I would add not to rudely interrupt their conversations. Sometimes what might look like a fight is actually a conversation. Learning when a disagreement has escalated into an actual fight requiring our intervention is difficult for us humans to learn. It has taken me a few years, but I think I understand my 10 roosters pretty good now. I wish that I had your channel, Roovolution Podcast and Rooster Allies 9 years ago BEFORE I got my first small flock.
Is there a 'time limit' as to when we can train a rooster (i.e. up to what age)? We have some new/young roosters (hatched in May this year) that are maturing and they're in the same run now with the older alpha rooster who is now 3 yrs and 5 months old. In the past we separate those roosters from the main flock because when they're mature they chased the hens, which then riled up the older rooster. Now we're running out of place. We still have 2 other mature roosters in the separate run we call 'bachelor's pad'. Wherever they end up, staying here with their mother or being moved to the bachelor's pad, we need to train these young ones to integrate.
As for rule #1, predators have 2 eyes facing forward. This gives them depth perception. Prey animals have eyes on the sides of their head. This gives them a wide field of vision so they can avoid the predators. I have used this to hide from wild geese. By covering one eye, they don't recognize me as a predator and will fly directly over me.
It's a blast taking on the mother hen role. My record is 10 perched on my arms, shoulders, and the obligatory showoff on my head. I was indisposed to take a family portrait. When I gather eggs, the hens are used to it, however one or two pipe up that I have a lot of nerve cradle robbing. So I usually pet them a bit and lightly press my hand on the back to settle them down, and they do.
I knew the pecking order thing was bs, I am so pleased with myself for ignoring all that crap and just thinking for myself 🤣👌 “Why do u have all those ugly pallets in your run” “Just throw those chickens in with the others what’s your problem?” “U have to lock them out of the coop for the day” “You gotta trap them inside until they have all layed their eggs” “You gotta do a feeding schedule” All crap 😂 I’m a chicken mom… I love my birds. And I’m not doing anything that seams cruel, mean or just flat out stupid lmfao Thanks so much for this video, new subscriber ✌️👊
They're not necessarily lies, we just have to have all the facts. For instance, the one about "pecking order". Do the opposite of their study, and your chickens will be happier.
@@2Sides1Stone The pecking order is a stable hierarchical structure where chicken A is above B above C, etc. all the way down. It's based on the philosophy that chickens are inherently violent animals and establishing a linear pecking order is the only thing keeping them from murdering each other. Go back to the original research and you'll see it contains ZERO data and is completely ideological. It's Marxism applied to chickens. Literally. The words Schjelderup-Ebbe (father of pecking order theory) uses came straight out of Marx and Engels' "The Communist Manifesto" - "tyrant" is his favorite word to use for chicken (a word pecking order scientists are still using to this day). He also loves to talk about chickens staging revolts against their oppressors. And how every chicken dreams of being an oppressor over every other chicken. The theory spread like wildfire in the academic community, not surprisingly, considering this was during what historians dub the Golden Age of Marxism. But when scientists started conducting their own pecking order experiments following Schjelderup-Ebbe (where they actually were acquiring data, unlike him), they quickly realized their chickens weren't forming pecking orders. Instead of saying, "Hmm....maybe pecking orders don't exist. I'll test that hypothesis," which is what a non-ideological scientist would have done, they instead did whatever they could do to try to force chickens to be violent so they could document a pecking order, such as raising them in barren conditions, starving them, injecting them with testosterone, literally forcing hens who have never met each other to do one-on-one cage fights, etc.. They did whatever they had to do in order to come up with a pecking order, and even then, their results were a stretch as their data still didn't conform to a stable linear hierarchy. Today, in order to force chickens into pecking orders, scientists use complex mathematical algorithms, typically on chickens in factory farm conditions. There are several different algorithms they can use and all algorithms will give different results for what the pecking order is, so each research team will use the algorithm that gives them the results they want. If they can't get that, they tend to just make up their own algorithm. If you’d done an ounce of research, you’d know this. Additionally, pecking order theory is, by definition, a pseudoscience as the null hypothesis has never been tested. (The null hypothesis is that there is no pecking order. Still to this day, never tested, although all the data makes it pretty clear that there isn't.) Here’s what it comes down to. Some chickens are more assertive than others and peck more. Some are more fearful and peck less. Some are friendly and confident and never peck anyone and nobody ever pecks them. Some will peck when their hormones shift, but not otherwise. Some will peck when they have an off day. Some will peck over some limited resources, but not others. Some will peck when their space "bubbles" are intruded upon by birds they don't care for. Some breeds will peck more than other breeds. Some strains will peck more than other strains. Some individuals will peck more than other individuals. Chickens are all different and they all have different personalities and social needs. And chickens are capable of all different sorts of relationships and CHANGING relationships, just as people and other social beings are. I've seen hens hate other hens for awhile, and then become the best of friends with them months later. These are social animals who are smart enough to be capable of complex social relationships. Pecking order theory, instead, assumes that dominance/submission is the only type of relationship chickens are capable of having. Oppressor or oppressed - the early scientist’s favorite words. You might love to think your chickens are Marxists, but the evidence doesn’t support it. Sorry, sweetheart. If you spend some time with your chickens you'll see that, just like other social creatures, they are capable of many, many different types of relationships. Dominance/submission is just one thing they're capable of, but in a happy flock, the dominance/submission relationship will be the least important and will be non-existent between most birds. If you're seeing a lot of dominance and submission in your flock, you need to change the conditions you're raising your chickens in. You'll find many resources on how to do this on my website, thefeatherbrain.com. I challenge you to get a notebook, sit out with your flock, and honestly record the pecks your chickens are giving each other. Once you actually track it, you'll find a few birds may have more assertive personalities than others, a few may be more fearful or conflict-avoidant, but you're not going to find a linear hierarchy, and if you think you do, get your notebook out again the next day and you'll see it's already changed. Lots of people have asked me to make a video on this topic, so you can learn more about the pecking order when I film and release it (although you don’t seem interested in learning), but this is all the time I can spend on this for one commenter. Additionally, you have clearly shown you’re a close-minded person with ZERO curiosity and you’ve made “scientific” assertions with ZERO evidence. That’s not what we do on this channel, so I will never waste my time reading another one of your comments again. Feel free to keep blathering on in my comments section though - you’re only making yourself look foolish. And although I will never waste my time reading any other ridiculous, non-supported claims you make, I love to think that my followers will read your comments and they can start their day out with a laugh too! 🤣🤣🤣 Best of luck with your notebook experiment and thanks again, Bri
Another great explanation about the needs of young chicks, which is another very good reason why it's better to ship fertile eggs and do the extra work of incubating and raising them rather than ship day old chicks. Love your work. Keep it up.
I spend a lot of time with my flock. Especially now since I have a momma hen with chicks. It's really interesting listening to the different sounds they make. My roosters start a low growl and everyone moves under the same tree. Then if the predator(hawk) gets closer they bawk loud.
That's been what I've noticed too. My roosters will make the screechy "aerial" predator noise for any predator far away, whether it be a hawk or a cat. Then they'll do that loud bawk-bawk-ba-gawk! screaming noise if the predator is nearby. The actual call they do seems to be more about the urgency of the threat.
