Heres the story:
Once upon a time, in Lady Clucks barn, there was a happy flock of chickens lead by a really great rooster. Everyone got along great, many thanks to the rooster.
Fast forward to the present.
Last fall, the great rooster stepped down hes old now and much prefers napping on the sunniest perch in the run, snuggling in a warm nest box, and eating warm oatmeal during the cold winter days than keeping the flock in line. The flock pretty much ignores him, and he them. So, one of the bigger and younger RIR roosters stepped up and gladly took the top spot.
Most of the hens accept this. The younger ones have no problem with it. But the older hens, especially the former top hen that enjoyed near seven years of queendom in the reign of the old rooster, will NOT accept the new guy. They won't even leave their perches.
Especially this one older hen. She refuses to come down from the rafters (where she flies in escape) because, of course, the new top rooster chases her with amorous intentions. The only time she will come down is in the morning and evening when I do chores. Then, she will come down, stand at my feet, and eat in a similar fashion to a ravenous Labrador puppy...she eats so fast I think shell choke. If I walk away, the new rooster runs over and she squawks and flies right back in the rafters.
Ive tried locking the new top rooster in a separate pen to make the hens happy. He hates it and goes bonkers; making a ruckus that can be heard for miles. Ive tried putting the reluctant hens, especially the rafter-queen, in a bottomless extra large rabbit cage so they can enjoy the dirt, sunshine, and still be in the company of the other birds in the run...but the rooster just stands there and stares at them. For hours. Its almost like what he cant have, he wants even more! And then they go bonkers. (Other than this, hes a good rooster...so far.) I've even tried putting food and water in the rafters for the hens...but that's just a pain as the water freezes and the sparrows just eat it all anyway.
At first, I thought, "Ill give it a week; theyll get used to the new order of things and everyone will get along soon." (At least that has always worked in the past whenever the flock order is in limbo.) That was four months ago!!!! In 20 years of raising chickens, Ive never seen such STUBBORN BIRDS!!!!!
Arrrrghghgh!
Will they ever get along?!?!?!!? Somebody else please just tell me they have had a similar problem and I won't feel as crazy!!
As it stands now, the rooster is going to wind up with a new home (if I can find one), and soon, I think. Im sorry to say that, but the old hens have seniority! And I'm running out of patience.
Rant over. Thank you in advance!
Once upon a time, in Lady Clucks barn, there was a happy flock of chickens lead by a really great rooster. Everyone got along great, many thanks to the rooster.
Fast forward to the present.
Last fall, the great rooster stepped down hes old now and much prefers napping on the sunniest perch in the run, snuggling in a warm nest box, and eating warm oatmeal during the cold winter days than keeping the flock in line. The flock pretty much ignores him, and he them. So, one of the bigger and younger RIR roosters stepped up and gladly took the top spot.
Most of the hens accept this. The younger ones have no problem with it. But the older hens, especially the former top hen that enjoyed near seven years of queendom in the reign of the old rooster, will NOT accept the new guy. They won't even leave their perches.
Especially this one older hen. She refuses to come down from the rafters (where she flies in escape) because, of course, the new top rooster chases her with amorous intentions. The only time she will come down is in the morning and evening when I do chores. Then, she will come down, stand at my feet, and eat in a similar fashion to a ravenous Labrador puppy...she eats so fast I think shell choke. If I walk away, the new rooster runs over and she squawks and flies right back in the rafters.
Ive tried locking the new top rooster in a separate pen to make the hens happy. He hates it and goes bonkers; making a ruckus that can be heard for miles. Ive tried putting the reluctant hens, especially the rafter-queen, in a bottomless extra large rabbit cage so they can enjoy the dirt, sunshine, and still be in the company of the other birds in the run...but the rooster just stands there and stares at them. For hours. Its almost like what he cant have, he wants even more! And then they go bonkers. (Other than this, hes a good rooster...so far.) I've even tried putting food and water in the rafters for the hens...but that's just a pain as the water freezes and the sparrows just eat it all anyway.
At first, I thought, "Ill give it a week; theyll get used to the new order of things and everyone will get along soon." (At least that has always worked in the past whenever the flock order is in limbo.) That was four months ago!!!! In 20 years of raising chickens, Ive never seen such STUBBORN BIRDS!!!!!
Arrrrghghgh!
Will they ever get along?!?!?!!? Somebody else please just tell me they have had a similar problem and I won't feel as crazy!!
As it stands now, the rooster is going to wind up with a new home (if I can find one), and soon, I think. Im sorry to say that, but the old hens have seniority! And I'm running out of patience.
Rant over. Thank you in advance!
