I was only 44 degrees out this morning. I feel badly for my motherless chicks, but hopefully they will be fine on their own. I think they are too small to keep in the coop with the big hens, so they have their own spacious stall but no one to keep them warm. I'm sure they'll be fine though!
It was 90 during the day today, but 48 in the morning. That is how the weather is here in the mountains outside of Seattle. We get some crazy extremes at times. Last weekend it rained about 2 inches, which is unheard of in August. We haven't had it get this cold so soon in the "fall". I'm thinking this winter is going to be really cold.
I know! She needs to just get out the way when she sees him up to something!
Well his dad is going soon because he attacks me and some of the hens! I also found this RIR cockerel in the woods so I'm going to put him in with my lot when the big cockerel goes to see how he gets on. Hopefully he will be nice because I have a Light Sussex hen, so they could make good sex links. But I know RIR's have a reputation, so I'm not getting my hopes up!
Bossing the hens around is one thing but actual serious attacks is a NO-NO. Personally, I don't mind if a cock bird is hateful to folks. There are no children around here and I believe the displays of human aggression is an indication of high testosterone. I just make sure they don't catch me un-awares.
What basically happens with him is he has a few hens which he loves and shares food with but theres around 4 which he doesn't like. I have a Welsummer which he's the most horrible to, he seems to despise her. If I throw treats and all the hens pile in for it, he will run and peck her and chase her off. One day I thought he had killed her. He came up behind her and she was blocked in by this metal sheet, but she tried to get past him and he would let her and chased her and flapped at her from the back and she went straight into the metal sheet with her neck pressed against it, I thought he had slit her throat as her eyes just shut. I chased him off afterwards. He still attacks her, chases her from food etc. She's terrified of him. The other 3 he just doesn't let share food and if they dare to eat some of the food he flaps at them. He always puts himself first and wants all the food and if theres not a lot left, he will chase the girls away so he can have it. He's attacked me quite a few times. I don't tolerate aggressive cockerels now, makes it no fun as mine are just pets. I don't breed, the only time I do is just to lt my broodies experience being mothersBossing the hens around is one thing but actual serious attacks is a NO-NO. Personally, I don't mind if a cock bird is hateful to folks. There are no children around here and I believe the displays of human aggression is an indication of high testosterone. I just make sure they don't catch me un-awares.
I see so many folks on other threads complaining about low fertility and I think they have likely culled the fertility right out of their flocks because they 're-homed' a good bird that is just doing what comes naturally to a brood cock.
That last statement might draw fire but I've seen it happen on farms near me. I don't go out messin' with the cocks with shorts on...I wear long pants and shoes...no flip-flops or sandals. Plus...I keep an eye on the hateful rascals. I wouldn't cull a broody hen that gets a bit radical over her clutch of eggs or chicks either.
Turk
I don't tolerate aggressive cock birds, whether they are aggressive towards me or towards the hens in his care. I have brahmas, so they are supposed to be docile and I expect them to be. That doesn't mean that they won't charge me when I stir up the hens, they'll charge but they know where to stop. Now if you are raising English game, then you should expect a more aggressive cock, but he still has to know who is the alpha in the flock (and it isn't him).Bossing the hens around is one thing but actual serious attacks is a NO-NO. Personally, I don't mind if a cock bird is hateful to folks. There are no children around here and I believe the displays of human aggression is an indication of high testosterone. I just make sure they don't catch me un-awares.
I see so many folks on other threads complaining about low fertility and I think they have likely culled the fertility right out of their flocks because they 're-homed' a good bird that is just doing what comes naturally to a brood cock.
That last statement might draw fire but I've seen it happen on farms near me. I don't go out messin' with the cocks with shorts on...I wear long pants and shoes...no flip-flops or sandals. Plus...I keep an eye on the hateful rascals. I wouldn't cull a broody hen that gets a bit radical over her clutch of eggs or chicks either.
Turk