GENIUS INSIGHT...SUBLIME OBSERVATIONS...PROFOUND WISDOM... THEY HEAR ... WHERE WE ARE DEAF... THEY SEE ... WHERE WE ARE BLIND... THEY KNOW...WHAT WE HAVE FORGOTTEN...
You're videos are always amazing. I have learned more from you than any other source because you care deeply about how the chickens feel. Same here. I prefer to rehome my chickens at least 2 at a time to help them. Anyhow, I look forward to the video about integration. I have my adult parent flock, small flock I incubated and then my broody raised babies. It's been rough to integrate them all. It's a slow work in progress. Your videos are wonderful and your baby chick video made me not want to hatch anymore unless I have a broody.
Thank you! So nice that you can rehome 2 at a time - I think that must make an ENORMOUS difference for them! I too feel bad about having chicks without a broody. In the past, I've always picked sexed chicks up from the hatchery because I don't have a good set up for extra roosters. I'm hoping to build a new coop/run next year for a bachelor flock, and then I feel like any new broods can be hatched naturally after that. If you are hatching at home, you actually can start to imprint the chicks on you while they're still in their eggs - just talk to them a lot. Research has shown that chicks actually recognize their own mother's voice at hatch and will choose the right mother (based on her voice) when multiple hens are revealed to them. Just a thought. :) Unfortunately, it will be awhile before I get the new integration video/videos together. Not sure if I'm going to do one long training, or break it up into several videos so people can choose the ones that apply most to their scenarios. I have hours of footage I need to go through and organize for it...
@@thefeatherbrain Whatever you want to do with your integration video.. I'm all for it. I listen to videos while I'm at work. Long ones are fine for me but I know I'm not your only audience. Whatever you do, it will be brilliant. Oh and my incubated chicks are fantastic. They come when we call. Very loving babies. Almost 11 weeks now. We held and candled eggs more frequently than we should have. One of my broody chicks was a true miracle. You will love that story. Broody broke an egg pretty bad and I saw it was still alive. With some quick action and deep meaningful prayer I was able to save the chick. It's on Backyard Chickens under the incubating and hatching eggs forum. My post was titled "Is it possible to save this egg?". Go check that out. You will die to see that video.
I have a weird egg song story. Very small flock at the time (two, then I added a third, yes big mistake, but pace was limited). The two older girls I don't recall doing much of an egg song, but when the new chick came of age, she did egg song, generally not for herself, but always for the other two. She does not seem to bother these days.
I've seen quail parents run away from their young to save them from a cat present. Ingenious. The little ones stayed together hiding under a bush until the parents came back.
LOVE the video and I also love Jacob and Sarah's book! I've spent 8 years observing chickens and trying to understand them. I am so happy to find other like-minded people who freely share their knowledge with other chicken keepers. I currently have 10 roosters and only 22 hens. Social dynamics and intelligence of chickens especially roosters AMAZES me!!!
I would like to know more about the dynamics of the ratio of roosters to hens and how that is working for you? I have 21 hens and 5 roosters. One is left with no hens and is challenged on tagging a hen uninterrupted.
Thank you for this informative video! 🐔I love how you flat out say these threatening moves are rude and impolite...because they are! Our feathered friends deserve good manners and respect! 😊
What a fantastic video! One of your best and most informative. I think there are chicken keepers who will cull baby roosters from a hatch, in order to prevent infighting. Your video shows how uninformed they are in doing that.
I wish people would stop spreading the ratio misinformation! I currently have 10 roosters and only 22 hens. My happiest roosters have only 1 hen to care for and they treat her like a queen. And many people cull their flock just as they are reaching maturity so there are never any adults to teach the young ones.
I don't have time to be "Mama" to chicks, so I let a broody hen raise them. I talk to them as they're growing up and pet them every evening when they go to bed. Since I handle them regularly, and pet mama while she's setting, she stays tame and because she knows her babies are safe with me, she is less likely to be upset with me when I handle the babies. One broody brought her chicks up for me to see yesterday, and even though they stayed under her until I got there, she moved off of them so I could see. Then I oohed and awwed over the babies and congratulated her! I could safely get within 2' of the chicks before she got protective. I stopped and she was okay with that.
I spend about an hour a day just sitting and doing talk to text stuff near mama hen and her chicks the first couple weeks. With the last batch, she brought them to me when they were about 6 weeks old, clearly told them to stay with me and then went to lay an egg. Chickens are amazing!
I love it! I've found another crazy chicken mom! I love how much you love your birds and they obviously love you back. I think we'd be great friends if we were neighbours.
This video was so much fun! Of course I learned a lot but the presentation and production efforts were great. I have been contemplating chickens on my homestead and I think your video was the best I've seen thus far. I view all livestock management as stewardship and your video really strengthens my approach. Thank you.
I had chickens for 7 years before I ever saw a rooster pick out a nesting spot. At first I was like WTF dude and googled it. Now I think it’s the cutest thing 🥰
We were gifted chickens, and because we don’t have a mama hen, and I’m sahm, I’ve been “spoiling” these little guys so much. We give them cuddles, and I agree with all of the stuff in this video. I spend hours with them every day, it’s actually hard not to, they’re so dear. They still come inside even now that they’re pretty much full grown 😂 Any time I come into the garden they come flapping over to me, I love it so much
My girls have very minor squabbles, and we do have a "big sister" that leads by example, but I agree about the pecking order. They get along great. It is nearly always harmonious and they like each other very much. When they were little, while they all pigged out, one would bring the shy one dried worms because the little shy one would hang back and go without, otherwise. It was something to see. The little caretaker would alternate between grabbing a bite and feeding her little sister. Half are habituated for grabbing and petting. The other three are offended. All 6 grew up together. I like to think I filled a nurturing fatherly role. Ha ha they are slightly spoiled, well-adjusted, and very curious. They're great gardeners as well. Great video!
wow this is an incredible video!! u r spot on with most of the behaviors ! since my hens are integrated with me as their "rooster"....when they are having difficulties finding a nest or keeping the nest because of competition ...they call very loudly with the egg song for me and they know i am going to watch over them while they lay their egg ....when they are done they go on there merry way =) the only ones that need this supervision are my banties =)
I have just discover this channel and im so happy. I have watch a lot of videos around and , you are by far one of the best if it not the best chichens youtuber. Your humanity and your way to understand the chichens is on point and so true. You have find the very right spot between farm animal and pet animal because chichen are both. Your way to teach how to find that spot is amazing and so easy to understand. Its a gift and thank you so much for your great worrk. Wish to see you around for still a long time because the chichen's lover community really need it! That all i have to say! Thank you!
I love this video. My hubby and I have 6 hens, two are laying so far just in the last few weeks, and i am on the fence about getting a roo. Thank you.❤
@@juliemarr65 If you are in Florida near the treasure coast I have many young cockerels that need a home. I rehome my boys free usually with a pullet if I have any. I have a brother/sister pair I've been desperately trying to rehome so I mention it anywhere I can.
@@Kalico blessed morning Kalico. How sweet and would take you up on that but we are in western ky. I'm learning so much and enjoying these girls more than I thought. They are so fun to watch them.
@@juliemarr65 I figured you would be too far but it's worth a try. They are very fun and most people mis handle them and give poor treatment all around. That's why videos like this are so important. I've had my chickens a few years but I learned quickly to try and understand how chickens work. I really love them to buts and try to never offend them and keep their stress as low as possible.
