I hear you on the naughty boys, and I only have two youngsters!Yep, sharp eyes, that’s Sammy alright!and don’t worry, I won’t tell him you called him “little”. He’s still not 100% back to his usual self, but he was certainly out doing his duties today, as we had several flybys by a red tail hawk and a couple of eagle trills in the early afternoon while I was walking the goats, and no chickens in sight after the appropriate alarm call. He’s such a good boy!
I am getting very sick of these six unmannered guys though… My total numbers, I have 18 males right now out of 93 chickens, and only six are really causing any issues. In the main free range flock I have Sammy (3y3m) Dean (2y) Elios (10m) Chunk, Barney’s Boy, Deans 1st son (~9m) and 3 slightly younger cockerels (Dean’s, one from the same breeding as Elios and the 6 jerks, and one from Cass) and 50 pullets/hens ranging from POL-2years old. Sometimes there’s a slight “discussion” regarding mating privileges amongst the cockerels, any really problematic behaviour is usually taken care of by Sammy or Dean. The six jerks also free range but roost separately in the hospital tractor. They are too rough with the hens, attack each other, and try to steal the hens from other guys.
I’m trying to give them a break, as they weren’t raised here and didn’t have an appropriate role model, but I draw the line at a certain point of violence, especially towards my established roosters. Although it is somewhat entertaining watching my more dominant hens “correct” them too. They were taken from their mama too soon, and raised in a locked, fairly dark room with their one sister, it was a less than ideal beginning. But I don’t really need any more Barnvelder genetics from that line floating around (a little skinnier than mine and with less nice lacing, mostly crossed to an Ameraucana or an aunt… so there might not be enough genetic separation either)
No wonder Ivy was mortified!
