Rooster Behavior, Growth of Hens, Questions from a new BYC'er

[thirteenthcor]

Hi everyone!

Brand new to BYC and practically brand new to owning and raising chickens, so I'll drop a little back-story here first:

Started renting a property with a postage stamp backyard. I thought this would be perfect for chickens. A co-worker who raises chickens gave me about half a dozen to start with in April-May.

Three were taken by the local feral panther (large black cat) in broad daylight and at night (I built a door for my coop the cat couldn't get in through). Ended up relocating the cat after it started chicken-napping in broad daylight, problem solved.

Got some replacement chickens; dry-pox rode in on one of them, infected whole flock, lost one more to dry-pox, and one more over the single night I had them de-cooped while sterilizing for dry-pox.

Got a big 'ol Black Copper Maran Rooster to run protection for my pullets, that's been working out well.

Chickens have since recovered from dry-pox. I've added 5 Buff Orpingtons 12+ weeks old to the mix. I realized at the same time that what I thought were 3 pullets + rooster from my original flock are actually now 2 cockerels + 1 pullet + 1 rooster.

Unbeknownst to me I've been running a real sausage-fest in my backyard for months without knowing it and now I need to get rid of two cockerels.

Questions:

All of this has hit me inside a couple of days. My BCM Rooster has been crowing non-stop, and he just seemed to start this about a week ago. Could this be the other two cockerels? If that's the case if anyone in the Austin, TX area needs a cockerel let me know.

I've added corn-on-the-cob and the 5 Orpingtons which seemed to have helped quiet him down somewhat. I'm planning on getting another half-dozen or so Orpington pullets/hens from the same flock I got the previous ones in about a month.

How long will it take for the Orpingtons to integrate into my old flock? I thought a Rooster would enjoy having some ladies around, instead he chases them around and -away- from food rather than letting them eat first or bringing them treats like I read other people's do.

I got them FOR him.. I mean if someone just brought me half a dozen nice looking ladies I think I would react quite a bit differently, considering the "bromance" that's been going down in my backyard for the last two months.

Last question, and I'll try and grab some pictures soon, but the one remaining -suspected- pullet from my original flock, a speckled grey-white bird of some sort, has grown healthier since I've had it in late may, but looks virtually unchanged in size and comb growth for the last two months... Has anyone else noticed this with specific breeds? It's obviously "young looking" without the bulk that some hens get. Could this be a breed I hear called Bantams?

I'm hoping after all these setbacks, -sometime- this year I can finally crack open some eggs for breakfast!

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

T.

The Buff Orpington Mixes:



Here's my Black Copper Maran (I assume he's a BMC). His comb is much bigger now.



Much more recent picture here. You can see my BMC bringing up the rear, and my two cockerels on the left. The chicken on the topmost right is the one that's in question. It's stayed that SAME size for the last two months.



Is my black (Australorp?) chicken here a cockerel?

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

First of all, your rooster already had his own flock of hens. Roosters don't usually want to add to the group that they already like. They'll work it out over a month or so.

Secondly, that one you think may be a Bantam (which is not a breed but a type of chicken, more on that later) probably is one.

Bantams can be any breed of chicken that is small. Some breeds are true bantams that means that there are no larger forms. Bantam is just any miniature of any breed.

Lastly, that black one is a boy. Does he have feathered feet though? Sort of looks like that in the pic.

Love the Buff EEs, so cute!

 

[thirteenthcor]

Thanks for the response and all the helpful information.

I tried separating the bantam + cockerels from the rooster (I crated them and brought them inside the house for a few hours). This only seemed to make the BCM crowing even worse!

I guess I should try leaving the assumed "pullet" bantam out there and removing just the cockerels?

Yes the black one has feathered yellow feet. He'll probably grow to be a handsome gentleman but I can't keep three roosters in a suburban neighborhood

.

Between this post and my last, I caught my BCM Rooster jumping on and attacking the Buffs and he even managed to pull a feather off the back of one of them. Is this normal behavior?!

Thanks

T.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

I wouldn't recommend separating them, I did that with my aggressive roos and it only got worse. I would try keeping the cockerels away and see what happens, if the crowing doesn't stop I would either bring the BCM in or let everybody out. I suggest you should find a home for them or "get rid of them"(chop, chop).

By jumping on the hens he is trying to mate, how old is the BCM?

I'll do some research and see if I can tell you what breed the bantam is.

 

[thirteenthcor]

What do you mean by bring the BCM in/ let everybody out?

He's probably around a year old; his comb seems full grown, and the only growth he's done over the last month seems to be bulk.

And you're right about the separation having negative effects; he crowed EVEN MORE until I put them back together.

Chickens mate by physically assaulting each other? He was grabbing her head in his mouth and clawing her back, ended up pulling out a feather. oof!


I may just call it quits on my "old" flock and start filling in with my "new" flock now that I have a chicken pipeline from another BYC'er who sells year-round, if this problem remains.

On that subject, do chickens who've been separated for, say a month or two, from the same flock, and are put back together have the ability to recognize this?

It would be fantastic if when I brought in some more Buffs from the same flock I've been buying from would be able to fall right into step. I just wasn't able to afford as many as many as I wanted to at the time and I thought introducing some females would calm the rooster down or at least distract him.

Thanks!

P.S. I got the Chickens for Dummies book (It actually credits BYC.com in the opening notes!) and I'll start reading it tonight!

 

[flowerchic]

Just wanted to welcome you to the site..we are across town from each other. Can't help much with your cockerel problem as I have 3 I need to find homes for myself...we sound like we are in the same boat!!

To new to give any descent advice but others have years of experience and good advice. I haven't been a member long, but have learned so much.

Good luck with everything, keep us posted!!

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

I mean crate the BCM and let everybody else go back together. He might crow more, but he might also shut up.

I was wondering about age because they usually get more aggressive at around 6 months.

The way the mate is: The rooster jumps on the hens back and grabs a spot on the back of her neck (usually around the middle) and pull it back. They kind of wobble and shake, then jump off her about 15 seconds later. It's pretty rough, but a good rooster performs the courtship dance to get her permission before he tries anything stupid. The courtship dance is when the roo puts down a wing, puts all his weight on the opposite leg and dances a semi-circle around the hen like this (it's about as graceful as when they actually mate). Next time you see him do this chase him around in circles for a bit, throw some little rocks or a bucket at him, or even catch him and hold him upside down. Hopefully he'll get the point.

Can't answer your other question.

Some other good books are Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow and Storey's Illustrated Guide To Poultry Breeds by Carol Ekarius.

 

[thirteenthcor]

Best guess is a year. I cannot currently contact the person I got him from but I think if I remember he mentioned he was approaching a year. His vertical growth and comb have slowed, and his chest seems to be bulking.

Oh no he's not doing anything remotely like that. Courtship dance, etc.

The hen/pullet in question (12+ weeks old) was eating some pellets and he ran up and accosted her out of the blue, like from across the yard; jumped her making lots of noise, just generally assaulted her until she could get her feet under her and make for the other side of the yard. He then proceeded to eat the pellets she was eating. She ended up losing a back feather and he had her head in his mouth as best he could the whole time he was "assaulting" her (best word I could think of).

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Like literally her head (beak and all)?

 

[thirteenthcor]

Well, like over the top. As if the rooster was one of those doll grabbing machines and he was lowering the crane down on her head, like as deep as he could get it.