New Member and having Bantam Anxiety

[Toots1234]

Hi! Love this site and all the wonderful stories, helpful hits and guidance. And boy to I need guidance. I have three Bantam Cochin hens under a year old. The dominate one started crowing about three weeks ago and displaying aggressive behaviors, puffing up chest, pecking me--hard. Now the medium size one has started to crow too. And all have started to peck me, drawing a bit of blood. The two aggressive ones stock my other Reds and attack them, unprovoked! I don't know what to do. They are beautiful hens but complete little buggers. I do have a rooster, thought, not a bantam.

 

[sourland]

How positive are you that they are hens?

 

[Toots1234]

Well, I'm new to chickens and all three have the same comb and wattle. They are around 6 months old ( I think), none have layed yet, though, one was "squatting" yesterday, the nicest of the three. When the two others crow it doesn't quit sound right, I giggle every time.

 

[sourland]

The bird pictured is a cockerel.

 

[Toots1234]

Oh, really, lovely. Thank you for your help! Well, I wanted a rooster, just not three. I'm gong to hope that the smallest one is hen, her wattle and comb isn't nearly as large as the rest. So, the obvious question is...can I have two Bantam roosters and "possibly" one hen?

 

[drumstick diva]

Actually you would need more hens for harmony. Too many males will just overbreed your poor hen , and can physically damage her.

 

[drumstick diva]

If you put up photos at "what breed or gender is this," the folks will be sure to let you know if you have a second rooster, etc.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

The bird pictured is a cockerel.

x2