Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Thanks! I have a Buff Orpington, Black Australorp, Easter Egger & Speckled Sussex. I live in a borough with an up to 4 hen & no roosters ordinance so am enjoying my 4 girls. I know your flock is ever changing but what do you have now?

I have Cream Crested Legbars, 2 California Greys, a few Ameracaunas, 7 Bielefelders, a couple mixes, 8 turkeys, and a few randoms. And I just put in an order for some Leghorn eggs to put under my broody girl...

Hi,

I think I might have a situation but I'm not sure.
@dheltzel sold us a Partridge Banevelder cockerel and a Wheaten Marans hen and they are now 21 weeks old. They have always been best buddies and integrated into our flock of 9 together months ago. Recently, the Banevelder cockerel has started beating up the Marans hen. For the first time 2 nights ago she didn't go up to roost, so I put her up myself next to her buddy. Then yesterday, more than once she was on the grass with one wing out. I picked her up and she felt light, so I gave her a handful of food and she gobbled it all up. She was hungry so I thought maybe she's getting pecked away from the food. After watching her for a while she always goes back to her buddy and then he pecks her viciously. She doesn't run off, just goes to ground and takes it.

I'm thinking he's becoming an adolescent and he's scared of all the established laying hens, so the only hen he can show his authority over is his best friend.

I've put her in a 2ft x 2ft cage inside the run of the coop with her own food and water so she can build up strength after the recent beatings while still being part of the flock. In the long run though, I think the Barnevelder cockerel has to go, but I'm worried if she will be okay with her integration buddy out of the picture. They always free range together away from the established 7.

View attachment 1192581

Sounds like he may be a naughty. I dont have any experience here, sorry.

 

[fisherlady]

Hi,

I think I might have a situation but I'm not sure.
@dheltzel sold us a Partridge Banevelder cockerel and a Wheaten Marans hen and they are now 21 weeks old. They have always been best buddies and integrated into our flock of 9 together months ago. Recently, the Banevelder cockerel has started beating up the Marans hen. For the first time 2 nights ago she didn't go up to roost, so I put her up myself next to her buddy. Then yesterday, more than once she was on the grass with one wing out. I picked her up and she felt light, so I gave her a handful of food and she gobbled it all up. She was hungry so I thought maybe she's getting pecked away from the food. After watching her for a while she always goes back to her buddy and then he pecks her viciously. She doesn't run off, just goes to ground and takes it.

I'm thinking he's becoming an adolescent and he's scared of all the established laying hens, so the only hen he can show his authority over is his best friend.

I've put her in a 2ft x 2ft cage inside the run of the coop with her own food and water so she can build up strength after the recent beatings while still being part of the flock. In the long run though, I think the Barnevelder cockerel has to go, but I'm worried if she will be okay with her integration buddy out of the picture. They always free range together away from the established 7.

View attachment 1192581

I would give him the time out...picking like that can really wear down a bird and isn't fair to her...kicking him off his high horse may allow for an attitude adjustment and it sounds like he needs one. Personally I won't keep a rooster who is nasty to any hens, correcting bad behavior or maintaining his authority with a peck or posturing is one thing, beatings are another. Sorry but He would be heading for freezer camp.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

The meeting with the girl scouts was a total success! Everyone loved meeting Romeo

Trying on the harness...It fits!

Walking on a leash is definitely different!

Meeting the girls!

Romeo was really rather nervous about the harness and leash at first but once everyone started showing up, he relaxed and really seemed to enjoy himself

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Did anyone else watch the presidential pardon of the turkey and think, that bird looks terrible? My Tom is gorgeous compared to that guy. Poor little fella was debeaked too!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

@Auroradream26 Thats awesome! Did you make the harness? Looks like they all had a great time. I know that turkeys are ugly looking, but they have wonderful personalities! Excellent therapy pets, perhaps.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Did you make the harness?

No, the harness was one of those x back ones that sled dogs wear. We had one for our husky, Dreamy, from when she was young. It fit him incredibly well! I could easily see him being a therapy bird.

 

[kie4]

I would give him the time out...picking like that can really wear down a bird and isn't fair to her...kicking him off his high horse may allow for an attitude adjustment and it sounds like he needs one. Personally I won't keep a rooster who is nasty to any hens, correcting bad behavior or maintaining his authority with a peck or posturing is one thing, beatings are another. Sorry but He would be heading for freezer camp.

Thanks for the advice @fisherlady and @AnneInTheBurbs !
I'm going to keep the Barnevelder cockerel in with the others, and keep the Wheaten Marans segregated within the coop to keep her safe while visible to the flock. She seems fine in her time-out area. Then in 1 week the Barnevelder cockerel will be removed permanently and I'll free range the Wheaten Marans with the other 7 and keep an eye on them all. Hope she won't be too sad without her abusive boyfriend anymore.

It's been interesting watching the behavioral changes of the young cockerel as he's grown into adolescence. The established 7 hens are obviously more dominant than him based on watching interactions, but he's gone from roosting in the run, to poop board, to bottom roost, and last night he was on the top roost. Priority number 1 is harmony in the flock though, so sayonara to him.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Thanks for the advice @fisherlady and @AnneInTheBurbs !
I'm going to keep the Barnevelder cockerel in with the others, and keep the Wheaten Marans segregated within the coop to keep her safe while visible to the flock. She seems fine in her time-out area. Then in 1 week the Barnevelder cockerel will be removed permanently and I'll free range the Wheaten Marans with the other 7 and keep an eye on them all. Hope she won't be too sad without her abusive boyfriend anymore.

It's been interesting watching the behavioral changes of the young cockerel as he's grown into adolescence. The established 7 hens are obviously more dominant than him based on watching interactions, but he's gone from roosting in the run, to poop board, to bottom roost, and last night he was on the top roost. Priority number 1 is harmony in the flock though, so sayonara to him.

good for you. Will you be processing him, or giving him away?

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Well, I picked up my leghorn fertile eggs this morning and popped them under my broody. even though I picked them up, the handling charge was almost as much as the cost of the eggs!

I figure if I get a few layers out of the bunch and get to watch the show as she raises them, it's all good.

The best part so far is the broody shuffle! Love how they shift the eggs when you put them underneath!

 

[fangedknight]

Does anyone have a spare incubator they aren't using/don't need anymore? I'm still on the hunt for one and it's hard to find something that's not going to break the budget right now.