They all started fighting!

[jak2002003]

Just thought I would share my strange chicken story and see if anyone has any ideas about it.

I have about 20 Japanese bantams - hens, roosters, and various sizes of chicks. They were all living together happily for nearly 3 years, even the 7 roosters all got along.

Today everything has changed. It seem every rooster and chicken is going crazy - like something has upset the pecking order and they are all fighting each other and making so much noise one neighbour has already come around to moan about it.

I think the problem was caused by something that happened last night. We had a huge storm and floods. I went to check on the hens that were on the ground brooding chicks to see if they were still dry - well the water had flooded the coop and the poor broody hens wre sitting in a few inches of water, with the chicks still under them! I had to put each hen and her chicks up into the nest boxes by torchlight in the storm. During this time I upset some other chickens who flew out of the coop or onto different roosting places.

This morning all the chicks were fine and recovered from their soaking, but the confusion from the night before seems to have upset everyone. The roosters won't stop fighting - I have had to put each on it its own cage.....the hens are making a real noise and seem very upset - they are fighting each other and chasing the chicks about. Its been like this all day.

I think now I have not going to be able to put the roosters back together ever - so sadly I will have to pair each on up and sell them. Its really hard for me to do this as they are all my pets and have very sweet natures. I will miss them and deciding which chickens to go is going to be hard.

So I don't know if it was the flood or me moving birds around at night that cause all this.

 

[Judy]

Whatever it was, chickens certainly can get upset or in shock from an event, and then take some time to recover. I'd wait a few days and see if things settle down.

 

[jak2002003]

Well I could not wait because the roosters were going crazy. They were trying to kill each other, even as I was putting them in various make shift cages they were attacking each other through the bars!

I have just kept my 2 fav roosters - and the others I put a matching colour hen with and took them to sell at the pet shop. I have sold young birds to this shop many times and I am quite friendly with the couple who own it, so I know they are being looked after. I was surprised to get a good price for them as many were show quality.

I am left with my 2 roosters and 9 hens with a few young chicks. Calm has restored and it has given me the chance to keep the best birds for personality and also colour. Now they have lots more space and I am going to give the run and coop a spring clean.

 

[mstricer]

Good for you.

I love it when something happens and you are forced to do what you need to, but couldn't get past the mental chicken block. When you do and see how much more room and less birds *sigh of relief* less feed and in the winter you have less to care for and you can hatch for spring chicks.