I have two roosters and 8 hens that are 16 weeks old (all New Hampshires), 3 Khacki Campbells (2 drakes and 1 duck) that are 12 weeks old, and a rescued mallard duckling which is going on 5 weeks (I think this mallard is female) and is staying in a dog crate in the coop and roaming with the ducks all day for a week now. Anyway, my roosters have started crowing (I thought one of my dogs had brought a chew toy outside the first time I heard this!
) and pecking at the hens a few weeks ago. My dominant rooster is now trying to get a hold of my female duck! This is causing some coop issues. My ducks now chase the roosters and hens, since the hens go where the roosters go, from the coop every morning! So, boys will be boys, right? Here is the problem...The dominant rooster started coming after me a few weeks ago. It started out when I opened the door to the coop one morning and The rooster popped out of the door and bit the top of my foot! I had my tantrum and chalked it up to roosters starting to protect their hens. Well, a week or so later it happened again! I was filling their waterer, and he bit the top of my other foot. So, I came to my trusty computer and came to the one place for all things chicken (backyardchickens.com) and read that I needed to show my dominance. There are several things suggested from yelling to making rooster soup. Since I had already tried yelling and running at him with my hand waving wildly in the air (ha ha ha! Some chicken wisperer I am!
) I decided to use the suggestion of picking him up and carrying him around. He was quiet and calm while I carried him. Now, when I come out of my house, he runs toward me. If I walk toward him he trots away from me (good) but not too far, he turns sideways to me (okay) and starts clucking as he picks thing up from the ground (what?). If the other rooster is around, he displays what looks like a "hurt" wing, stomps one foot while he turns in a circle, and the other rooster runs away. He then proceeds with the whole "clucking" and "picking" routine. Is he courting me? What should I do? Should I pick him up and carry him around longer? I don't want him picking (literally) on my female duck either! Thank you in advance for all suggestions. I am "grasshopper".
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