Texas

[RachaelS]

Step one is getting the bird to submit. This may seem harsh, but this must be done with strikes to the head until the bird yields and runs away. Their is a little scream the bird will make when it gives up. I am not talking about fighting the bird at ground level. When he attacks you, grab it by the throat and smack it around a bit with an open hand. You don't have to hit hard. Just enough to let him know that he is out matched. Put him down and if he comes back at you, doing it again until he yields. Step two is posture and chase the loser to make sure he has given up. He should turn and run and hide his head. Step three is to flap your wings and crow. There is a certain pattern to the wing flapping that you need to mimic. Step four is to call the hens to eat. This will show them that you are not a predator to be feared, but are the alpha.

The "kick" was more of a lift backward, just reactionary, I then chased him, he did the squawk, so I think he got the point. Hopefully, next time I can stay a bit calmer and grab him like you suggested. Yesterday, was much better.

Also, just so you know it is not one of your boys, it is the spangled one. Kind of funny about that Spangled one, he is the dominate boy, it is very apparent. However, at night, he tries so hard to snuggle under one of the BBRs (not sure which since they look like twins) and the BBR will put out it's wing to cover the spangled one.

 

[Jungleexplorer]

I on the other hand don't like to see religion forced on people, which this public and orchestrated display of piety certainly did. It forced the spectators and the players to participate/witness a religious ceremony. It encourages a feeling of "otherness" if one isn't of that faith. How do you think the Jewish player felt to have every team member down on one knee, praying to Christ?

The phrase "In God we trust," was adopted as the official motto in 1956. E pluribus unum, meaning "out of many, one," was the de facto motto of the US since 1782 and until 1956. E pluribus unum was never codified into law, but it is on the official seal of the United States. I think it better expresses the American spirit and soul; it is one of of inclusiveness.

The US is a secular (not based on religion) country--the Constitution guarantees a separation of church and state.

One of the reasons the first American colonists came to America was so they could practice their own religion freely. The First Amendment guarantees the separation of the church and government. It guarantees us the right to exercise or NOT exercise any religion.

It will be interesting to see if I will be vilified for holding dear my Constitutional rights. Does one need to be a fervent fundamentalist Christian to have a place on the Texas Backyard Chicken forum?

I will answer this question from a legal standpoint. In 1992 the Supreme Court of the US issued a landmark decision that has been challenged and upheld several times since. This decision stated that any religious activity can on school property without violating the separation of church and state as long as that religious activity is student initiated. So the students are free to pray if they want to and law backs them up on this. They are free to ask a teacher to pray too. So the simple answer to this problem is not to disallow or forbid a group of students from exercising their religious liberty because of the few that might be offended, but to all each student to have the freedom to follow their own belief. So if there be a Jewish or Muslim in the group, there is no law forbidding them from praying in the manner that they please. They are free to do so if they want to. An atheist is free not to pray as well. This right is protected by law. The fact that anyone would be offended just because they see someone engaging in their religious freedom which is different then theirs, just shows that they themselves are close minded and unwilling to accept that other people believe differently then them and want to force everyone else to believe exactly like them or be quite.

 

[Jungleexplorer]

The "kick" was more of a lift backward, just reactionary, I then chased him, he did the squawk, so I think he got the point. Hopefully, next time I can stay a bit calmer and grab him like you suggested. Yesterday, was much better.

Also, just so you know it is not one of your boys, it is the spangled one. Kind of funny about that Spangled one, he is the dominate boy, it is very apparent. However, at night, he tries so hard to snuggle under one of the BBRs (not sure which since they look like twins) and the BBR will put out it's wing to cover the spangled one.

I was responded to all of the people that were talking about this subject, not just specifically to you. Don't feel bad about he kick, it is a natural instinct. My point in detailing the process of how to become the alpha, is to show that there is way to communicate with your birds through behavioral patterns.

