Having chickens for the first time is interesting, as there are so many firsts. This is story of my first 3 roosters.
Raptor a black sexlink rooster (barred) was the clearly the head rooster by the early age of 5 weeks. He kept everyone in line with a sharp peck and diligence, lording over all. He was the accepted boss. The 2 other rooster, one, another black sexlink , Henry, is a quiet boy and matured into a rooster who had to be quick with the ladies and watchful. A kind, easygoing rooster he is easy to approach and pick up. The other boy, a SSH, lives up to his heritage of a spritely , nervous fellow, quick to move and faster to avoid capture. I admired him. He stayed clear of Raptor and the other rooster.
But little things changed. Whitey, the SSH, was challenging Henry. Odd, I thought. Henry let Whitey be boss, as he was too laid back to really fight. Another month passed and then one morning, as the birds flowed out of the coop, the chase began. Whitey chasing Raptor non-stop. Hopping up on a ladder, Raptor had a reprieve; later that morning one of my boys raced into the house that Raptor was stuck in the fence. Odd. I raced out to help. We started to assist but he backed out himself. Checking in on the situation later, Raptor was in a corner with his head down. I watched closely, this was very odd; then I could see the missing section of comb and blood soaking his feathers where it dripped down the back of his neck in a thin line. As he was near the coop door, I scooted him into the coop and closed the door. Opening the large door, I prepared to catch him. I scooped him up and headed for the house. How many times I had treated a child with a boo-boo . . .so much the same. Off to the bathroom, calling to DH for assistance. Out with the bacitracin for the wound and swat for the feathers. I let him free range with some of his girls, knowing his reign was coming to an end.
Later in the day, I let out the others including the rooster , Whitey. Only one could be boss; best settle it where they both had room to manouver and not get cornered. Alot of chasing and running ensued thru the rest of the day. But no direct attacks. No fights. All went into roost at dark. All was quiet.
Today Raptor looked forlorn at times, a few hens nearby, his reign over; not in charge, not on watch, not guarding his hens. Whitey ever ready to chase him away and the two would run and run and run and run until Whitey gave up, certain Raptor got the message. Raptor is still special, a big Leghorn looking rooster, who will still get some of the girls without the need to guard and protect. Just relax and enjoy. If only he would see it that way.
I learned that different breeds of roosters develop and mature at different ages. Raptor will always dominate over Henry; Whitey needed time to mature as he is an old slow maturing type of chicken. And size doesn't determine top dog. It's about heart. I like them all; each is interesting and different.
The end.
Raptor a black sexlink rooster (barred) was the clearly the head rooster by the early age of 5 weeks. He kept everyone in line with a sharp peck and diligence, lording over all. He was the accepted boss. The 2 other rooster, one, another black sexlink , Henry, is a quiet boy and matured into a rooster who had to be quick with the ladies and watchful. A kind, easygoing rooster he is easy to approach and pick up. The other boy, a SSH, lives up to his heritage of a spritely , nervous fellow, quick to move and faster to avoid capture. I admired him. He stayed clear of Raptor and the other rooster.
But little things changed. Whitey, the SSH, was challenging Henry. Odd, I thought. Henry let Whitey be boss, as he was too laid back to really fight. Another month passed and then one morning, as the birds flowed out of the coop, the chase began. Whitey chasing Raptor non-stop. Hopping up on a ladder, Raptor had a reprieve; later that morning one of my boys raced into the house that Raptor was stuck in the fence. Odd. I raced out to help. We started to assist but he backed out himself. Checking in on the situation later, Raptor was in a corner with his head down. I watched closely, this was very odd; then I could see the missing section of comb and blood soaking his feathers where it dripped down the back of his neck in a thin line. As he was near the coop door, I scooted him into the coop and closed the door. Opening the large door, I prepared to catch him. I scooped him up and headed for the house. How many times I had treated a child with a boo-boo . . .so much the same. Off to the bathroom, calling to DH for assistance. Out with the bacitracin for the wound and swat for the feathers. I let him free range with some of his girls, knowing his reign was coming to an end.
Later in the day, I let out the others including the rooster , Whitey. Only one could be boss; best settle it where they both had room to manouver and not get cornered. Alot of chasing and running ensued thru the rest of the day. But no direct attacks. No fights. All went into roost at dark. All was quiet.
Today Raptor looked forlorn at times, a few hens nearby, his reign over; not in charge, not on watch, not guarding his hens. Whitey ever ready to chase him away and the two would run and run and run and run until Whitey gave up, certain Raptor got the message. Raptor is still special, a big Leghorn looking rooster, who will still get some of the girls without the need to guard and protect. Just relax and enjoy. If only he would see it that way.
I learned that different breeds of roosters develop and mature at different ages. Raptor will always dominate over Henry; Whitey needed time to mature as he is an old slow maturing type of chicken. And size doesn't determine top dog. It's about heart. I like them all; each is interesting and different.
The end.