SO MUCH AWESOME INFO TY!!! I now understand so much! No longer telling Foghorn to get out of the nesting boxes. But I always know snake or bird by the warning sounds. My Americus had 6 eggs, 3 hatched. They are in the coop in a large dog kennel. I live in the desert & when it got hot, she didn't want them snuggling her on the perch at night & kicked them off. As she had already started laying again, I took her out. They are 4 mos old & although I have them in the flock during the day, they have no interest in perching with them at night & go back into the kennel. I haven't stressed it since 1- am/pm they can have their grower feed 2- my girls are often not so nice to them, even mom. My hens also pick on each other, mostly in the am & pm. 9 hens 1 roo 5x24 coop with 6x24 day run, plenty of food/water I'm within 12' 24/7 (I live in a small travel trailer without electricity, water, etc. Can't go inside in our triple digit heat) & in with them several times a day & talk/sing to them throughout the day. So why the "pecking order?" Also, my wonderful Foghorn has stopped with the dance & please & now just jumps them! He's fixated on a few to the point of naked backs & completely ignores a few. He thinks saddles are attacking the hens, so I can't use those.☹️
I have 3 - 7 month old buff orp hens that LOVE to jump on and sit on my shoulders. That said anytime I get around 50' away from their fenced in area they freak and fly back. Slowly working on getting them comfortable with leaving that area 🙂. also my first time with roosters in 4 years of chickens so thatch a new and at times a fun (sarcasm). They are a blast and I spoil the when I can lol. (edit) just from this one video I have learned so much from what my roosters are/were doing. I also now feel so bad for my older chickens and new ones (7 months old) when I introduced them and put them all in the same roosting/coop area so quick, and the reactions I observed.
Don't feel too bad about your integration - we are all always learning and integration can be a tough one to do smoothly. Sounds like your chickens love you and you're giving them a great life!
My last integration was with three older (about 8mo) birds, which was all I could get at the time. Previous integrations were a bit before point of lay. Yes, it took quite a long time for the two flocks to fully integrate, many many months, and even for the new girls to trust me. They are one flock now. I like the way they learn from each other, my perma-baby (now 5.5yo) always comes running up to me when I go out there - now the new girls do as well. They like to share both good habits, and bad habits!
I'm a new subscriber after watching this video! Roovolutions and Welcome to Chickenlandia are channels I subscribe to here on YT as well. I just love learning about roosters/chickens and watching their interactions with each other and their humans. This was such an enjoyable video, my husband and I learned so much from watching it! Thank you so very much for taking the time to make such an educational video. I now need to go back and watch all your other videos to see what I've missed ❤
@@thefeatherbrain That is so awesome!! I am so excited to see you and Dalia together! I'll be keeping a watchful eye out on that podcast. I can't wait to tell my husband, he's going to be excited as well ❤
My chicks will soon be 3mo old..I wish I had found you sooner..I'm trying to remember growing up on the farm..ours were always free to go where they chose..but over the past 50yrs things have kinda been forgotten..but, hey, we're never too old to learn..thanks bunches
I've almost asked you in the past if you know Sara and Jacob. I'm in their Facebook group and also follow their channel and I have learned a lot from them about roosters. It completely changed my perspective on them. Many of the things you say are so similar, just wondered if you ran into each other anywhere. Guess so!
Their videos/podcast popped into my UA-cam feed last December. I immediately gave them a donation. We've since been in touch and I told them I'll continue to give them shoutouts whenever I talk about roosters. I was thrilled to see someone else is promoting kind rooster care, and they are willing to give one-on-one consults which is something I'll never do, so I'm always sending people their way!
Thanks! Great information!! I'm going to buy Through Their Eyes. I hand raised my flock, picked them up on their hatch day from a hatchery nearby. Slept next to their brooder box for 7 weeks and hauled them outside and back in every night until they were feathered and able to go into their coop. In all, I had 12 hens and 1 roo, various breeds: Dominiques, BPRs, Partridge Rock, a Welsummer, a few Buff Orps, Cochins, a Brahma, a freaking adorable little White Leghorn and a Green Queen- and the rooster is a heritage PBR. He takes his job much too seriously, and he's beyond aggressive I think he sees me as his direct competition. He wants to be in charge of his ladies and any attention they give me pisses him off. It's so hard to know what's going to trigger him into an attack, and quite honestly, it's like he waits for submissive, non eye contact, slow movements. I know he's just doing what I've his DNA so I tolerate it and I carry a lacrosse stick to hold him back/push j back when he tries to flog me. No one in my family will go near him bc he's BIG. He's between 10-12 lbs and he patrols the garden. I've had the flock 4 years with an annual loss of 1 bird. We're down to 7, 8 incl him. I'll never get new birds until he dies, and next time I'm thinking maybe a Faverolles (is that what one of your roos is?) or possibly a Brahma. I like the bigger birds, as I feel they are less likely to attract predators due to their size, or the appearance of size, like my blue cochin. she's double the size of my white cochin!! Anyhow, I did love all of your info and the video was entertaining!! Thanks for taking the time to explain to others how and why these little jungle fowl act the way they do!! Can't wait to order the book!! I doing think it'll help me with Stephen, but since my neighbors don't complain and our property backs into a bird sanctuary, I love having a roo as an added line of defense, I plan on always having one in my flock. And, besides attacking me and my family, they are great fun to watch hanging out all around the garden with his ladies Funny enough, Stephen is more attracted to my other BPR over the rest of the breeds. I bet some folks would argue that it's bc she's the same color, but I have two Dominiques and no one besides me and one of my daughters can tell them apart (it's their combs! Two have rose xombs and Lava, my PBR has a straight) so I believe he knows she's like him. Or she knows he's like her. It's just interesting to watch flock dynamics
I haven't made a video about Bumblefoot, but Dalia Monterroso from "Welcome to Chickenlandia" has recently released one which is very similar to my approach. You can see it here - ua-cam.com/video/4_PIY8o_nek/v-deo.html
This is such a wonderful video! Oh I have one strange behaviors I saw a silkie rooster do, then an orpington later on. They went to roost for the night straddling ON TOP of their hen, I was trying to make sure no hen was missing when I barely saw her under him. Is that a protection thing? Literally “It’s ok I’m covering your back, nobody can mess with you without going through me first!” Or something else? Our first year of chickens has been a learning process, my hubby grew up with birds so I thought he would be more help and experienced. Then he goes holding them upside down by their feet(aaaargh!) or grabbing a rooster to carry around everywhere. I love my cuddly lap feather puppies, and he can ruin them so fast. :( Never lost any of our chicks the first year. We were looking forward to letting broody mamas raise chicks this year, but tis not been working out. First jersey giant hatched some and left the nest with them, sleeping elsewhere. Her other eggs were chirping so I incubated and got a few more. Another broody didn’t hatch her eggs(may have been unfertilized) so we tried getting her to adopt, found one dead in the morning and the others crying and scared of her. Then we tried giving them to the other mom. She did good a few days, then one went missing. The next week third had a bloody wing, so I brought her inside to heal, then got her some friends. The silkies are the same, love brooding but always lose chicks. They had four but only one survived, I hate lone chicks not having somebody to grow up with. :(
Did you see the rooster actually get on top of the hen? I''ve had hens that actually burrow under the roosters, like a baby chick burrowing under a broody hen.
