posted 2 days ago
This Spring I got some chicks to round out my flock (it was no easy task during chick mania). I wasn't my best year. I think I got 10, more than I intended, but I had to get them at separate times. Out of 10 female pullets I got a rooster, and a severe scissor beak.
The scissors beak was doing well. She was small enough to squeeze between the door and coop. One day she was gone. I think something got her.
I have had very bad luck with roosters in the past. No matter what I did they were super mean, and would attack anyone who came in the chicken yard. When I realized one of the Australorp was a rooster, I was bummed. My policy is if they don't try to hurt people, they can stay, otherwise they have to go. So far all roosters had to go. I know it's dumb and irrational, but it always hurt my feelings to raise it, feed it, always treat it kind, and they attack me every chance it gets.
This rooster is so timid. He avoids me like the plague. I think he is quite low in the on the pecking order. He sleeps on the lower rug of the roosting bars. It very strange. One of the hens pulls neck feathers, and his are missing. I do wish he wasn't terrified of me, but I will take that over aggression. He would be gorgeous if he had his neck feathers, that makes him look kinda silly. I should probably give him a name, because it looks like he might get to stay.
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” — Abraham Lincoln