I have a lot of boys from the same breeding pen that I sent you eggs from. They are all nice. But this may be just because I also have a true alpha rooster that manages my entire flock and keeps the young boys in line and teaches them manners. He is the Hatch BBRed I post the picture of. Me and him had a go round when I first got him. He drew a lot of blood on his owner the night I picked up and he attacked me in the pen when I got him home. After a few go rounds with me he yielded. Now he is my best bud. I can pick him up without fear even though he has spurs that are over 2 inches long and are very sharp.

 

[RachaelS]

Quote: Not vilifying, just a small correction, the post said they were praying, it did not say they were praying to Christ. Normally a prayer before a game is for God's guidance. Since, Jewish people believe in God and pray to him frequently I am betting the Jewish player was fine with it.

On a personal side, if I went into a community that was primarily Hindu, I would never expect them so back off on their chosen display of religious beliefs just because it made me fell like an outsider.

Nope one does not need to be a fervent fundamentalist Christian to have a place here. However, it would be nice for those that are and those that are not, to treat each other with compassion

.

 

[Jungleexplorer]

Thank you. Yeah - that's what I just couldn't get... I guess it could have been a coon, but just based on where his carcass was and the fact that only the head was gone - I don't know.

It was so late after we got home, and then found all the stragglers, that I admit I left the carcass there with intentions of disposing of it this morning. I didn't think this through very well because I let the rest of them out first this morning and before I could manage to get my gloves, etc. to dispose of the body, they were eating him. Cannibalistic little buggers. So gross, but I guess they got a little extra protein this morning.

Sorry to here about this. I know exactly how you feel. I don't have opossums around here so I don't know how they eat. If I find a bird with a missing head, I know it was a skunk. The coons around here make a mess of the bird and like to eat on the breast.

I had this one rooster that I really wanted to breed. I got him by accident (order different breed) and only had one like him. I was waiting for him to get old enough to breed. He had been free ranging all his life until the day I decided to breed him. That night he disappeared without a trace. He was a beautiful bird.

 

[RachaelS]

Quote: I know

, you were using it as a teaching opportunity, just wanted to say I liked your idea and would give it a shot.

 

[RachaelS]

Sorry to here about this. I know exactly how you feel. I don't have opossums around here so I don't know how they eat. If I find a bird with a missing head, I know it was a skunk. The coons around here make a mess of the bird and like to eat on the breast.

I had this one rooster that I really wanted to breed. I got him by accident (order different breed) and only had one like him. I was waiting for him to get old enough to breed. He had been free ranging all his life until the day I decided to breed him. That night he disappeared without a trace. He was a beautiful bird.

Didn't you see mandaleigh1981 post? He was just trying to avoid child support

He is probably still running! Just kidding, what a nice looking boy, to bad he could not pass on his genes.

 

[galanie]

Robins???  I haven't seen Robins since I left Indiana and I live SW of Houston.

Galanie:  I love baseball/softball. I played softball for my company.  I got hit in the mouth and lost my hearing.  I think there is danger in any sport, even if it is a freak accident.  (Oh, I still play softball)  

wlhtx:  I am so sorry for your loss.  

Lisa

I played softball and got hit in the mouth too. Chipped some teeth! And I was in my 30's then lol. I quit playing shortly after, made me scared of the ball and I just couldn't get over it.

 

[TexasLisa]

RachaelS, I think I am going to change the name of the '4 Musketeers' to the '4 Hooligans'!! They must have raging hormones or something. They have jumped up on the big air conditioner to watch the fan go around and then they decided to jump the fence into my garden! They are getting into everything today! I don't think I had this much trouble with my two kids!

Lisa

 

[TexasLisa]

I played softball and got hit in the mouth too. Chipped some teeth! And I was in my 30's then lol. I quit playing shortly after, made me scared of the ball and I just couldn't get over it.

We must be kindred sisters! I was worried about my teeth--I just had my braces off when I was hit. As it was, I finished that game and played the next with a concussion. So what position did you play? I played first base and outfield (one of the few who could throw the ball into the catcher and/or pitcher)

Lisa