Today, the handsome young fella with all the pretty girls got the snot beat out of him by his hatchling brother, the wussy little splash roo. Apparently he's not that much of a wuss anymore. Floyd, the splash roo was strutting all over the yard this morning with his confused flock of girls while Hot Stuff hid under the steps all day. They had gotten along well until yesterday. Hot Stuff would take his girls downstairs in the chicken tractor and Floyd kept his pitiful girls upstairs in the coop.
We got Hot Stuff out from the steps after dark and brought him in for chicken medical evaluation. His hackles were stiff with blood and his comb was all bloody. He was VERY subdued. I got him rinsed off and put neosporin on his comb. I took him in the bathroom and put him in the empty sink. Didn't move a muscle. I used the blow dryer on him, which he really seemed to enjoy, dropping his head so I could get under the hackles dry. He was hungry enough to take a grape from my hand, which he hadn't done for months. Put him in a freshly bedded dog crate with some chick starter and grapes and water. He is settling in now, but I don't quite know what to do about him. He's been a great leader (and has some cute day old babies) and a good roo to the girls, whereas Floyd is clueless, as in completely. Floyd slept in a nest box until he beat up Hot Stuff. Even had eggs under him.
I guess I'll just have to see how this plays out. I'm a little surprised how quickly it turned brutal. Maybe I'm the wuss!
We got Hot Stuff out from the steps after dark and brought him in for chicken medical evaluation. His hackles were stiff with blood and his comb was all bloody. He was VERY subdued. I got him rinsed off and put neosporin on his comb. I took him in the bathroom and put him in the empty sink. Didn't move a muscle. I used the blow dryer on him, which he really seemed to enjoy, dropping his head so I could get under the hackles dry. He was hungry enough to take a grape from my hand, which he hadn't done for months. Put him in a freshly bedded dog crate with some chick starter and grapes and water. He is settling in now, but I don't quite know what to do about him. He's been a great leader (and has some cute day old babies) and a good roo to the girls, whereas Floyd is clueless, as in completely. Floyd slept in a nest box until he beat up Hot Stuff. Even had eggs under him.
I guess I'll just have to see how this plays out. I'm a little surprised how quickly it turned brutal. Maybe I'm the wuss!