my roo is a jerk

[bburn]

serendipityfarm....nah....I am here!

I do have a question for anyone that wants to take it on. I am finally getting down to four roo's. 10 hens....and I KNOW the numbers on the roo's has to change soon.

I have one BO, two Barred Rocks and one Cochin...all roo's....well, ok, am still hoping I am wrong about the cochin.

The cochin stays regardless.
The BO has started getting a little agressive with the other birds now that the large population of roo's are gone. I do know that I am seeing a little pecking order here with the loss of the other roo's.
The Barred Rocks....so far seem calm. One more than the other, but neither very aggressive.

No aggression towards me yet at all. I spend time in the run every day. Usually sitting on a little perch passing out treats. Other than occasionally pecking my toe nail polish the roos are respectful to me. I do look them in the eye I click at them if they are being agressive with others. Then I woo them in with a treat. I see it as distracting them. I am going to have to make a decision in the next few weeks but have extra pens for them if anyone has to be removed.

What is dropping a wing? The only time I see any wing flapping is when I watch them from the house. Now the RIR's were much different. Lots of flapping with them and growling. The remaining roo's don't growl at me or flap. But the dropped wing thing...is that right before they get agressive? How do you chose and how many can I keep....the cochin and who??? I really want to keep one for sure and maybe two....don't want to lose the crowing.

 

[emvickrey]

Quote:
I have a silkie roo that will growl at me and he will stand up as tall as he can and flap his wings at me. He will stay at bay as long as I don't touch any of his girls. If I do I have to watch my back. When he comes at me trying to spur me I kick back and he gets out of my way. Right now he has been replaced by an Ameracauna roo to go with the EE hens. I have a couple silkie pullets of the blue variety to put with him if he doesn't end up with a new owner before then. They have 2 more months before I plan to separate them from the rest for breeding for color.

As far as you question about how may roos. I was told the ratio is 1 roo per 10 hens. The hens will get over bred and most likely abused if you have too many roos. The most hens I have in a pen is 8 and 1 roo.

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
I let the roos choose themselves. If one is a troublemaker, it goes first, etc, till noone is making trouble.

 

[bburn]

seminolewind....that is what I am thinking, and am glad I have someplace to put them.

emvickrey....THAT is what I don't want....abused hens. Am watching closely. Can see the run from my back door and I watch the interaction easily from there. I just feel like I need time to watch and see who is going to be the good leader, kind to the girls and not agressive towards me. Still don't know for sure that the cochin is a boy....no crow. But should he start crowing that will be my pick.....

 

[PunkinPeep]

Dropping a wing is what they do when they're wooing a hen.

 

[bburn]

.....well then I don't have to worry about that!

 

[Qi Chicken]

You can't miss the dropped wing. They put one shoulder down. Spread the wing so the tip hits the ground and stutter step around a hen. Usually kind of in a circle. Believe me you will know it when you see it! My guy often does it without mating, he is just strutting his stuff I think. Intimidate or impress...I don't really know. The hens don't look all that impressed, more intimidated.

 

[bburn]

Well....mine are not doing anything more than grabbing hens by the neck so far. The hens keep their distance mostly. They screech and run. I have seen changes in all of them since the reduction in force of roosters.

I have chicken tv...old fashioned....out the window I have a straight shot to a view of the run. I keep watching to see who is top roo....have to believe it is the BO. The Cochin is just quiet. No picking on anyone. Not scared but no raised neck feathers like the others. And still he hardly has comb or waddles. I am watching to see if he crows. Never have seen any crowing from him. They are 21 weeks and all the other roo's crow. So, I am holding out for he/she to be a she still. The two BR's look to be underlings of the BO so far. I would like to see the BO be the roo to keep. He is pretty and big. He will chase the others sometimes but it is like lining them out.

Who knew this could be so entertaining!!

 

[seminolewind]

See, I abide by what Delfargo is doing because I don't want a roo to hate me. I have pets. If I wack him with a rake or kick him, I am really not solving anything, just making him mad and he will take it as a challange and perhaps try again.

As a hobby, I've spent hours and hours over 3 years watching behavior patterns. It's interesting stuff that is not well researched at this time, except for some of us on BYC.

One of the interesting things I see is that the low on the ladder chickens will turn to the side and not look another chicken in the eye if she or he is high on the pecking order. Roos tend to chase lower roos away to show them who's boss, and the boss roo will most likely allow other roos as long as they move away, turn to the side, and not look them in the eye. I used to have an alpha roo who was okay with his brother being in the flock. The brother would only challange his brother-top-roo behind his back. It was really funny to watch. If alpha roo turned around, Lowly brother would turn to the side and make like he was innocent.

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
I think pecking order is real interesting! If BO is a young roo, he needs practice to get better and more gentle. If he doesn't, well, I call them r@pists!