Bruster the rooster has been the "boss" of my little 7 member flock since I brought them home 5 weeks ago - 5 pullets, this rooster, and a cockerel who we named Cogburn. Bruster has been like a big ball of feathers, strutting his stuff, keeping an eye on his flock and being very vocal. He's much bigger than any of the other chickens and has LONG spurs which makes us think he's older than the other chickens. Cogburn, the cockerel, just started trying to crow about a week ago. Two days ago Bruster did not awaken everyone with his crowing like he does every morning, but instead Cogburn was trying to awaken everyone and everyone but Bruster came down from the roost into the run. When I let them out to roam, I found Bruster in a nesting box but he got right out and went outside. It was almost sundown when I came home yesterday and everyone was in the roost except for Bruster. I found him "stuck" in a corner behind a metal trash can that I keep their food in. I reached down to pick him up and he didn't protest like he usually does. I put him down and he went straight to the chicken house and up to the roost. Again this morning he didn't crow and was again in a nesting box and again didn't protest when I picked him up and put him outside. I watched him for awhile and noticed that now he runs when Cogburn even comes close to him, like Cogburn is the devil. And once this morning Cogburn started attacking Bruster. So now I'm wondering if Cogburn is now the boss and Bruster is afraid of him. Bruster isn't all puffed up like he used to be. And I'm wondering if he wasn't really stuck in the corner between the walls and the trash can but instead was hiding from Cogburn. So could his behavior be a sign of defeat, or do you think he's sick? He eats and drinks when I put food in front of him. I am very new at chicken keeping so I don't know what to make of this behavior or how to determine if he's sick or not.
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