Backyard Chickens?

[Sunje]

The chickens would definitely eat the grasshoppers, then they would also destroy your garden plants. Sad but true.


There is nothing worse than a mean rooster. The first one we had was a nightmare. I tried everything in the book to keep him from attacking, I think we put up with him for over a year. He'd come at your face with spurs and flogging wings. He got dispatched. One of his sons took over his job and never had a minutes trouble out of him. There's a reason why people won't get out of a car if a rooster is stalking you!

We had a little banty rooster that was a pretty nice fellow. The next rooster was a white crested black polish--gorgeous bird but got mean as he was approaching puberty. He was jumping up as high as my chest, sticking his spurs towards me. When I read about a little girl in Australia who was slashed across the throat (she did live) by a rooster, and knowing that my son's neck was about as high as my chest at the time, that bird was promptly put down.

We did have a wonderful white crested hen that my son fell in love with when he was 7 and she was a chick. She was christened "Good Chickie" by him, and he played with her daily for many years. He'd push her on the rope swing, and she'd perch on his shoulder and coo in his ear. She was 13 when she died, and was deeply missed. He's always had a little thing for chickens.

Around age 7-8


and at age 20 shortly before we lost her

 

[Ravenbird]

I love it when this happens!

 

[DobieDesire]

I love it when this happens!

View attachment 159600

I'll bet that chicken didn't "love" it, haha!

 

[Ddski5]

Well I guess I jinxed Cluck. My handsome roo took on a hawk and lost the battle this time.
Farewell Chuck Norris. Such a fearless protector you will be missed. View attachment 159585

View attachment 159586

This was prophecy…
Chuck Norris


Legendary action star and martial artist Chuck Norris died on March 19, 2026, at age 86, following a sudden medical emergency in Kauai, Hawaii.

 

[GennyB]

Well my little chicks are growing fast. They are going to a new home as soon as they are fully feathered. There is a young family that is going to take them as a straight run. They are just starting their homestead and don't really have a place to keep them until they are feathered. The coop is all ready and they have a backup plan in case they get more than 1 roo. They come everyday when the kids get out of school to learn about caring for them. The kids helps me prepare the herb treats as well as clean the brooder. Yesterday we went on a hike to find some branches to make perching spots for the little chicks. They immediately started jumping up for a snoze which made the kids day. It's been really fun for me teaching them what I know about chickens.

 

[GennyB]

I made the big hens day. When they see the garden claw they are so excited and come running for a chance at a nice juicy worm.

 

[Fladobe]

I have a flock of 13 , 2 roosters and 11 hens. Depending on the time of the year I will let them run free but currently they are cooped.
The whole group is attacking one of the hens. I been aware that something was up but would only catch my attention after a rooster would mount her and the hens would also go after her afterwards. Now she is damaged pretty bad and I have removed her from the group and will work on healing her up.
Have any of you experienced this type of behavior from a flock?

 

[GennyB]

Have any of you experienced this type of behavior from a flock?

I have not.
Has there been a upset in the pecking order?
Is the one being attacked older and maybe some youngsters think it's time for a change in the hierarchy?

 

[Ravenbird]

Depending on the time of the year I will let them run free but currently they are cooped

Curious how big your coop & run is? Lack of space - especially when they are use to more space daily and now confined - can lead to fighting. Chickens can be pretty violent and when one starts getting pecked on the others will join in on the bullying. Now that the injured chicken is removed, has the flock become pretty peaceful?

 

[Fladobe]

They have a 12' x 25' coop. The two roosters tend to get a little testy with each other when under lock down but un aware of any of the bullying of any other hens. I have always observed that the roosters will go after one hen more than others and I am thinking that maybe she was the one and they drew some blood on her and the hens went after the wound and it just escalated.
I am going to keep her separate and let her rejoin when I open the doors in about 6 weeks.

 

[JanS]

I been aware that something was up but would only catch my attention after a rooster would mount her and the hens would also go after her afterwards.

Probably a stupid question but don't they make little vests for hens so the rooster doesn't hurt them when he mounts?

 

[Ravenbird]

don't they make little vests for hens so the rooster doesn't hurt them when he mounts?

Yes they do. I had to get some for my hens when we had a rooster. They all had bald places on their backs. One rooster with 8 - 11 hens back then. I'm really not missing a rooster at all tbh.

I have always observed that the roosters will go after one hen more than others

Yup, and in my case it was the most submissive hen that the other hens bullied also. I don't think it was ever any blood draw, it was just that she never stood up for herself, whether it was the rooster or the other hens.

I am going to keep her separate and let her rejoin when I open the doors in about 6 weeks

Good idea.

 

[GennyB]

Probably a stupid question but don't they make little vests for hens so the rooster doesn't hurt them when he mounts?

They do and they call them saddles. I've personally not had any luck with them. They are HOT and it was just too much of a PITA to take them off and on. Someone gave me a mesh one to try but that was pretty much shredded from spurs.