Spitzhaubens

[Faraday40]

What is happening here is that Flugel, relegated to free ranging, is pacing around the outside of the run, round and round. The 2 Spitz pullets, on the inside, mostly follow him. He finds a treat and calls them and they rush to be as close as they can get. When he's in there, he will grab them and forcefully mate w them. But they still like him? Fritz is in with them, but they only have eyes for Flugel. Should I let this happen? Only Flugel is crowing. Fritz keeps silent.
They were hatched 2/4, so are not even 4 months old, but their wattles/faces are getting red., esp Heidi. And she's the one he's most interested in.
First is Heidi, then Greta
View attachment 1391250
View attachment 1391249

Sounds like Flugal is #1 roo & Fritz #2. Fritz is probably old enough to crow & mate, but he won't dare openly cross the #1. Brothers usually work out their pecking order while in the brooder. Females tend to follow the #1 roo. In time your roos will learn some technique & no longer need to rape your girls.

Your females are getting red, so getting closer to that 1st pullet egg. The longer days will help them mature faster than the chicks hatching now. (who will be getting less hrs daylight at the time they mature.) You'll know the pullets are getting close to laying by their behavior. (inspecting nestboxes, squatting, and overall becoming more friendly.)

 

[SueT]

Later, they all went out free ranging, and Flugel was not attacking the girls. Fritz attempted to grab a bantam hen, and Flugel chased him for a long time, Fritz yelling and flying the whole way.... Fritz wasn't allowed to come into the run at bedtime. Finally, when everyone was asleep, Fritz went in and snuck into the coop. What I realized is that all the hens are beginning to see Flugel as leader, but he doesn't know it...he'll do the tidbitting call, and the lovely leghorns will run to him, and he'll run away, thinking they're chasing him, not realizing they think he's cute....I think I'll rehome Fritz and keep Flugel. What a soap opera! The Sebright is broody, I'm going crazy here. No eggs are fertile and even if they are, oh well.

 

[Faraday40]

I allow my boys to be boys as long as they're not injuring the hens. A few broken hen feathers is normal for a young cockerel, but ripping combs or bleeding = time out!

When I had 2 brother orpington roos, our flock life was fantastic. The brothers shared in the duties of protection and both mated. The #1 may have mated more, but the #2 did OK too. What was nice is that both males kept an eye out for each other. If a hen ever squawked, the offending rooster would get chased off by the other. (So yes, the #2 would knock the #1 off a hen if the hen was being mounted against her will.) It forced both roosters to behave and become gentlemen.

Something to think about: Keeping both for a while could be a good idea. (unless they're fighting each other or harming your hens or your hens are simply being over-mated) A single roo can sometimes get a god complex. If he's at the top with no other roo to keep him in check, he may later decide to challenge the humans. That never ends well, so having a back-up roo for a while could be advantageous.

 

[SueT]

I allow my boys to be boys as long as they're not injuring the hens. A few broken hen feathers is normal for a young cockerel, but ripping combs or bleeding = time out!

When I had 2 brother orpington roos, our flock life was fantastic. The brothers shared in the duties of protection and both mated. The #1 may have mated more, but the #2 did OK too. What was nice is that both males kept an eye out for each other. If a hen ever squawked, the offending rooster would get chased off by the other. (So yes, the #2 would knock the #1 off a hen if the hen was being mounted against her will.) It forced both roosters to behave and become gentlemen.

Something to think about: Keeping both for a while could be a good idea. (unless they're fighting each other or harming your hens or your hens are simply being over-mated) A single roo can sometimes get a god complex. If he's at the top with no other roo to keep him in check, he may later decide to challenge the humans. That never ends well, so having a back-up roo for a while could be advantageous.

Thank you! There are only 9 ladies altogether. But let's see how it goes. I really appreciate your wise advice, you've made me see it differently....
Sue

 

[Faraday40]

Thank you! There are only 9 ladies altogether. But let's see how it goes. I really appreciate your wise advice, you've made me see it differently....
Sue

Don't know if I'm "wise." I learn by trial & error like everyone else. 2 roos may or may not work for you, but I had issues when I just kept 1 roo. (1st roo was wonderful but crowed nonstop, so he had to go. Our next was unpredictable & scared the kids. He had the god complex I mentioned, so he went to freezer camp. Another time, our roo died & I really wished I had kept the brother as a back-up.) So, now I always have at least 2 roosters. Allowing them to grow up together also helps keep the peace. This is my opinion & my preference. Other people will have other opinions, and there's no right/wrong way to raise your flock. Ultimately you choose what works best for your situation.

 

[SueT]

Both boys are being gentlemen today, to each other, to the pullets, to the hens. And now I realize that an occasional spit spat may be necessary and I don't have to interfere.

 

[Finnie]

I got myself some Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicks for Mother's Day!

I had one once a few years ago, but it turned out to be a male, so I sold him. I've wanted more ever since, but they aren't usually available around here. On Saturday, someone told me the Rural King that is about an hour away from me had them, so I called and reserved 4, and made the trip down there on Sunday to get them. (Along with a bunch more chicks. They had some great choices!)

Here are Hanni, Heidi, Helge and Sven. (Straight run, so I assume I'll get at least one boy. Will have to do some name changing if I get more than one.):

 

[SueT]

I got myself some Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicks for Mother's Day!

I had one once a few years ago, but it turned out to be a male, so I sold him. I've wanted more ever since, but they aren't usually available around here. On Saturday, someone told me the Rural King that is about an hour away from me had them, so I called and reserved 4, and made the trip down there on Sunday to get them. (Along with a bunch more chicks. They had some great choices!)

Here are Hanni, Heidi, Helge and Sven. (Straight run, so I assume I'll get at least one boy. Will have to do some name changing if I get more than one.):

View attachment 1393747 View attachment 1393748 View attachment 1393750 View attachment 1393751 View attachment 1393753 View attachment 1393754 View attachment 1393755 View attachment 1393756

Congrats!!!! Keep us updated w pics!

 

[Alaskan]

I got myself some Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicks for Mother's Day!

I had one once a few years ago, but it turned out to be a male, so I sold him. I've wanted more ever since, but they aren't usually available around here. On Saturday, someone told me the Rural King that is about an hour away from me had them, so I called and reserved 4, and made the trip down there on Sunday to get them. (Along with a bunch more chicks. They had some great choices!)

Here are Hanni, Heidi, Helge and Sven. (Straight run, so I assume I'll get at least one boy. Will have to do some name changing if I get more than one.):

View attachment 1393747 View attachment 1393748 View attachment 1393750 View attachment 1393751 View attachment 1393753 View attachment 1393754 View attachment 1393755 View attachment 1393756

happy and excited for you!

for crazy more girls than boys

 

[SueT]

The rule of thumb, they say, is 4 sq feet per bird in the coop. I have 11 chickens in a 45 sq ft coop. But one of them is a tiny Sebright, Moonshine, and she has made it her mission to exclude all Spitzhaubens from the coop at roost time. She feels she needs 8 feet of roost to herself. I just broke her from being broody for the 2nd time this yr. I told her, if you want to hatch eggs, then make friends w one of those Spitzhauben cockerels. No way, she says. How can such a tiny chicken be so big???? I may have to add to the coop!