging happily together instead of hiding out in the underbrush all day. My first thought is they are happy he’s gone. My next thought is they’re too out in the open. *sigh* Hopefully my next rooster works out!!

 

[LaurenRitz]

These are all ((JGxRIR)xRIR)xBA. I thought the combs were interesting. All three are cockerels. The hens and pullets with the same bloodline have the same dark comb.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

These are all ((JGxRIR)xRIR)xBA. I thought the combs were interesting. All three are cockerels. The hens and pullets with the same bloodline have the same dark comb.
View attachment 4201661View attachment 4201663

Oh my goodness, their feathering is gorgeous!

 

[LaurenRitz]

Oh my goodness, their feathering is gorgeous!

At this point most of the boys that come in black have that patterning. Their grandfather had that coloring as well, as did their father's brother. This is their grandfather.

This one is currently in isolation, waiting for him to grow up a little. He's got the same father, but his mother is a Ranger. *(Oops. Just checked my records and he's also a BA cross, so the younger 3 are his full brothers)

 

[Wild Iris]

...The real problem is he has flared his neck feathers at me and my tiny human. He actually challenged me. ...

...
He should never treat you like a rival rooster. If he does, I don’t believe that’s curable...

Its the neck-hackle posturing that would have me concerned. ...

If he's flaring at you, you're the one who will need to beat some sense into him. ...Mind you, if it's true aggression it can be done, but it's time and effort intensive....

Seems like some of you have knowledge in this area. I had my first experience with something like this recently and would like your takes on it.

I have a 2y.o. american game cock who joined my flock 7 weeks ago. He is the only full grown rooster I have..

The other day, this new guy flew at my legs and slightly wounded my bare knee (above my boots) when I went out to feed them in the morning. I shouted and swore angrily at him and he backed off. I have noticed that since then he will often walk towards me with purpose when I go out, especially in the morning, but he stops and backs off when I stand my ground and speak firmly to him. It's not every time, however; most of the time he is respectful.

Where does this kind of behavior fall in the spectrum for gamecocks? I don't have enough experience to know whether I should be worried, or whether he is just testing boundaries. Or something else.

He does seem very irritable in the mornings, which is when this happened. There are three teenage half-game roosters who seem to be getting on his nerves. Also, the rest of the flock often runs to me, or follows me when they see me headed out. It seems like this new guy joins them in running toward me, and then that kind of triggers his "invader must be chased off" instinct. Is that possible?

How should I categorize his behavior right now? Is it likely to escalate and become dangerous? What is the best way to handle this?