Thursday, April 8, 2010

Broody Hens & Attacking Roosters!

Previously I posted about a hen named Zoner becoming broody, wanting babies.  The good news is that she has gotten over her broodiness.  It took about a month during which she sat on a nest box every day, all day.  We removed the eggs from all the chicken nest boxes several times a day so she wasn't encouraged.  We removed Zone from the nest box whenever we could ~ one Saturday I removed her from the nest and threw her out into the yard over a dozen times.  Zone would have stayed on the nest all night, so we started blocking off the nest boxes during the night hours.  During this time Zone stopped laying eggs.  From what I read, broody hens quit laying eggs, they just want to hatch eggs.  So they sit on other hen's eggs.  But now, finally, over a month later, Zone has gotten over being broody.
 

   
And Bella has started being broody.

Here's Bella in a nest box.  Bella's a sweetie still ~ she cannot turn down a good neck rub.  We've been throwing Bella out of the nest boxes whenever we can.  She also has stopped laying eggs.  Zoner hasn't yet started laying again, either.  I expect this broodiness will be a routine thing.  I guess at least one chicken or another will be going through it?











This afternoon I went out to visit the chickens, and was promptly attacked by one of the roosters, Muffin.


I have never been attacked like this by one of my roosters.  I didn't like it.  I think Muff was trying to protect his hens.  I had come into the area suddenly and was petting several of the hens who had run up to greet me, and I think I surprised Muff.  Once he started attacking me, I raised my foot to keep him away from me, and I think that made him attack worse.  Then he stopped attacking me, and foolishly I turned my back on him.  He then got a good attack on my leg from behind.  From now on I will never turn my back on him.  He had better get over this mood he's in...

8 comments:

Cattle Call Farm said...

We "used" to have a rooster that would attack you everytime you wore flip flops. You noticed I said "used". The kids wer scared to death of him, so he had to go.

John Going Gently said...

only one thing to do with an aggressive rooster...
pick him up, put him under your arm and walk around with his as long as you can

repeat this several times...
he'll get the message who is boss

Foothills Poultry said...

Once a rooster gets that attitude it rarely gets better. Sorry, but you actually made it worse by walking away. I bet he promptly crowed at you. HE WON!!! An ego boost to him will only make him worse. Next time grab him and carry him with you until he is calm. Works for some.

~~Matt~~

Danni said...

Oh dear...I'm sorry, Lynn.
I've learned this the hard way, too. Never, ever turn your back on a rooster. I raised my Roopert from a day-old chick and this is the second spring that he has turned into this monster who attacks anything and anyone who goes near "his girls".
3/4 of the year, he and I get along just fine. Just in December I was hand feeding him treats and he was the sweetest guy to me. Up until a month ago, his aggression had only been directed at either my husband or my son. Now, I carry a broom with me if I have to be near him. I've learned how to read him just by the way he tilts his head. I can totally tell when he's about to lose his mind and jump me. The jerk. It sucks because I love him to death. He'd be gone by now, if my husband had his way, but he does take excellent care of the hens. He is a supreme protector of the flock.

Knatolee said...

He's a very handsome rooster, if naughty!

Lisa said...

I had a rooster, briefly, last year. He came as part of a pair that were supposed to both be female. He was VERY protective of her. She would scream bloody murder if you tried to pick her up which was all that was needed to set him off for attack. The first time, he jumped up at me sort of around my waist level but didn't do much. I thought, "Oh, isn't that cute, he's trying to protect her" as he was maybe 4 or 5 months old. Not so cute the next time when he came at me from ground level, 6/7 feet away and tried to take out my eye. He scratched me from just under my left eyelid, across the underneath of my eye, across my cheek bone and down to next to my ear! The next time he left the coop was for a ride to the butcher.
BE CAREFUL!!!

Carla said...

I'm glad you're getting those silly hens under control. It's the weather that gets them. :)

As for your roo. My thoughts are the same as John Grays. When my roo gets overly protective, I pick him up and force affection on him. As far as he's concerned, I'm torturing him. The hens see me do this and soon it's clear to all chickens that I am the Head Roo. I've got visitors and kids, so attacking won't do at my house. :)

Razzberry Corner said...

Cattle Call Farm ~ I understand! I was going to tell my husband that Muffin had to go if he didn't straighten up. Hopefully he has straightened up...

John Gray ~ GREAT idea! I'm trying, but he always runs away when I go to pick him up!

Matt ~ I am concerned that this rooster will always have this attitude, and may show it when least expected. I try to grab him & carry him, but he's fast.

Danni ~ I didn't realize Rupert was like this! I'm sorry!

Knatolee ~ Muffin is pretty, but he's got a real small comb, unlike all our other roosters. Its a funny looking comb.

Lisa ~ It seems if the hens make a loud squack then Muffin is right there watching me, making sure all is ok. Thanks for the story, it's scary! I will be careful!!

CeeCee ~ is it the weather that's making all the hens broody? The roosters do seem to think I'm torturing them when I hold them, but the hens love to be held. Lately I haven't been able to catch the roosters, unless they are in the coop in the dark.

~Lynn