MJ's little flock

[LozzyR]

It's always been the hen that chooses the rooster.
If you haven't read this it's worth reading just to understand how hierarchy and mating arrangements are made in a free range flock.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

That’s a great article, thanks!

 

[MaryJanet]

She may not. Fat Bird, Geddit and Blue Spot stayed top hens in their tribes.

That would be perfect. She's such a competent peace keeper I'd like her to be in charge for as long as she draws breath.

 

[Ribh]

That would be perfect. She's such a competent peace keeper I'd like her to be in charge for as long as she draws breath.

She is a lovely hen & I have a terribly soft spot for Aussies.

 

[MaryJanet]

It's always been the hen that chooses the rooster.
If you haven't read this it's worth reading just to understand how hierarchy and mating arrangements are made in a free range flock.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

That's a fascinating read Shad. If I ever live somewhere roosters are allowed, I'll be keeping them.

 

[MaryJanet]

She is a lovely hen & I have a terribly soft spot for Aussies.

I'm really coming to appreciate the depth of her capabilities. I feel like I won the lotto the day I picked her up and brought her home.

 

[Shadrach]

Ok, so not just me. Sometimes I worry my observations are a little out there. I will add my friend's flock was much happier & did far better without that rooster.

There was a period when all that was left of Tribe 1 was Fat Bird and Ruffles. Cillin was an orphan. Both his mother, Otic and his unnamed sister got killed. His mother Otic lived with the bantams. She had bantam genes but no family. Roosters in this position go rogue. No tribe will take them in if there is already a rooster present. Cillin decided I was his best bet for company and protection. I had him housed in one of the maternity units at the time. At opening up time he would head for the bamboo clump and when I came out to work on my lamps in the car port, Cillin would sort of hover close by. I did feel sorry for him.
After a while he ended up following me around as long as it wasn't into occupied territory.
Fat Bird and Ruffles used to come to my house and spend most of their day in or just outside.
Of course, eventually Cillin and the two hens met. It was very funny. Cillin would hover about outside looking extremely nervous and if Fat Bird should be heading his way he ran.
This went on for a while, but Ruffles who likes her men was pretty decent to Cillin and eventually all three would a bit nervously hang around in the house.
I used to escort Fat Bird and Ruffles to roost at night. They would both wait for me and I would lead the way up the bank with them following. After a while Treacle would follow along behind still looking rather nervous but watching what was going on very carefully. He would walk right up to the coop ramp and then head back with me. I encouraged this behaviour and semi taught him not to hustle the hens away from the food, I groomed him in front of the hens and hoped Fat Bird in particular would cut him some slack. This went on for a couple of months. One day I escorted Fat Bird and Ruffles home with Cillin now walking alongside rather than nervously hanging back and instead of turning back walked up the ramp and put his head through the pop door and made nesting noises. Something didn't happen and he got off the ramp and hung around at the bottom for a few minutes. Needless to say I was fascinated and hopeful. If Cillin got accepted by Ruffles and Fat Bird then there was a chance the tribe might recover.
Cillin went up the ramp again and put his head through the door and made nesting and cooing noises again. I don't know which hen answered him but I heard the call. As soon as Cillin heard the call he went into the coop. I think he spent his first night on the floor. Ruffles adored Cillin. She fussed over him, crouched for him and while it took a while, Fat Bird I beleive came to rather like him too.
All the chickens you may have seen in pictures of Tribe 1 are Cillin and Ruffle's sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters.

 

[MaryJanet]

It looks like everyone is getting used to each other.

I'm very satisfied with my decisions so far. I daresay there are things I'm doing wrong, but all the chickens are foraging and eating from feed dispensers, all are drinking, no real damage is being done in the pecking order negotiations, all are dust bathing daily, and all are living contented chickeny lives to the extent possible in a backyard setting. I think I'm doing a better job of providing for their well-being than I have in the past. I hope I stay on a learning path.

