Ribh's D'Coopage

[Shadrach]

It was my bantam's behaviour I found really odd. It was like in her own mind she was much bigger than she was in reality. It probably helped that when she joined the flock my lead hens were both Australorps. As you have noted, like tends to hob~nob with like & so she always ran with the big girls. In turn they accepted her. The only pullet out of that batch that was immediately accepted as one of their flock! When she took on another hen it wasn't just a matter of fluffing up. She could go straight up in the air a good 3 or 4 feet ~ towering over any other hen. The other girls very rarely messed with her because she never lost.

I think the fight wins/experience is probably a lot more important than size, but the circumstances of the dispute and who they fight is more important.

 

[Ribh]

I think the fight wins/experience is probably a lot more important than size, but the circumstances of the dispute and who they fight is more important.

Yes. Despite having a mixed flock I've always tried to buy in pairs. As I couldn't get a 2nd Wyandotte bantam I opted for an Australorp bantam thinking [@ the time] they would pair up. Perish the thought! At the farm the BAB was quiet & docile. Once freed from her confines she immediately rushed around like Attila the Hun challenging everybody & asserting herself. She never really had to do it again because anyone else backed down fast. She was an interesting hen & I was sorry to lose her.

 

[Kris5902]

It got warm today ~ up to 28C [82F] & no breeze.
I opened the run early & my girls were as good as gold until 3pm ~ which is usually about when I feed them. It was still hot so I just poked my nose out to check what they were up too. Sure enough Lottie & both Campines were running amok in the gardens. I rounded them up & waited another hour before throwing some scraps over the fence. Lottie & Tuppence were both out. I didn't even bother rounding them up. They saw the bowl & knew immediately I had treats. They both came running & squatted for me to pick them up & lift them over the fence! No running around the perimeter for Tuppence either, just up & over! Total nut jobs!

I wish I could get Bob to behave like Tuppence and Lottie... I spent almost an hour following him in circles around the tractor trying to get him to go back in!

Hen dominance/hierarchy is way more interesting compared to roosters. I’ve watched the older girls cow my cockerels, with almost no effort. And the schooling poor Chickie Hawk got when he met his girls! Manners... but when the hens decide to settle thing between themselves, the chest bumping, pecking, and hackle flaring those girls are capable of is amazing!

 

[Ribh]

I wish I could get Bob to behave like Tuppence and Lottie... I spent almost an hour following him in circles around the tractor trying to get him to go back in!

Yes, but remember these are *fence hoppers* so I have spent many, many hours *chicken herding* to get them to this point. And despite their flightiness & dislike of handling Campines are rather people friendly ~ which is a decided advantage when herding.

when the hens decide to settle thing between themselves, the chest bumping, pecking, and hackle flaring those girls are capable of is amazing!

I was standing in a bit of a daze one afternoon [as I do ] when Pebbles erupted & there were wings in my face before she came down on Suyin & beat her up! Suyin is not a small bird! But she didn't stand a chance. Pebbles came down hard on her back with her wings going for all they were worth. She was a champion little hen!

Now Lottie has worked out there are advantages to being tiny because she can flutter to my back or shoulder or arm or even the food dish & I won't brush her off like I do the bigger birds! She's quite smug about it!

 

[Kris5902]

Yes, but remember these are *fence hoppers* so I have spent many, many hours *chicken herding* to get them to this point. And despite their flightiness & dislike of handling Campines are rather people friendly ~ which is a decided advantage when herding.



I was standing in a bit of a daze one afternoon [as I do ] when Pebbles erupted & there were wings in my face before she came down on Suyin & beat her up! Suyin is not a small bird! But she didn't stand a chance. Pebbles came down hard on her back with her wings going for all they were worth. She was a champion little hen!

Now Lottie has worked out there are advantages to being tiny because she can flutter to my back or shoulder or arm or even the food dish & I won't brush her off like I do the bigger birds! She's quite smug about it!

Yes, Bob has clued in that every morning when the feeder moves the tractor she opens the lid... and that 2’ fence is no barrier to a Rooster with half a brain. And he’s teaching the ladies to hop it too! He understands when I tell him to get back in the tractor... he just seems to want to be contrary.

I can see Pebbles doing that... she was a spunky looking girl. Attitude.

 

[Ribh]

All is now explained!

The feather picking. The fighting. The constant squabbling. The screaming.

Lavender is now showing classic broody.
She fluffed up @ me this afternoon because I blocked off the nesting box she's hogged all day & threw a full blown broody tanty! Argh!
And the size of her! Oh gosh, I know she's got a full set of feathers but fluffed up she's a mini feathery cannonball!
Time to get me a crate & freeze up some water bottles.​

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

 

[Ribh]

How are you Bob?

 

[rjohns39]

I'm good, how are you this morning Jeannie?

 

[Ribh]

Smokey. Still got a lot of haze from all the fires. Hoping for rain.