PattiLF
In the Brooder
- Jul 19, 2017
- 7
- 5
- 19
Hello! I have been searching this group for a thread that will help me (I didn't want to create a duplicate thread if one existed), but I'm not finding anything that is really specific to my chicken issue, so I am hoping you can help! Be prepared to read a novel. Might want to grab a snack or something.
Backstory: In April 2017 we were hiking in the middle of a forest and a rooster found us. He was obviously dumped. We (my husband, daughter and I) are heavily involved in the cat/dog rescue community, but we know nothing about chickens. The rooster was friendly, and we were able to catch him and bring him home while we figured out what to do next. He was a beautiful black austrolorp that we named Elvis Von Waddles. For weeks he hung out in our big dog crate in our garage while we built a coop. He would follow us around the yard like a puppy- he was confident and sweet. We decided we just wanted a small flock, since a lot of our time is already invested in the foster cats (and our own animals) inside the house. So the coop is built, nothing big, but good for 4-6 birds.
Then we got the girls. Two 1.5 year old sisters from a cousin who has a big flock that wanted birds that laid bigger eggs. Even though they were hand raised, they are skittish and nervous girls. I guess that is indicative of their breed (Fayoumi). They came from a flock with no rooster. Anyway, I introduced them by having them hang out in the dog crate that I put next to Elvis' coop/run, and I let him out to free roam. He was INSTANTLY in love. He would not leave the crate. He immediately went into Rooster mode and you could tell he was so happy to have some girls. A few hours went by, with me checking in on them often. The girls were scared of me and would clamor to the other side of the crate. Then it happened. My sweet, puppy dog rooster that had been SO awesome for weeks charged me out of the blue. I didn't really even know what had happened. I chalked it up as a fluke- maybe he was just really stressed? But then it happened again. I ended up letting them out to all be together later that day, and he was PERFECT... with them. He was super protective but gentle, he wouldnt eat while they where grazing. He would stand guard and talk sweetly to them. But when I came around, he would go into beast mode. I was heartbroken.
Fast forward a few weeks- we decided we couldn't deal with Elvis anymore. He had gotten to the point where he would charge me even in his run and I was standing outside. It was obvious this was not going to work. So we found a rescue that takes in chickens/roosters, and brought him there. They were having problems with predators and I knew he would be PERFECT for that. He takes his job so seriously and has no fear whatsoever- and he is HUGE so that helps lol. We ended up taking home a 'teenager' rooster from their 'rescue rooster' pen. He was also hand raised but originally thought to be a hen... and roosters that crow werent allowed in the city where he came from. We named him Link. Link is skittish of people and seems to be learning how to be a rooster (if that makes sense). Totally not like Elvis was. But he doesn't challenge us and just does his own thing, so we are fine with that. I finally am getting to my current situation. If you need to take a bathroom break at this point, feel free
The same time we introduced Link to the 2 sisters (btw- named Fergilicious and Mildred Hubble), we introduced a 4-5 month old pullet Rhode Island Red name Zelda. The lady at the rescue suggested introducing the 2 together to the sisters when they went up to roost that night. So we did. And the sisters immediately took to Link... and the 3 immediately turned into the 3 musketeers, and likewise turned on sweet little pullet Zelda. For her safety, we now only let her with them when they are free ranging and at night to sleep. When neither of these events are happening, we keep her separate (but visible- in the dog crate next to the coop/run). My hopes were that eventually, they would include her at least a little. But its been forever (well over a month- almost 2), and they just don't. We have the 3. And we have Zelda. She is terrified of them. If they even walk near her she scurries frantically. To add to it all, Link loves lovin' on the ladies, and he tried once with her. Not cool Link. Not cool.
So here is what we have done so far, and what our thoughts are on what to do. We have increased their roaming time, much to the chagrin of our landscape beds. We have really tried to gently force interaction with the 4. We have recently built a big outdoor run attached to the coop/enclosed run (this is very new- like yesterday). This morning when I let them out into the new run, Zelda was again scared out of her mind and ended up hiding out on a perch in the coop, even though the others were just doing their thing in the run. I have a second food station set up in the new run, in addition to the food station set up in the coop/enclosed run.
We are thinking we might get one more pullet her age to give her a friend. My fear is that this will backfire, and then we will have 4 chickens ganging up on one.
Issues: 2 bully chickens, 1 bully rooster (he pecks at her in the coop when they go to roost). 1 sweet 6-mo old pullet who can't catch a break and is too scared to even try to coexist. Should I return the rooster? I would like to have one because we are in the country and have hawks, opossum, raccoon, etc. But if we don't need one....
Ok, so now that you are a year older and your kids have grown and married and have families of their own... my novel is done. And I am REALLY hoping to get some solid ideas. Because I am at a loss. Can you help this novice owner that was kind of thrust into the chicken life? PS- I do love it, even though right now it is so crazy with playing balancing act. I have attached a pic of the coop/enclosed run (with beautiful Elvis and the sisters). It doesnt show the new larger run that is now attached. Seriously, thank you for any help!!!
