Seems to be somewhat of a floozie! I've had my newbies in the grow out pen as a health and social precaution for a week and a half now. I bought the cutest little, what I thought was a Columbian colored cochin, I'm not sure since she doesnt have feathered legs and she's not very nice. She may just be antisocial, i dont know. I left them all out into the big pen, just for a while yesterday so i could clean their pen and give them some extra exercise and to "test the waters". The big birds heard all the chatter and came to investigate, so i let them in, supervised and as soon as my 1 roo came in, she flattened out on the ground for him. He quickly jumped on her, grabbed her neck feathers and did his thing. Then the other roo came to the door and I let him in, she did the same thing with him! WOWZERS! Ok...fast forward a few hours, The boys are back at the gate after scratching and bug hunting, so I let them back in, 1 at a time I don't want a horrible mess on my hands, and again, she flattens out for him!
Now, normally I would say this is a great thing, but heres my problem....my roos are barred rocks, big beefy boys! The one, did his "thing"and she walked away and went back to pecking at the ground, he came after her again, this time she wasnt so accepting but he was insistant. So as she went to run from him, he grabbed back feathers and literally picked her up off the ground! EKKKKKKKKK My boys are "young" and not doing this to the other girls that are their age and size and I know they have to get good at this "thing". But ohhh myyyyy goodnessssss, am I going to have to keep them from her and the other little ones until he gets his technique honed or what am I going to do? I'd LOVE to be able to intergraate the entire flock soon, but I'm going to have to think of something else if they are going to be big bullys! Anyone have any suggestions to help? I'm afraid they'll kill her! They have 2 other girls that are of age although i've never seen either one flatten for them. Do I need to find a few adult standard sized hens for them? Some that are already laying perhaps? IYIYI I hate violence!
Now, normally I would say this is a great thing, but heres my problem....my roos are barred rocks, big beefy boys! The one, did his "thing"and she walked away and went back to pecking at the ground, he came after her again, this time she wasnt so accepting but he was insistant. So as she went to run from him, he grabbed back feathers and literally picked her up off the ground! EKKKKKKKKK My boys are "young" and not doing this to the other girls that are their age and size and I know they have to get good at this "thing". But ohhh myyyyy goodnessssss, am I going to have to keep them from her and the other little ones until he gets his technique honed or what am I going to do? I'd LOVE to be able to intergraate the entire flock soon, but I'm going to have to think of something else if they are going to be big bullys! Anyone have any suggestions to help? I'm afraid they'll kill her! They have 2 other girls that are of age although i've never seen either one flatten for them. Do I need to find a few adult standard sized hens for them? Some that are already laying perhaps? IYIYI I hate violence!