Aww that makes sense ..but yes I did see them get on top too. It was just the way they both chose to sleep every night as a routine, Cuz I remember watching them awhile and could never get a good video, probably because it was always getting too dark. She would choose her spot and get comfy, while he stood beside or watched for the other hens to go to bed, then he would move over. It was always only that one hen, that was his “fave” girl of them all, none of the others. The hens always look so small that way too! 😁
Yes, please make a video about the myth of pecking order, it sounds a lot like the alpha myth for dogs. It’d be interesting to know how chickens really form bonds and how they live together. Great video!
My rooster is only 18 weeks old,but he's starting to "feel his oats." I stopped holding him at age 5 weeks because he clearly stopped enjoying it. Now I respect him, I put him in charge of his domain & the girls, but I look at he & I as a team. I do this by getting his approval for anything coming into or going out of his domain. Even when I'm collecting empty waterers or empty Mash food trays from breakfast, to me bringing in a bag of thawed peas... I allow him to see it first. IF he seems uncomfortable with something, I sit it down on the ground & I walk away from it. This gives him "authority" over the object, and he won't attack me by accident. Once he moves away, I've gotten his approval. I'm trying really hard with this rooster, Abraham. I've had to have several others culled because they flogged me so much & then they bloodied the hens. I feel I may have cause their violent behavior. Idk. I was just as inexperienced as they were. So I'm here to learn better, I've Subscribed to Roovelution & I've studied & studied. I can't wait until your next video about integrating flocks. I have 3 that I'm hoping to do that. I have 4 Orrington hens that are 1-1/2 y/o, 7 New Hampshire pullets & 1 cockerel that are 18 weeks old, 7 pullets (3 Rhode Island Blues & 4 Black Australorps), that are 3 weeks. I thought about integrating the 4 OR hens & the 7 chicks together once the chicks are 14-16 wks old, then add them to the New Hamphires that has the rooster in it. But I'm interested to see if you suggest doing this outside while they're free ranging or in their runs. I do have a 2 sided run with a wire cloth wall/doors between the flocks, so they'll see each other long before meeting.
I found out my roo ONLY challenged me in the Spring. I did the "Walk of Shame" at that time and he was a perfect gentleman the rest of the year! He did need a refresher every year until he was about 3, but he lived until he was 10.
In the years that I've raised chickens, there's never been an issue integrating them. I have the babies in a 17" x 42" cage in the coop. The radiant heater is there, along with feed and water. After 1 day, the cage door gets opened, but it creates a barrier from the big girls. The babies can crawl under the door to explore. After a few days of that, I take the cage off its bottom, and they all integrate. I'm not so sure about the 48 hour rule and the babies won't bond with a mother hen. This season's babies got adopted. They were 4 weeks old at the time. I am of the opinion that giving them enough space is crucial in the happiness and health factor. Daisy, Dolly, Tulip, Tango, Muffin, Marshmallow, Snowflake, and BooBoo seem to agree (my chickens).
I found a chicken when I was around 10, got her a rooster and had three generations .I loved my chickens but didn't know anything about what you teach here. This was so informative and adorable.
I started watching this an I said to myself "umm..." and, my assumption was right you are a "Crazy Chicken Lady" and I love it! Thanks for this very insightful and funny video
My girls crane their necks at me and give me toothless grin before hopping onto my lap . One we have nicknamed Thunder Thighs chases cats out of the garden ,I have a 19 year old cat who is ignored ,but any other cat gets chased . My hens where really freaked by the hedgehog 😂 . It came out early a few nights ,and they created rather a fuss and came running up the garden to the safe space where I was sitting . I’ve had non as chicks ,they just seem to see me as protecter ,my husband thinks they see me as mother hen ,not too sure of that ,but nothing bad has happened to them from me and I have tasty treats on occasions .
Loved when you were talking to Roofio and telling him you were working with the other rooster, the other rooster returned & was doing the side-present while he checked out the ground...showing the "sorry, let's keep the peace."
We added 2 more chickens from their original batch(family). They seem to stay very separate still. Will they connect with the other girls eventually? They free range all day and don't beef with he others. They just stay separated for the most part.
Great video and information. I love your intro. You have really shared some great nuggets of information. Thank you so much for your time. I am sure your chickens LOVE you!
So glad to have found your channel. 😊 About to get some rescue chickens soon. 👍🏽 Their house 🏚 for the night 🌙 to sleep in is already here. 💤 Thank you for sharing your insights 💡 Just ordered the grandpa's feeder. 🌽 Like to have things in place for when they'll come 🐔🐔🐔 They will be a lovely addition to the family. 🐴🐎🐈🐈🐐🐐🐐👩🌾👨🌾 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
It's awesome that you put into words exactly what I am experiencing with our chickens. Thank you for helping me be a better chicken steward. Nooice! 😎 STOC
I had one chicken left after an infestation of red mites. The other two died so Matilde was left on her own. It took weeks to remedy the chicken coop so Matilde slept inside. I have a doggie stroller and that is where she sleeps and lays her eggs. She like to come in under the A/c when it gets hot too. 😂 Anyway I got her 3 friends but she just pecks at them all the time so have given them separate areas during the day and they sleep in the coop at night and Matilde comes in and gets into her stroller. I give them treats both side of fencing so they eat together at times and the main watered us up against the fencing so they can also drink “together”. Am hoping Matilde comes around and can join the other girls. Any tips? Awesome video, first of yours I’ve seen but have subscribed and will be watching them all! ❤
Im also looking forward to the integration video! One hen got super broody, so i snuck 4 babies under her. They're now 10 weeks old but the nuggets (as i call them) are always sticking together and haring off on their own. Their mother is actually the one that harasses them the most, driving them away from the feeder or favorite perches. It's frustrating. Btw, i love the little teacup! 😂
Lol! Thanks for commenting! It sounds like your mama hen is weaning her chicks. Weaning typically starts when chicks are 6 weeks old and continues until 12 weeks or later. In the wild, mama hens chase their chicks out of the flock at this time- this results in the chicks starting their own flocks or joining other flocks, but the long-term purpose for this is to decrease or eliminate inbreeding within a flock. However, it can certainly be unpleasant for us to watch in our backyard flocks!
@@thefeatherbrain Oh, that's a relief! So when the nuggets hit full rotisserie size (I figured I should stick with the nickname theme) 😅 they should be big enough to assert themselves and be part of the flock. That's good! Thank you kindly!
Love this, you’re a wonderful chicken momma! 🥰 I have 3 hens (for now) absolutely adore my girls.. thank you for sharing this fantastic info, new subscriber. Chickens are the best! ❤❤
I didn't find your channel until a couple weeks ago when our first chicks were about a week old. I didn't know about the benefits of spending as much time as possible with them in the first day or two of getting them as day old chicks. We have them in a tent brooder and I get in with them at least once a day to offer them feed in my hand. But they don't like to be held. Is there anything else that can be done to get them to "warm up" to being held like you show in the video? Or is missing that initial imprinting window kind of a deal breaker? Hand feeding time has been fun though, so if that's the extent of the bonding it is still rewarding.