Backstory: In April 2017 we were hiking in the middle of a forest and a rooster found us. He was obviously dumped. We (my husband, daughter and I) are heavily involved in the cat/dog rescue community, but we know nothing about chickens. The rooster was friendly, and we were able to catch him and bring him home while we figured out what to do next. He was a beautiful black austrolorp that we named Elvis Von Waddles. For weeks he hung out in our big dog crate in our garage while we built a coop. He would follow us around the yard like a puppy- he was confident and sweet. We decided we just wanted a small flock, since a lot of our time is already invested in the foster cats (and our own animals) inside the house. So the coop is built, nothing big, but good for 4-6 birds.
Then we got the girls. Two 1.5 year old sisters from a cousin who has a big flock that wanted birds that laid bigger eggs. Even though they were hand raised, they are skittish and nervous girls. I guess that is indicative of their breed (Fayoumi). They came from a flock with no rooster. Anyway, I introduced them by having them hang out in the dog crate that I put next to Elvis' coop/run, and I let him out to free roam. He was INSTANTLY in love. He would not leave the crate. He immediately went into Rooster mode and you could tell he was so happy to have some girls. A few hours went by, with me checking in on them often. The girls were scared of me and would clamor to the other side of the crate. Then it happened. My sweet, puppy dog rooster that had been SO awesome for weeks charged me out of the blue. I didn't really even know what had happened. I chalked it up as a fluke- maybe he was just really stressed? But then it happened again. I ended up letting them out to all be together later that day, and he was PERFECT... with them. He was super protective but gentle, he wouldnt eat while they where grazing. He would stand guard and talk sweetly to them. But when I came around, he would go into beast mode. I was heartbroken.
Fast forward a few weeks- we decided we couldn't deal with Elvis anymore. He had gotten to the point where he would charge me even in his run and I was standing outside. It was obvious this was not going to work. So we found a rescue that takes in chickens/roosters, and brought him there. They were having problems with predators and I knew he would be PERFECT for that. He takes his job so seriously and has no fear whatsoever- and he is HUGE so that helps lol. We ended up taking home a 'teenager' rooster from their 'rescue rooster' pen. He was also hand raised but originally thought to be a hen... and roosters that crow werent allowed in the city where he came from. We named him Link. Link is skittish of people and seems to be learning how to be a rooster (if that makes sense). Totally not like Elvis was. But he doesn't challenge us and just does his own thing, so we are fine with that. I finally am getting to my current situation. If you need to take a bathroom break at this point, feel free
The same time we introduced Link to the 2 sisters (btw- named Fergilicious and Mildred Hubble), we introduced a 4-5 month old pullet Rhode Island Red name Zelda. The lady at the rescue suggested introducing the 2 together to the sisters when they went up to roost that night. So we did. And the sisters immediately took to Link... and the 3 immediately turned into the 3 musketeers, and likewise turned on sweet little pullet Zelda. For her safety, we now only let her with them when they are free ranging and at night to sleep. When neither of these events are happening, we keep her separate (but visible- in the dog crate next to the coop/run). My hopes were that eventually, they would include her at least a little. But its been forever (well over a month- almost 2), and they just don't. We have the 3. And we have Zelda. She is terrified of them. If they even walk near her she scurries frantically. To add to it all, Link loves lovin' on the ladies, and he tried once with her. Not cool Link. Not cool.
So here is what we have done so far, and what our thoughts are on what to do. We have increased their roaming time, much to the chagrin of our landscape beds. We have really tried to gently force interaction with the 4. We have recently built a big outdoor run attached to the coop/enclosed run (this is very new- like yesterday). This morning when I let them out into the new run, Zelda was again scared out of her mind and ended up hiding out on a perch in the coop, even though the others were just doing their thing in the run. I have a second food station set up in the new run, in addition to the food station set up in the coop/enclosed run.
We are thinking we might get one more pullet her age to give her a friend. My fear is that this will backfire, and then we will have 4 chickens ganging up on one.
Issues: 2 bully chickens, 1 bully rooster (he pecks at her in the coop when they go to roost). 1 sweet 6-mo old pullet who can't catch a break and is too scared to even try to coexist. Should I return the rooster? I would like to have one because we are in the country and have hawks, opossum, raccoon, etc. But if we don't need one....
Ok, so now that you are a year older and your kids have grown and married and have families of their own... my novel is done. And I am REALLY hoping to get some solid ideas. Because I am at a loss. Can you help this novice owner that was kind of thrust into the chicken life? PS- I do love it, even though right now it is so crazy with playing balancing act. I have attached a pic of the coop/enclosed run (with beautiful Elvis and the sisters). It doesnt show the new larger run that is now attached. Seriously, thank you for any help!!!