We have some 7 week old Salmon faverolle chicks, including a very precocious rooster who is already Mr. Boss of the coop. He is also the most outgoing. Today he pranced right up to me, when I fed them, eyeballed me, and did a noise, like it would sound if you rolled your tongue but instead of Rrrrrrr, a TrTrTrtrtrTrTrtrtrTrTr type sound.
I thought he was being friendly, and repeated it back to him (softly, and as best as I could impersonate. Suddenly, all 7 chicks and 6 guineas froze completely and I had 26 beady little bird eyes intently staring at me. Nothing happened for a few seconds, then the little cockerel repeated (more softly) his trill. I did it back and he broke into a run for the back of the coop and was followed by everyone else, sheer panic.
Was I threatening him or giving a warning cry or what? *sheepish*
I feel bad! I was just trying to make friends. I guess I'll go back out in a minute with some grape fragments and try to make up.
I thought he was being friendly, and repeated it back to him (softly, and as best as I could impersonate. Suddenly, all 7 chicks and 6 guineas froze completely and I had 26 beady little bird eyes intently staring at me. Nothing happened for a few seconds, then the little cockerel repeated (more softly) his trill. I did it back and he broke into a run for the back of the coop and was followed by everyone else, sheer panic.
Was I threatening him or giving a warning cry or what? *sheepish*
I feel bad! I was just trying to make friends. I guess I'll go back out in a minute with some grape fragments and try to make up.