Sadly, very few people know anything about imprinting - I'm trying to spread the word with the hope it will someday be commonplace in the backyard world. But you definitely can still tame them, and you may find that when your chicks reach laying age, some of them may seemingly turn tame overnight. After that imprinting window has closed (after a couple days of life), chicks naturally become really fearful of everything (except for the mama they've imprinted on). This is because they're now at an age where they're exploring the natural world a lot, which means they're wandering off from the protection of mom - they have to be fearful because everything wants to eat chicks. So they're just naturally skittish. But once they reach laying age, they calm down a whole lot. The fact that you're spending time with them every day now means you may still end up with snuggly chickens later without having to do anything extra. But if not, you can work on gradually getting them accustomed to being touched. I'll do a video on this topic one of these days. But if you do want snuggly chickens, there's always a way.
Don't worry too much, it's not a deal breaker. I usually get chicks a lot older (5-12 weeks old), and of course that imprint window was long gone. But, depending on their personality, most will come to like and trust you in time (follow the etiquette, don't spook or grab at them!), and some will be your forever-babies. I used to have one that would always sit on my lap all the time, and my new perma-baby will always run up to 'her mommy' every time she sees me.
I don't know if you ever mention that happy chickens tend to be more productive, too! I was raised with this, so I try to keep them as happy as possible and I get the bonus of their affection.
If you have any rules of chicken etiquette you've noticed in your flock, please share them below! 💕
I would add not to rudely interrupt their conversations. Sometimes what might look like a fight is actually a conversation. Learning when a disagreement has escalated into an actual fight requiring our intervention is difficult for us humans to learn. It has taken me a few years, but I think I understand my 10 roosters pretty good now. I wish that I had your channel, Roovolution Podcast and Rooster Allies 9 years ago BEFORE I got my first small flock.
Is there a 'time limit' as to when we can train a rooster (i.e. up to what age)?
We have some new/young roosters (hatched in May this year) that are maturing and they're in the same run now with the older alpha rooster who is now 3 yrs and 5 months old. In the past we separate those roosters from the main flock because when they're mature they chased the hens, which then riled up the older rooster. Now we're running out of place. We still have 2 other mature roosters in the separate run we call 'bachelor's pad'. Wherever they end up, staying here with their mother or being moved to the bachelor's pad, we need to train these young ones to integrate.
That pinky finger in the intro had me rolling on the floor laughing 🤣This video was very enlightening thank you it explains a LOT about my hens :)
Glad someone laughed. :)
You are so informative! Your subs and views numbers don’t reflect truly your value to all things chickening. Keep up the good work!
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As for rule #1, predators have 2 eyes facing forward. This gives them depth perception. Prey animals have eyes on the sides of their head. This gives them a wide field of vision so they can avoid the predators. I have used this to hide from wild geese. By covering one eye, they don't recognize me as a predator and will fly directly over me.
That's really interesting - thanks!
Super interesting
Oh wow, that makes sense.
Totally trying this once the geese start flying over 😂
It's a blast taking on the mother hen role. My record is 10 perched on my arms, shoulders, and the obligatory showoff on my head. I was indisposed to take a family portrait.
When I gather eggs, the hens are used to it, however one or two pipe up that I have a lot of nerve cradle robbing. So I usually pet them a bit and lightly press my hand on the back to settle them down, and they do.
I would love to see a photo like that!
@@thefeatherbrain Not something we see every day after all. ;) Probably the next batch will be next year. Patience, patience, patience.
I knew the pecking order thing was bs, I am so pleased with myself for ignoring all that crap and just thinking for myself 🤣👌
“Why do u have all those ugly pallets in your run”
“Just throw those chickens in with the others what’s your problem?”
“U have to lock them out of the coop for the day”
“You gotta trap them inside until they have all layed their eggs”
“You gotta do a feeding schedule”
All crap 😂
I’m a chicken mom… I love my birds. And I’m not doing anything that seams cruel, mean or just flat out stupid lmfao
Thanks so much for this video, new subscriber ✌️👊
So true! All of that crap is so outdated and serves to make things more convenient for the keeper at the expense of the chicken. Time for a change!
@@thefeatherbrain agreed!
So sick of 'research' lies. You do fantastic work.
Me too! And thank you! 💕
They're not necessarily lies, we just have to have all the facts. For instance, the one about "pecking order". Do the opposite of their study, and your chickens will be happier.
@@2Sides1Stone The pecking order is a stable hierarchical structure where chicken A is above B above C, etc. all the way down. It's based on the philosophy that chickens are inherently violent animals and establishing a linear pecking order is the only thing keeping them from murdering each other. Go back to the original research and you'll see it contains ZERO data and is completely ideological. It's Marxism applied to chickens. Literally. The words Schjelderup-Ebbe (father of pecking order theory) uses came straight out of Marx and Engels' "The Communist Manifesto" - "tyrant" is his favorite word to use for chicken (a word pecking order scientists are still using to this day). He also loves to talk about chickens staging revolts against their oppressors. And how every chicken dreams of being an oppressor over every other chicken.
The theory spread like wildfire in the academic community, not surprisingly, considering this was during what historians dub the Golden Age of Marxism. But when scientists started conducting their own pecking order experiments following Schjelderup-Ebbe (where they actually were acquiring data, unlike him), they quickly realized their chickens weren't forming pecking orders. Instead of saying, "Hmm....maybe pecking orders don't exist. I'll test that hypothesis," which is what a non-ideological scientist would have done, they instead did whatever they could do to try to force chickens to be violent so they could document a pecking order, such as raising them in barren conditions, starving them, injecting them with testosterone, literally forcing hens who have never met each other to do one-on-one cage fights, etc.. They did whatever they had to do in order to come up with a pecking order, and even then, their results were a stretch as their data still didn't conform to a stable linear hierarchy.
Today, in order to force chickens into pecking orders, scientists use complex mathematical algorithms, typically on chickens in factory farm conditions. There are several different algorithms they can use and all algorithms will give different results for what the pecking order is, so each research team will use the algorithm that gives them the results they want. If they can't get that, they tend to just make up their own algorithm. If you’d done an ounce of research, you’d know this.
Additionally, pecking order theory is, by definition, a pseudoscience as the null hypothesis has never been tested. (The null hypothesis is that there is no pecking order. Still to this day, never tested, although all the data makes it pretty clear that there isn't.)
Here’s what it comes down to. Some chickens are more assertive than others and peck more. Some are more fearful and peck less. Some are friendly and confident and never peck anyone and nobody ever pecks them. Some will peck when their hormones shift, but not otherwise. Some will peck when they have an off day. Some will peck over some limited resources, but not others. Some will peck when their space "bubbles" are intruded upon by birds they don't care for. Some breeds will peck more than other breeds. Some strains will peck more than other strains. Some individuals will peck more than other individuals. Chickens are all different and they all have different personalities and social needs.
And chickens are capable of all different sorts of relationships and CHANGING relationships, just as people and other social beings are. I've seen hens hate other hens for awhile, and then become the best of friends with them months later. These are social animals who are smart enough to be capable of complex social relationships. Pecking order theory, instead, assumes that dominance/submission is the only type of relationship chickens are capable of having. Oppressor or oppressed - the early scientist’s favorite words. You might love to think your chickens are Marxists, but the evidence doesn’t support it. Sorry, sweetheart.