 

[MaryJanet]

There was a period when all that was left of Tribe 1 was Fat Bird and Ruffles. Cillin was an orphan. Both his mother, Otic and his unnamed sister got killed. His mother Otic lived with the bantams. She had bantam genes but no family. Roosters in this position go rogue. No tribe will take them in if there is already a rooster present. Cillin decided I was his best bet for company and protection. I had him housed in one of the maternity units at the time. At opening up time he would head for the bamboo clump and when I came out to work on my lamps in the car port, Cillin would sort of hover close by. I did feel sorry for him.
After a while he ended up following me around as long as it wasn't into occupied territory.
Fat Bird and Ruffles used to come to my house and spend most of their day in or just outside.
Of course, eventually Cillin and the two hens met. It was very funny. Cillin would hover about outside looking extremely nervous and if Fat Bird should be heading his way he ran.
This went on for a while, but Ruffles who likes her men was pretty decent to Cillin and eventually all three would a bit nervously hang around in the house.
I used to escort Fat Bird and Ruffles to roost at night. They would both wait for me and I would lead the way up the bank with them following. After a while Treacle would follow along behind still looking rather nervous but watching what was going on very carefully. He would walk right up to the coop ramp and then head back with me. I encouraged this behaviour and semi taught him not to hustle the hens away from the food, I groomed him in front of the hens and hoped Fat Bird in particular would cut him some slack. This went on for a couple of months. One day I escorted Fat Bird and Ruffles home with Cillin now walking alongside rather than nervously hanging back and instead of turning back walked up the ramp and put his head through the pop door and made nesting noises. Something didn't happen and he got off the ramp and hung around at the bottom for a few minutes. Needless to say I was fascinated and hopeful. If Cillin got accepted by Ruffles and Fat Bird then there was a chance the tribe might recover.
Cillin went up the ramp again and put his head through the door and made nesting and cooing noises again. I don't know which hen answered him but I heard the call. As soon as Cillin heard the call he went into the coop. I think he spent his first night on the floor. Ruffles adored Cillin. She fussed over him, crouched for him and while it took a while, Fat Bird I beleive came to rather like him too.
All the chickens you may have seen in pictures of Tribe 1 are Cillin and Ruffle's sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters.

What an amazing anecdote. I'm so grateful you've chosen to write up your observations.

 

[Ribh]

There was a period when all that was left of Tribe 1 was Fat Bird and Ruffles. Cillin was an orphan. Both his mother, Otic and his unnamed sister got killed. His mother Otic lived with the bantams. She had bantam genes but no family. Roosters in this position go rogue. No tribe will take them in if there is already a rooster present. Cillin decided I was his best bet for company and protection. I had him housed in one of the maternity units at the time. At opening up time he would head for the bamboo clump and when I came out to work on my lamps in the car port, Cillin would sort of hover close by. I did feel sorry for him.
After a while he ended up following me around as long as it wasn't into occupied territory.
Fat Bird and Ruffles used to come to my house and spend most of their day in or just outside.
Of course, eventually Cillin and the two hens met. It was very funny. Cillin would hover about outside looking extremely nervous and if Fat Bird should be heading his way he ran.
This went on for a while, but Ruffles who likes her men was pretty decent to Cillin and eventually all three would a bit nervously hang around in the house.
I used to escort Fat Bird and Ruffles to roost at night. They would both wait for me and I would lead the way up the bank with them following. After a while Treacle would follow along behind still looking rather nervous but watching what was going on very carefully. He would walk right up to the coop ramp and then head back with me. I encouraged this behaviour and semi taught him not to hustle the hens away from the food, I groomed him in front of the hens and hoped Fat Bird in particular would cut him some slack. This went on for a couple of months. One day I escorted Fat Bird and Ruffles home with Cillin now walking alongside rather than nervously hanging back and instead of turning back walked up the ramp and put his head through the pop door and made nesting noises. Something didn't happen and he got off the ramp and hung around at the bottom for a few minutes. Needless to say I was fascinated and hopeful. If Cillin got accepted by Ruffles and Fat Bird then there was a chance the tribe might recover.
Cillin went up the ramp again and put his head through the door and made nesting and cooing noises again. I don't know which hen answered him but I heard the call. As soon as Cillin heard the call he went into the coop. I think he spent his first night on the floor. Ruffles adored Cillin. She fussed over him, crouched for him and while it took a while, Fat Bird I beleive came to rather like him too.
All the chickens you may have seen in pictures of Tribe 1 are Cillin and Ruffle's sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters.

I find this fascinating. Animals have a complicated way of sorting through their relationships & whether or not they can happily get along. And I guess Tribe 1 recovered.

 

[Ribh]

@MJ: How are you doing weather wise today? We're up to 32C but our humidity is down & there is a tiny little breeze. Just the same I've watered down the run.