THIS is Why I Have Roosters...Thwarted Hawk Attack

[Serrin]

Quote:
Hmmmm....I've found that taking a shot or two at them works pretty well too. Although I must admit I wasn't using any camera!

Follow the rule of the three S's and hawk problems soon become a thing of the past.

The Three S's Rule:
Shoot
Shovel
Shut up!

6chickens in St. Charles
Great story!

Do your two roosters get along with each other? Would they fight each other?

We're wondering whether to let some of our nice roobabies stay, we've heard some roosters will get along just fine.

I have four boys total. All from the same hatch. They get along great with each other. But I keep the three extra boys separate from Chief and his girls. He could defend the honor of any of his ladies from the incursions of one or two of the other boys at any time, but to ask him to defend the girls from harassment from all three boys is just too much for any roo. Even one as awesome [IMHO] as my Chief!

So, I keep Red, Brutus and CB in their own coop and enclosure. If the flock is large enough, two boys can usually be kept together, especially if they have been raised together from the beginning, without any problems. In fact, there are a number of members here who have great rooster partnerships for their flocks. It's a great sight to see two roo's working in concert with each other!

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:

My big blue love and adopted feathered son The Suedenator

Stupid hawk does not want to mess with those two boys.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

My roos are the best of friends. They share the ladies between them with basically no conflict. In fact, they often sleep together on the roost at night. It's hard to determine if one is actually dominant. They both seem to have different responsibilities toward the hens. I've rarely seen them fight and when they do it doesn't last more than 30 seconds; mostly dancing and wing dropping, perhaps a jump or two and then they're off being chickens again. They did grow up together. (I had 3 roos in their hatch and they all got along fine. I re-homed one of them because 2 roos are MORE than enough for my 12 hens.)

 

[Cetawin]

For whomever inquired if speckledhen's boy are friendly aka good boys....well here ya go


The precious Zane eating from my hand

Zane being held by his daddy

The Suedenator in my lap having just enjoyed an entire blueberry muffin (blueberry is his favorite)

Suede running to the fence after hearing "Suede...Blueberry"

The stunning Ike

Her boys are fabulous! For Suede to let me hold him and feed him by hand after just meeting him...I was tickled pink cause I love that boy!

 

[drumstick diva]

I love Suede's blue beak = you can tell he had the blueberries

 

[drumstick diva]

Barngoddess - the world needs more roos as Canadian Geese deterents. Those flying outhouses are everywhere. They can do alot of damage with those thunder wings. When I was young I was feeding them bread when one bit me, more like clamped his iron beak, on the knee - boy, did that raise a 'goose egg,' no joke. Don't be down on your roos - everyone has his place in life and that must be theirs.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I actually had the flock outside for a couple of hours this afternoon for the first time since the attack and the boys were definitely doing their job. They got their panties in a serious bunch if a chickadee flew by. And the hens were listening. The hawk did drop by - twice that I saw - and the boys had the flock running for cover both times. The hawk didn't have a chance. Peg, the hen that was nailed on Christmas Eve, was taking NO chances. She headed for cover and was the last to re-emerge! The whole flock was more tense than usual so they have learned. The flock also stuck together more than usual outside today. But they were happy to get outside. (I hung around for the dust bathes. I was taking no chances either!) Their afternoon outside did give me a chance to do a number on the coop - a job a prefer doing when the birds are otherwise occupied. (It was smelling pretty strong in their when the temperature went up last week.)

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I've actually had Canada Geese go after my horses - when we ride too close to their "territory".

 

[Uncle_Bubba]

Hopefully Oden and Gandalf will do the same for our flock. Just looking at them I think most of the red tails will think twice. Oden is the Jersey giant in the profile (bad pic) and Gandalf is a grey orp that looks to be the same size but is actually about a pound or so lighter(orp feathers) If not I have the 12 gauge with sport clay shells waiting....1200 fps lead at close range will take care of most "annoyances" to my flock......even if they dont come out like shining stars, they are great to the girls and are great with my fiancee and I. No soup pot for them :0

 

[TheyThinkI'mTheirMom]

great stories!