If you spend some time with your chickens you'll see that, just like other social creatures, they are capable of many, many different types of relationships. Dominance/submission is just one thing they're capable of, but in a happy flock, the dominance/submission relationship will be the least important and will be non-existent between most birds. If you're seeing a lot of dominance and submission in your flock, you need to change the conditions you're raising your chickens in. You'll find many resources on how to do this on my website, thefeatherbrain.com.
I challenge you to get a notebook, sit out with your flock, and honestly record the pecks your chickens are giving each other. Once you actually track it, you'll find a few birds may have more assertive personalities than others, a few may be more fearful or conflict-avoidant, but you're not going to find a linear hierarchy, and if you think you do, get your notebook out again the next day and you'll see it's already changed.
Lots of people have asked me to make a video on this topic, so you can learn more about the pecking order when I film and release it (although you don’t seem interested in learning), but this is all the time I can spend on this for one commenter.
Additionally, you have clearly shown you’re a close-minded person with ZERO curiosity and you’ve made “scientific” assertions with ZERO evidence. That’s not what we do on this channel, so I will never waste my time reading another one of your comments again.
Feel free to keep blathering on in my comments section though - you’re only making yourself look foolish. And although I will never waste my time reading any other ridiculous, non-supported claims you make, I love to think that my followers will read your comments and they can start their day out with a laugh too! 🤣🤣🤣
Best of luck with your notebook experiment and thanks again,
Bri
Another great explanation about the needs of young chicks, which is another very good reason why it's better to ship fertile eggs and do the extra work of incubating and raising them rather than ship day old chicks. Love your work. Keep it up.
We drive & get the chicks & i feed & handled then all the way home as my husband drives.
I always learn so much from your videos! Thank you for taking the time to make them!
Balancing a chicken on your shoulder and an itty bitty tea cup, then the pinky finger movement. It made me cackle. 🙂
I spend a lot of time with my flock. Especially now since I have a momma hen with chicks.
It's really interesting listening to the different sounds they make.
My roosters start a low growl and everyone moves under the same tree. Then if the predator(hawk) gets closer they bawk loud.
That's been what I've noticed too. My roosters will make the screechy "aerial" predator noise for any predator far away, whether it be a hawk or a cat. Then they'll do that loud bawk-bawk-ba-gawk! screaming noise if the predator is nearby. The actual call they do seems to be more about the urgency of the threat.
What a cute and very informative video. They always help me with my flock. 1 and a half year chicken mamma here and still learning.
I am a several-year chicken mama and still feel like I learn something new about them every day. :)
I grew up with chickens, and you so eloquently explained some of the behaviors I saw. I learned so much from your video and had me laughing, too.
GENIUS INSIGHT...SUBLIME OBSERVATIONS...PROFOUND WISDOM... THEY HEAR ... WHERE WE ARE DEAF... THEY SEE ... WHERE WE ARE BLIND... THEY KNOW...WHAT WE HAVE FORGOTTEN...
You're videos are always amazing. I have learned more from you than any other source because you care deeply about how the chickens feel. Same here. I prefer to rehome my chickens at least 2 at a time to help them. Anyhow, I look forward to the video about integration. I have my adult parent flock, small flock I incubated and then my broody raised babies. It's been rough to integrate them all. It's a slow work in progress. Your videos are wonderful and your baby chick video made me not want to hatch anymore unless I have a broody.
Thank you! So nice that you can rehome 2 at a time - I think that must make an ENORMOUS difference for them! I too feel bad about having chicks without a broody. In the past, I've always picked sexed chicks up from the hatchery because I don't have a good set up for extra roosters. I'm hoping to build a new coop/run next year for a bachelor flock, and then I feel like any new broods can be hatched naturally after that. If you are hatching at home, you actually can start to imprint the chicks on you while they're still in their eggs - just talk to them a lot. Research has shown that chicks actually recognize their own mother's voice at hatch and will choose the right mother (based on her voice) when multiple hens are revealed to them. Just a thought. :)
Unfortunately, it will be awhile before I get the new integration video/videos together. Not sure if I'm going to do one long training, or break it up into several videos so people can choose the ones that apply most to their scenarios. I have hours of footage I need to go through and organize for it...
@@thefeatherbrain Whatever you want to do with your integration video.. I'm all for it. I listen to videos while I'm at work. Long ones are fine for me but I know I'm not your only audience. Whatever you do, it will be brilliant. Oh and my incubated chicks are fantastic. They come when we call. Very loving babies. Almost 11 weeks now. We held and candled eggs more frequently than we should have. One of my broody chicks was a true miracle. You will love that story. Broody broke an egg pretty bad and I saw it was still alive. With some quick action and deep meaningful prayer I was able to save the chick. It's on Backyard Chickens under the incubating and hatching eggs forum. My post was titled "Is it possible to save this egg?". Go check that out. You will die to see that video.
@@Kalico Can't believe that chick survived! You are good on your feet! And what a beautiful story...
I have a weird egg song story. Very small flock at the time (two, then I added a third, yes big mistake, but pace was limited). The two older girls I don't recall doing much of an egg song, but when the new chick came of age, she did egg song, generally not for herself, but always for the other two. She does not seem to bother these days.
Thank you, great video. Always good to know how not to be a scary monster
You have a wealth of information and this new Chicken mamma thanks you!!
We had a deer in our pasture yesterday and the chickens were screeching warnings . It was funny!
I've seen quail parents run away from their young to save them from a cat present. Ingenious. The little ones stayed together hiding under a bush until the parents came back.
I love that!
LOVE the video and I also love Jacob and Sarah's book! I've spent 8 years observing chickens and trying to understand them. I am so happy to find other like-minded people who freely share their knowledge with other chicken keepers. I currently have 10 roosters and only 22 hens. Social dynamics and intelligence of chickens especially roosters AMAZES me!!!
I would like to know more about the dynamics of the ratio of roosters to hens and how that is working for you? I have 21 hens and 5 roosters. One is left with no hens and is challenged on tagging a hen uninterrupted.
Me too! 💕
Thank you for this informative video! 🐔I love how you flat out say these threatening moves are rude and impolite...because they are! Our feathered friends deserve good manners and respect! 😊
What a fantastic video! One of your best and most informative. I think there are chicken keepers who will cull baby roosters from a hatch, in order to prevent infighting. Your video shows how uninformed they are in doing that.
I wish people would stop spreading the ratio misinformation! I currently have 10 roosters and only 22 hens. My happiest roosters have only 1 hen to care for and they treat her like a queen. And many people cull their flock just as they are reaching maturity so there are never any adults to teach the young ones.
I don't have time to be "Mama" to chicks, so I let a broody hen raise them. I talk to them as they're growing up and pet them every evening when they go to bed. Since I handle them regularly, and pet mama while she's setting, she stays tame and because she knows her babies are safe with me, she is less likely to be upset with me when I handle the babies. One broody brought her chicks up for me to see yesterday, and even though they stayed under her until I got there, she moved off of them so I could see. Then I oohed and awwed over the babies and congratulated her! I could safely get within 2' of the chicks before she got protective. I stopped and she was okay with that.
I spend about an hour a day just sitting and doing talk to text stuff near mama hen and her chicks the first couple weeks. With the last batch, she brought them to me when they were about 6 weeks old, clearly told them to stay with me and then went to lay an egg. Chickens are amazing!
@@kayfrick7129 it feels wonderful when you know you've earned their trust, doesn't it?
