So I am pretty bummed because I had to cull my cuckoo Maran rooster. The fact that he was a rooster was a strike against him already because my father and neighbors didn't want to hear the crowing noise each morning. I really didn't want to get rid of him after reading all the pros to keeping a rooster around (plus he was respectful towards humans and very pretty) so I got him a stay of execution. His second strike was the fact that he kept attacking my hens. Each morning when I let them out of the coop he would target one and attack which totally stressed out the whole flock. The final strike against him was when I caught him eating some of the hen's feathers. I watched him deliberatly pluck feathers from three different hens and then proceed to eat them. I didn't want my hens to pick up that bad habit so I culled him immediately. So I guess my question is why was he eating feathers? I have seen my hens occasionally eat a feather or two off the ground but never directly off another bird like he did.
I am still sad that it had to end this way because I hand raised him but I know I made the right choice. The mood in my flock has totally changed since his departure. They are much more relaxed/curious and no where near as flighty as they were.
I am still sad that it had to end this way because I hand raised him but I know I made the right choice. The mood in my flock has totally changed since his departure. They are much more relaxed/curious and no where near as flighty as they were.
