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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Hard in the Saddle

Leopold is the Rooster around here and he wants everyone to know it. The girls are starting to show signs of his "attention". He has also taken to occasionally charging me, something I don't like and won't tolerate. Danni at Critter Farm states that the best way to cure a rooster of this bad habit is to give them a good long hug. We shall see...


The Guineas have also taken to chasing the girls around, it gets so bad that I have to sometimes intervene to stop the bad behavior! Did you know that Guineas can run really fast? Check out this link over at Verde Farm!


Lucy seems to be taking the brunt of Leopold and the Guineas bad manners. See the wear her wing and tail feathers have taken? I am going to get her a chicken saddle from over at Mandy's Rabbit Ranch. The saddle should protect her feathers so that they can grow out good and healthy.


This last week I have been getting about 7 eggs per day from 8 hens, and the weather has been terrible. The girls have been doing a great job and I really appreciate it!
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17 comments:

  1. MichaeleMarch 23, 2011 at 5:52 PM

    I hope the chicken saddle works well for you. I have a great big Buff Orpington rooster that is going to be a problem. Your hens look nice. Are the guineas chasing them just to be ornery?

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  2. TeresaMarch 23, 2011 at 6:05 PM

    I've had a couple of girls that get that rode hard problem, but I've never tried the saddle. I might have to try those.

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  3. OhiofarmgirlMarch 23, 2011 at 6:30 PM

    Baby, there is a cure for a mean roo..and it ain't giving him no hug that is for sure! Bring out the axe! Ha! Just wait until your guineas start mating season - you'll see some cartoony running like you've never seen before. I watched ours, Bob and Ray, chase each other for an HOUR. They ever run under the dogs. It was incredible.

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  4. Chai ChaiMarch 23, 2011 at 6:54 PM

    Michaele - I think the Guineas chase the chickens because they discovered that they could. No malice, just for fun. Leopold steps in to stop them every so often just to show he is boss of everyone!

    Teresa - People say the saddles work great, this will be my first time trying.

    OFG - You talk a big game but Fred stole your heart. If the Guineas are anywhere near as funny as Verde's video I may need to wear diapers.

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  5. Homesteading and GardeningMarch 23, 2011 at 8:04 PM

    Oh poor baby! :( Our roosters need to spread the love a little instead of picking favorites, lol.

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  6. NancyDeMarch 23, 2011 at 10:15 PM

    Well, I swear my roo read my blog - he has been a perfect gentleman the last two feeding times.... tonight, I just had to give him a significant glance to have him take a second thought about attacking my boots. I have been getting a lot of eggs, too, even though it has been gloomy and rainy and dark all day.

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  7. Buttons ThoughtsMarch 24, 2011 at 4:58 AM

    Good luck I am a little afraid of roosters we had a very mean one once. He was always chasing me. The hug thing mmmmm? I could not do that to a rooster I like my eyes.B

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  8. stace41971March 24, 2011 at 6:04 AM

    I read somewhere that throwing things (not boulders or large pieces of furniture, although there are days.....) at the rooster before it starts charging helps...it teaches them that you are the dominate "rooster" and to back off when you're in the yard. Balled up socks or small foam balls work..and you don't have to hit them..just land the stuff close enough to send a message.

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  9. Chai ChaiMarch 24, 2011 at 3:18 PM

    Mandy - I can't wait to get my saddles.

    Nancy - I think he can sense your mood....

    Buttons - I will have the Commander get control of him first.

    Stace - Maybe I will hang him upside down before I hug him. I always carry a bit long stick when I visit him, just in case.

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  10. DanniMarch 24, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    Now, in my defense, I never stated that cuddling was the best way to cure a mean rooster. I merely said that it works for me. :-) It may help that I don't have a year-round meanie; he just acts out in spring and early summer when rooster-testosterone seems to be particularly raging. lol
    I'm glad you're getting some chicken saddles - they will definitely help.

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  11. Chai ChaiMarch 24, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    Danni - I am going to see if it works for me as well.

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  12. AutumnMarch 25, 2011 at 8:38 AM

    Every once in a while, my Gram's Amerucana (spelling?) rooster gets a little frisky with the ladies. (He is a very charming and handsome fellow, albeit a coward.) What breed of chickens is the last photo? They are very pretty!

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  13. Chai ChaiMarch 25, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    Autumn - They are Gold Laced Wyandottes.

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  14. Razzberry CornerMarch 25, 2011 at 6:42 PM

    I used to have rooster problems. It seems all the roos get fiesty once in a while. I think my former roo Brownie was the very worst. I used to carry an old straw broom around, a few times I swatted it in his direction, and he QUICKLY learned the broom was his enemy and my best friend. He left me alone after I had a new friend that walked with me. I tried throwing food, cuddling with him, and other things to distract him, nothing worked. I couldn't catch him when he was running around, but I would often cuddle with him at night at bedtime in the coop. He would always attack me when my back was turned. I had bruises on the backs of my legs from his spurs. He didn't mean to be mean, it was just his hormones. Eventually he learned to not attack me or he would be swatted with the broom, and his raging hormones then calmed down. Funny thing, he NEVER attacked Randy.

    Boy Guinea used to fight with the roosters back when he was caged up in the chicken pen. He would chase them like crazy, and they would chase him back. It was like a game to them. It was non-stop. Then the guineas moved out of the chicken pen and started free-ranging, and so Boy Guinea got busy with other things. Then we raised more keets into adult guineas, and Boy Guinea now chases some of the other guineas, but not nearly as bad as he used to chase the roosters.

    Some of our hen's backs are getting torn up by our roosters, and we only have 2 roos (and about 22 hens). The boys aren't paying too much attention to the hens anymore. We have researched it and believe it's caused by the roos' spurs. Our roosters have HUGE spurs which does damage to the girls. Our next major project with the chickens is to cut down those spurs some. It should be interesting, I'll let you know if it helps the hens' backs.

    ~Lynn

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  15. Chai ChaiMarch 26, 2011 at 11:49 AM

    Lynn - OFG talked about removing a roosters spurs with the help of a potato. I'm not sure that it would be possible or even good for the rooster. My rooster is just a nuisance right now so shooing him away with a stick meets my needs.

    I can't get rid of him, the guineas love him.

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  16. Janice GrinyerMarch 30, 2011 at 10:04 PM

    I remember where I was a barn manager (horses) there was a loose rooster that would stalk me when i would grain the horses - I was advised to carry a big red plastic wiffle bat and to use it if necessary...I lasted three years there and that darn rooster only lasted one lol

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  17. Chai ChaiMarch 31, 2011 at 11:47 AM

    GoWest - I don't get this rooster, I feed him and raised him from a chick a he repays me by trying to run me off. Of course he leaves all the men around here completely alone.

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