I love it! I've found another crazy chicken mom! I love how much you love your birds and they obviously love you back. I think we'd be great friends if we were neighbours.
Most likely. :)
Love this. Chickens are amazing
This video was so much fun! Of course I learned a lot but the presentation and production efforts were great. I have been contemplating chickens on my homestead and I think your video was the best I've seen thus far. I view all livestock management as stewardship and your video really strengthens my approach. Thank you.
@jimbtv Thank you! I view it as stewardship as well - thanks for commenting. :)
I had chickens for 7 years before I ever saw a rooster pick out a nesting spot. At first I was like WTF dude and googled it. Now I think it’s the cutest thing 🥰
We were gifted chickens, and because we don’t have a mama hen, and I’m sahm, I’ve been “spoiling” these little guys so much. We give them cuddles, and I agree with all of the stuff in this video. I spend hours with them every day, it’s actually hard not to, they’re so dear. They still come inside even now that they’re pretty much full grown 😂 Any time I come into the garden they come flapping over to me, I love it so much
My girls have very minor squabbles, and we do have a "big sister" that leads by example, but I agree about the pecking order. They get along great. It is nearly always harmonious and they like each other very much. When they were little, while they all pigged out, one would bring the shy one dried worms because the little shy one would hang back and go without, otherwise. It was something to see. The little caretaker would alternate between grabbing a bite and feeding her little sister. Half are habituated for grabbing and petting. The other three are offended. All 6 grew up together. I like to think I filled a nurturing fatherly role. Ha ha they are slightly spoiled, well-adjusted, and very curious. They're great gardeners as well. Great video!
wow this is an incredible video!! u r spot on with most of the behaviors !
since my hens are integrated with me as their "rooster"....when they are having difficulties finding a nest or keeping the nest because of competition ...they call very loudly with the egg song for me and they know i am going to watch over them while they lay their egg ....when they are done they go on there merry way =) the only ones that need this supervision are my banties =)
I have just discover this channel and im so happy. I have watch a lot of videos around and , you are by far one of the best if it not the best chichens youtuber. Your humanity and your way to understand the chichens is on point and so true. You have find the very right spot between farm animal and pet animal because chichen are both. Your way to teach how to find that spot is amazing and so easy to understand. Its a gift and thank you so much for your great worrk. Wish to see you around for still a long time because the chichen's lover community really need it! That all i have to say! Thank you!
Thank you! 💕
This whole video was so sweet and amusing! ❤
Thank you for the lovely video! You can tell that you clearly love and respect your chickens!
Great video!! I also love the rooster tips from Sara and Jacob of Roovolution! They also have a podcast.
They have a great podcast!
The French will love what you said about chivalry as the rooster being their emblem. ;-)
I love this video. My hubby and I have 6 hens, two are laying so far just in the last few weeks, and i am on the fence about getting a roo. Thank you.❤
We have 6 as well and are waiting patiently for our first eggs🙏🏼
@@juliemarr65 If you are in Florida near the treasure coast I have many young cockerels that need a home. I rehome my boys free usually with a pullet if I have any. I have a brother/sister pair I've been desperately trying to rehome so I mention it anywhere I can.
@@Kalico blessed morning Kalico. How sweet and would take you up on that but we are in western ky. I'm learning so much and enjoying these girls more than I thought. They are so fun to watch them.
How long have you had chickens?
@@juliemarr65 I figured you would be too far but it's worth a try. They are very fun and most people mis handle them and give poor treatment all around. That's why videos like this are so important. I've had my chickens a few years but I learned quickly to try and understand how chickens work. I really love them to buts and try to never offend them and keep their stress as low as possible.
This is AWESOME ❤❤❤❤
Thanks so much for sharing this!
SO MUCH AWESOME INFO TY!!! I now understand so much! No longer telling Foghorn to get out of the nesting boxes. But I always know snake or bird by the warning sounds. My Americus had 6 eggs, 3 hatched. They are in the coop in a large dog kennel. I live in the desert & when it got hot, she didn't want them snuggling her on the perch at night & kicked them off. As she had already started laying again, I took her out. They are 4 mos old & although I have them in the flock during the day, they have no interest in perching with them at night & go back into the kennel. I haven't stressed it since 1- am/pm they can have their grower feed 2- my girls are often not so nice to them, even mom. My hens also pick on each other, mostly in the am & pm. 9 hens 1 roo 5x24 coop with 6x24 day run, plenty of food/water I'm within 12' 24/7 (I live in a small travel trailer without electricity, water, etc. Can't go inside in our triple digit heat) & in with them several times a day & talk/sing to them throughout the day. So why the "pecking order?" Also, my wonderful Foghorn has stopped with the dance & please & now just jumps them! He's fixated on a few to the point of naked backs & completely ignores a few. He thinks saddles are attacking the hens, so I can't use those.☹️
No idea if I'll actually have chickens one day, but this was fascinating! Now I will know how to behave with chickens!
My only rooster and the one across the road used to crow back and forth at each other every day.
I have 3 - 7 month old buff orp hens that LOVE to jump on and sit on my shoulders. That said anytime I get around 50' away from their fenced in area they freak and fly back. Slowly working on getting them comfortable with leaving that area 🙂. also my first time with roosters in 4 years of chickens so thatch a new and at times a fun (sarcasm). They are a blast and I spoil the when I can lol. (edit) just from this one video I have learned so much from what my roosters are/were doing. I also now feel so bad for my older chickens and new ones (7 months old) when I introduced them and put them all in the same roosting/coop area so quick, and the reactions I observed.
Don't feel too bad about your integration - we are all always learning and integration can be a tough one to do smoothly. Sounds like your chickens love you and you're giving them a great life!
My last integration was with three older (about 8mo) birds, which was all I could get at the time. Previous integrations were a bit before point of lay.
Yes, it took quite a long time for the two flocks to fully integrate, many many months, and even for the new girls to trust me. They are one flock now.
I like the way they learn from each other, my perma-baby (now 5.5yo) always comes running up to me when I go out there - now the new girls do as well. They like to share both good habits, and bad habits!
@@davinasquirrel7672 So true!
I'm a new subscriber after watching this video! Roovolutions and Welcome to Chickenlandia are channels I subscribe to here on YT as well. I just love learning about roosters/chickens and watching their interactions with each other and their humans.
This was such an enjoyable video, my husband and I learned so much from watching it!
Thank you so very much for taking the time to make such an educational video. I now need to go back and watch all your other videos to see what I've missed ❤
Thank you for your kind words! I too love Roovolution and Welcome to Chickenlandia. I'll be on Dalia's podcast later this year. 💕
@@thefeatherbrain That is so awesome!! I am so excited to see you and Dalia together! I'll be keeping a watchful eye out on that podcast. I can't wait to tell my husband, he's going to be excited as well ❤
My chicks will soon be 3mo old..I wish I had found you sooner..I'm trying to remember growing up on the farm..ours were always free to go where they chose..but over the past 50yrs things have kinda been forgotten..but, hey, we're never too old to learn..thanks bunches
I'm constantly learning new things about chickens - it never ends! :)
I've almost asked you in the past if you know Sara and Jacob. I'm in their Facebook group and also follow their channel and I have learned a lot from them about roosters. It completely changed my perspective on them. Many of the things you say are so similar, just wondered if you ran into each other anywhere. Guess so!
