- Dec 12, 2012
- 20
- 2
- 70
Okay, I can't stress more that this is our first flock, and we love our babies very much. they just started laying last month, andrecently have been acting more... (for lack of a better word) b**chy than usual. I have two NH reds (Milly, and Henrietta), two Ameraucaunas (Clucky and Mercy) and two barred rocks (Kate and Pippa). Usually, the barred rocks are the ones acting like they're royalty, and we don't deserve to be in their presence (hence the name) lol. But all 6 of them have been letting me pick them up.
Here's where it get's weird; when I reach to pick them up, they get down close to the ground, and spread their shoulder blades apart to get their wings in this weird position. What I do to calm them down is gently stroke their wings, and tell them how they're such good girls to calm them down before I pick them up. This usually goes fine, but when I do this with my barred rocks, my ameraucauna, Clucky non-chalantly walks over, and gives them a few good pecks. At first, I just pushed her away, and said "no". then I googled some sort of help. what I read was with roosters (clucky's the alpha hen, so I assumed it would work), you have to hold them upside down by their feet. I've had to do this a total of four times. Once, when Clucky decided to chomp on Pippa's comb, again about three days later after pushing her away, and scolding her when she was persistant in pecking Pippa on the back of the head. a third time today, same problem. I had to do it last night to my barred rock, Kate. the situation was somewhat reversed. she decided to start BITING Mercy. It seems to work for a little while. When I did it to Kate, she went off, and sulked in a corner (poor thing was so embarrased. I made it up to her by giving them all cheese today.)
Anyway, I need to know, IS THIS METHOD HURTING THEM, OR JUST CAUSING A LITTLE HUMILIATION IN FRONT OF THE FLOCK? If so, anre there any other alternative disciplinary methods I can use (aside from culling them, that's not an option.)? Those little chickies have become the family babies, so they mean a lot to us. I would never intentionally hurt them
Here's where it get's weird; when I reach to pick them up, they get down close to the ground, and spread their shoulder blades apart to get their wings in this weird position. What I do to calm them down is gently stroke their wings, and tell them how they're such good girls to calm them down before I pick them up. This usually goes fine, but when I do this with my barred rocks, my ameraucauna, Clucky non-chalantly walks over, and gives them a few good pecks. At first, I just pushed her away, and said "no". then I googled some sort of help. what I read was with roosters (clucky's the alpha hen, so I assumed it would work), you have to hold them upside down by their feet. I've had to do this a total of four times. Once, when Clucky decided to chomp on Pippa's comb, again about three days later after pushing her away, and scolding her when she was persistant in pecking Pippa on the back of the head. a third time today, same problem. I had to do it last night to my barred rock, Kate. the situation was somewhat reversed. she decided to start BITING Mercy. It seems to work for a little while. When I did it to Kate, she went off, and sulked in a corner (poor thing was so embarrased. I made it up to her by giving them all cheese today.)
Anyway, I need to know, IS THIS METHOD HURTING THEM, OR JUST CAUSING A LITTLE HUMILIATION IN FRONT OF THE FLOCK? If so, anre there any other alternative disciplinary methods I can use (aside from culling them, that's not an option.)? Those little chickies have become the family babies, so they mean a lot to us. I would never intentionally hurt them