Boots are red with chickens on them, and are new. Now that I think about it, Dumbledore was startled when I was wearing them and Snape only did the threatening thing when I was wearing these. I think I need to try different boots.(Too bad - I like them.)
That is helpful about Apoc. He has not been mistreated by me, of course, but he was really harassed and bullied by Tank for a couple weeks before I managed to arrange housing to separate them - and best I can tell, it wasn't so much Tank just being a jerk - Apoc really sort of threw himself into the subordinate role - he was a good bit bigger than Tank but wouldn't fight back. He also later got the unfortunate idea that Dumbledore's girls were maybe destined to be his when Dumbledore was inside healing from the dog attack - he likes to beeline to their paddock and fight with Dumbledore through the fence. I spent an awful lot of time trying to round him up as he escaped a lot as well. Hence being locked up.
I suppose the upside is that he has essentially been inadvertently in a "finishing" regimen, eating lots of feed, not a lot of running around. I will be culling the Cream Legbar boys at some point in early summer, I may cull him at that time if not before. He's big (at least among my birds). The NNs are all just about 7 months old.
- Ant Farm
Edit to add: I was just remembering that Apoc DID go after my leg from behind when I was wearing shorts about a week or so ago - not wearing those boots. Superficial scratch, but it was an attempt at spurring. Not severe, but still healing.
Red seems to be a common 'offensive' color among birds in general. With tom turkeys in particular it can send the most placid tom into a murderous rage...
All of my yard clothes are dark- brown, green, greys, black. If I wear a bright blue shirt or a friend comes by wearing pink, red, bold colors or a dress, it can really make them flip the *&(& out- in panic but the general idea of color or even style can affect them.
Not to say one shouldn't or cant wear variable coloring and patterns(you should actually), just an example of mine being habituated to my usual style and how clothing and colors can affect them.
Unfortunately the bolded part is pretty bad. Here they get flat out culled for that.. so that is his second attempt at you. If the rooster has something I really want bad enough for at least one breeding, what I do is immediately grab the rooster flip him over and let him go in a way that it was not his option to do so but not placed on the ground either. The important part being immediate- not 3 or 5 minutes after.. they will not make the association if there is a time lapse of any sort. The idea is to completely throw them off balance while avoiding any feeling of a 'rooster fight' which only feeds the fight instinct.
Personally I've found out if they continue for a third time after any sort of 'deterrent' they are never truly trustworthy- they either just wait for a few months then try again, or do it again next spring etc.
btw finally got to weigh the hatchery turken roo.. 7 pounds. He was then culled though, as I had far heavier roos, did not care for his repeatedly raping the pullets(he was seriously bad about that), decided to either sell off the pullets or merge them with other birds..
