Rwood5093
In the Brooder
I have a little EE cockerel who is 13 weeks old (1 of 3). Eventually 2 will go to freezer camp if they ever fatten up. they're currently integrating into my main flock (6 pullets/1 cockerel) for the past month. 1 EE stays on the roof of the coop 24x7 and has never come down (for 5 weeks). The other EE comes down every now and then gets the crap beat out of him by the main flock, but tries to blend in. the third - he comes down when I'm there - but is quick to run behind the coop when he feels threatened. This is where it gets interesting.
When he's behind the coop, I talk to him to encourage him to come out. "Hey buddy, come on out", But, he runs out, chomps down on my ankle for about 5 seconds and it leaves a bruise (I swear he even twists his beak like a great white shark). It usually startles me and I shake him off, or whack him with a stick. The only time it doesn't happen, is when one of the older hens is within a few feet. you can see the look in his eyes "must bite ankle!" and he'll come halfway, and then just stop when he sees one of the older hens (no biting). if no one else is around it's game on. he is not mean in any other way - I can grab him, handle him, etc and I think he feels safe from the other chickens when I'm there. (becuase he comes down from the roof). he even goes down in a submissinve type pose when i pet him (if that matters).
so what's his deal? it's strangely similar to the way my older Barred Rock cockerel (21 weeks) chomps down on the hens to do the deed. surely this little guy is not trying to get it on with my foot? is he just being a jerk?
When he's behind the coop, I talk to him to encourage him to come out. "Hey buddy, come on out", But, he runs out, chomps down on my ankle for about 5 seconds and it leaves a bruise (I swear he even twists his beak like a great white shark). It usually startles me and I shake him off, or whack him with a stick. The only time it doesn't happen, is when one of the older hens is within a few feet. you can see the look in his eyes "must bite ankle!" and he'll come halfway, and then just stop when he sees one of the older hens (no biting). if no one else is around it's game on. he is not mean in any other way - I can grab him, handle him, etc and I think he feels safe from the other chickens when I'm there. (becuase he comes down from the roof). he even goes down in a submissinve type pose when i pet him (if that matters).
so what's his deal? it's strangely similar to the way my older Barred Rock cockerel (21 weeks) chomps down on the hens to do the deed. surely this little guy is not trying to get it on with my foot? is he just being a jerk?