My chicken flies

[WallyBirdie]

My little cockerel Haybale (nearly a month old) is not quite ready for outside living, but he has made his first couple supervised trips. It's a start(!) but for now he lives indoors.

My modified storage tote that I used as a brooder has a door cut on one side so Haybale can go in and out as he pleases. The door is left open whenever I can supervise (which is a large portion of the day).

I have pet birds (budgies and a conure) that like to interact with Haybale. My birds all feed and groom each other, and Haybale is now part of their grooming sessions. It was endearing and I was just happy for Haybale to have the interaction. I thought it might be good for him to socialize.

What I didn't expect was for my little cockerel to attempt flight. (I know it is improbable but he sure tries!)

Some chickens can fly impressively. (My bantams certainly do!) But Haybale, whom is just under a month old, is able to go from the floor to the top of my head, and he gets a little distance when he tries.

Cute and impressive, but for me to tackle a chore or two and then go check on everyone... I found my birds perched on top of the curtains, their little feet firm around the rod... and among them was my chicken, looking like a little birdzilla next to them, it's surprising.

Haybale has a lot of personality and he is very adventurous, but he does not know he's a chicken.

l figured that could be helped by gradual flock integration. Will that be helped or hindered by him flocking around with my indoor birds?

 

[orloffer]

Wow, that is so interesting! Is Haybale a standard-sized chicken?

 

[WallyBirdie]

Wow, that is so interesting! Is Haybale a standard-sized chicken?

Haybale is a month old cockerel. Father is standard sized Naked Neck Turken and mother is assumed to be a bantam frizzle Cochin. (Haybale is fluffy but not frizzled. He is large for his age. He has been on the curtain rod a few times.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Haybale is a month old cockerel. Father is standard sized Naked Neck Turken and mother is assumed to be a bantam frizzle Cochin. (Haybale is fluffy but not frizzled. He is large for his age. He has been on the curtain rod a few times.

Wow interesting! He either thinks he isn’t a chicken or thinks your birds are chickens! Poor little guy, he is old enough to join the flock now, but maybe let him grow up some more with your birds- who knows he might not be so aggressive (let’s not count on that though) since he’s part bantam he might be a small rooster so if you have a big rooster I wouldn’t put him in there with them, instead put him with a different flock or next to the flock in his own pen

 

[WallyBirdie]

Wow interesting! He either thinks he isn’t a chicken or thinks your birds are chickens! Poor little guy, he is old enough to join the flock now, but maybe let him grow up some more with your birds- who knows he might not be so aggressive (let’s not count on that though) since he’s part bantam he might be a small rooster so if you have a big rooster I wouldn’t put him in there with them, instead put him with a different flock or next to the flock in his own pen

He is getting supervised trips outside to experience the outside world and be gradually introduced to the flock. He will be an outside bird soon but I am stalling for him to get a bit bigger. Last time I let a chick out too soon, it was gotten by a stray cat.