Their videos/podcast popped into my UA-cam feed last December. I immediately gave them a donation. We've since been in touch and I told them I'll continue to give them shoutouts whenever I talk about roosters. I was thrilled to see someone else is promoting kind rooster care, and they are willing to give one-on-one consults which is something I'll never do, so I'm always sending people their way!
Thanks! Great information!! I'm going to buy Through Their Eyes.
I hand raised my flock, picked them up on their hatch day from a hatchery nearby. Slept next to their brooder box for 7 weeks and hauled them outside and back in every night until they were feathered and able to go into their coop. In all, I had 12 hens and 1 roo, various breeds: Dominiques, BPRs, Partridge Rock, a Welsummer, a few Buff Orps, Cochins, a Brahma, a freaking adorable little White Leghorn and a Green Queen- and the rooster is a heritage PBR. He takes his job much too seriously, and he's beyond aggressive
I think he sees me as his direct competition. He wants to be in charge of his ladies and any attention they give me pisses him off. It's so hard to know what's going to trigger him into an attack, and quite honestly, it's like he waits for submissive, non eye contact, slow movements.
I know he's just doing what I've his DNA so I tolerate it and I carry a lacrosse stick to hold him back/push j back when he tries to flog me. No one in my family will go near him bc he's BIG. He's between 10-12 lbs and he patrols the garden.
I've had the flock 4 years with an annual loss of 1 bird. We're down to 7, 8 incl him. I'll never get new birds until he dies, and next time I'm thinking maybe a Faverolles (is that what one of your roos is?) or possibly a Brahma. I like the bigger birds, as I feel they are less likely to attract predators due to their size, or the appearance of size, like my blue cochin. she's double the size of my white cochin!!
Anyhow, I did love all of your info and the video was entertaining!! Thanks for taking the time to explain to others how and why these little jungle fowl act the way they do!!
Can't wait to order the book!! I doing think it'll help me with Stephen, but since my neighbors don't complain and our property backs into a bird sanctuary, I love having a roo as an added line of defense, I plan on always having one in my flock. And, besides attacking me and my family, they are great fun to watch hanging out all around the garden with his ladies
Funny enough, Stephen is more attracted to my other BPR over the rest of the breeds. I bet some folks would argue that it's bc she's the same color, but I have two Dominiques and no one besides me and one of my daughters can tell them apart (it's their combs! Two have rose xombs and Lava, my PBR has a straight) so I believe he knows she's like him. Or she knows he's like her. It's just interesting to watch flock dynamics
You are awesome!
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This information is amazing! Thank you!
BIG BIG love! We have a flock of school chickens, and this is an amazing instructional tool for us!
I haven't made a video about Bumblefoot, but Dalia Monterroso from "Welcome to Chickenlandia" has recently released one which is very similar to my approach. You can see it here - ua-cam.com/video/4_PIY8o_nek/v-deo.html
This is such a wonderful video! Oh I have one strange behaviors I saw a silkie rooster do, then an orpington later on. They went to roost for the night straddling ON TOP of their hen, I was trying to make sure no hen was missing when I barely saw her under him. Is that a protection thing? Literally “It’s ok I’m covering your back, nobody can mess with you without going through me first!” Or something else?
Our first year of chickens has been a learning process, my hubby grew up with birds so I thought he would be more help and experienced. Then he goes holding them upside down by their feet(aaaargh!) or grabbing a rooster to carry around everywhere. I love my cuddly lap feather puppies, and he can ruin them so fast. :(
Never lost any of our chicks the first year. We were looking forward to letting broody mamas raise chicks this year, but tis not been working out. First jersey giant hatched some and left the nest with them, sleeping elsewhere. Her other eggs were chirping so I incubated and got a few more. Another broody didn’t hatch her eggs(may have been unfertilized) so we tried getting her to adopt, found one dead in the morning and the others crying and scared of her. Then we tried giving them to the other mom. She did good a few days, then one went missing. The next week third had a bloody wing, so I brought her inside to heal, then got her some friends. The silkies are the same, love brooding but always lose chicks. They had four but only one survived, I hate lone chicks not having somebody to grow up with. :(
Did you see the rooster actually get on top of the hen? I''ve had hens that actually burrow under the roosters, like a baby chick burrowing under a broody hen.
Aww that makes sense ..but yes I did see them get on top too. It was just the way they both chose to sleep every night as a routine, Cuz I remember watching them awhile and could never get a good video, probably because it was always getting too dark.
She would choose her spot and get comfy, while he stood beside or watched for the other hens to go to bed, then he would move over. It was always only that one hen, that was his “fave” girl of them all, none of the others. The hens always look so small that way too! 😁
Yes, please make a video about the myth of pecking order, it sounds a lot like the alpha myth for dogs. It’d be interesting to know how chickens really form bonds and how they live together. Great video!
Thanks for commenting - you're so right, it definitely IS like the alpha myth for dogs. I'll be working on making the video soon.
Best,
Bri
My rooster is only 18 weeks old,but he's starting to "feel his oats."
I stopped holding him at age 5 weeks because he clearly stopped enjoying it.
Now I respect him, I put him in charge of his domain & the girls, but I look at he & I as a team.
I do this by getting his approval for anything coming into or going out of his domain. Even when I'm collecting empty waterers or empty Mash food trays from breakfast, to me bringing in a bag of thawed peas... I allow him to see it first. IF he seems uncomfortable with something, I sit it down on the ground & I walk away from it.
This gives him "authority" over the object, and he won't attack me by accident. Once he moves away, I've gotten his approval.
I'm trying really hard with this rooster, Abraham. I've had to have several others culled because they flogged me so much & then they bloodied the hens. I feel I may have cause their violent behavior. Idk. I was just as inexperienced as they were.
So I'm here to learn better, I've Subscribed to Roovelution & I've studied & studied.
I can't wait until your next video about integrating flocks. I have 3 that I'm hoping to do that.
I have 4 Orrington hens that are 1-1/2 y/o, 7 New Hampshire pullets & 1 cockerel that are 18 weeks old, 7 pullets (3 Rhode Island Blues & 4 Black Australorps), that are 3 weeks.
I thought about integrating the 4 OR hens & the 7 chicks together once the chicks are 14-16 wks old, then add them to the New Hamphires that has the rooster in it.
But I'm interested to see if you suggest doing this outside while they're free ranging or in their runs.
I do have a 2 sided run with a wire cloth wall/doors between the flocks, so they'll see each other long before meeting.
I found out my roo ONLY challenged me in the Spring. I did the "Walk of Shame" at that time and he was a perfect gentleman the rest of the year! He did need a refresher every year until he was about 3, but he lived until he was 10.
In the years that I've raised chickens, there's never been an issue integrating them. I have the babies in a 17" x 42" cage in the coop. The radiant heater is there, along with feed and water. After 1 day, the cage door gets opened, but it creates a barrier from the big girls. The babies can crawl under the door to explore. After a few days of that, I take the cage off its bottom, and they all integrate. I'm not so sure about the 48 hour rule and the babies won't bond with a mother hen. This season's babies got adopted. They were 4 weeks old at the time. I am of the opinion that giving them enough space is crucial in the happiness and health factor. Daisy, Dolly, Tulip, Tango, Muffin, