A friend of mine and I decided a few months couple of months ago to do a joint backyard flock, since her barn already had a coop built on the back of it when she moved in. We found a local "chicken person" and purchased 4 nice 4 month old RIR pullets. They settled in nicely, were easy to deal with, quite friendly, would eat out of our hands etc. At 6 months still no eggs, and two were looking suspiciously Roosterlike. One day we were out back and the two roosters started crowing, plus one of the pullets as well. We called the guy we got them from and he graciously offered to exchange the two roosters for two more pullets. We took them over and got two nice adult Barred Rocks, plus two probably 7? week old RIR/BO crosses as "sorry the other ones were roosters" gifts. The Barred Rocks settled in nicely and continued laying without a hitch-even after the stress of the move and new flock! The babies we put in a large wire dog kennel inside the coop in hopes the RIR would get used to them as they grew up and we would be able to introduce them successfully at a later date.
Fast forward 4 weeks and the RIR have turned into holy terrors. We have gotten two eggs total from one of them, but that's it. They are very dominant over the poor BRs, and even mount them rather forcefully. Both crow now. I know based on behavior they both sound like roosters, but they definitely look like hens, plus the fact that we have gotten a couple of eggs from one. They also pace around the babies' kennel, trying to figure a way to get in there to attack them. I've also had two accidents while cleaning the kennel in which one of the RIR has snuck in and gotten ahold of a baby. They attack to kill and it took extreme force to get her off both times. Luckily they weren't hurt either time, and my DH and I finished our chicken tractor last night and brought the babies over to our house so they can lead a good chicken life now.
I know RIR have a reputation for being aggressive but I'm surprised it is to this point, and also that it is trumping their egg laying instincts. Is it possible they could be hermapherdite chickens? We've decided these chickens need to go elsewhere-a stew pot possibly. We can't sell them as egg layers because of their current behavior, but is it possible they would straighten out if put with a dominant Roo? A shame since they are healthy, beautiful, 6mo old girls who should be in their prime.
Fast forward 4 weeks and the RIR have turned into holy terrors. We have gotten two eggs total from one of them, but that's it. They are very dominant over the poor BRs, and even mount them rather forcefully. Both crow now. I know based on behavior they both sound like roosters, but they definitely look like hens, plus the fact that we have gotten a couple of eggs from one. They also pace around the babies' kennel, trying to figure a way to get in there to attack them. I've also had two accidents while cleaning the kennel in which one of the RIR has snuck in and gotten ahold of a baby. They attack to kill and it took extreme force to get her off both times. Luckily they weren't hurt either time, and my DH and I finished our chicken tractor last night and brought the babies over to our house so they can lead a good chicken life now.
I know RIR have a reputation for being aggressive but I'm surprised it is to this point, and also that it is trumping their egg laying instincts. Is it possible they could be hermapherdite chickens? We've decided these chickens need to go elsewhere-a stew pot possibly. We can't sell them as egg layers because of their current behavior, but is it possible they would straighten out if put with a dominant Roo? A shame since they are healthy, beautiful, 6mo old girls who should be in their prime.
