My chickens have all gone rogue.
Our laying hens have been peacefully living within the confines of their electric poultry netting in their nice clean coop for ages. They get snacks, food, hundreds of square feet per bird in the field, and constant fresh water. A chicken dream, yes?
No.
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I think it’s because we recently terminated our rooster. He decided that one of the girls in the flock was not up to par and attempted to scalp her. We had her separated from the flock but he managed to find her and wouldn’t stop attacking her. Read: does not play well with others. He had to go. But once he had, we realized all of the wonderful things he was doing.
1) He Kept The Flock Together
This boy ruled with an iron fist. He made the girls stay together at all times. They found this pretty annoying but at least I knew where everyone was all the time. The day after he was dismissed from duty, I watched three ladies jump the fence and wander across the yard. No amount of me “cock a doodle dooing” would get them back in the fence. They were clearly excited about the freedom.
2) He Alerted Us To Strangers
Our chickens see people as food bringers so they follow people everywhere. The rooster would set off a series of crows when a stranger was in the yard. Even if that stranger was my five-year-old nephew.
3) He Protected The Flock
If your flock is attacked, your rooster should be the first to die. It’s his instinct to protect the flock at all costs. This current rooster did a pretty good job of it. He didn’t lose anyone and would always alert the girls of aerial predators (mostly hawks) so they could run for safety.
4) He Pointed Out Tasty Snacks
While this isn’t entirely necessary (I have no problem finding my own food, even if my husband doesn’t point it out for me) a rooster will make a chirpy noise if he locates something extra delicious. He is good at sharing even if he’s a bit rude in the love-making department.
5) He Was A Good Dancer
Roosters do a bit of dance/strut to entice the ladies. It’s not quite Saturday Night Fever. In fact, it looks more like elegant tripping. But it’s nice that he puts forth the effort before the wham bam thank you ma’am that is the actual deed.
All of these wonderful attributes weren’t enough to save him though. Even with the dance routine this particular hen wasn’t having it. He would run at her with the intention of mounting and she would fluff up her feathers and drop her head to fight. She wasn’t having it. We respect her decision to remain celibate.
Attacking a hen is on the capital punishment list here at the farm, whether it’s a rooster, a raccoon, or a possum.
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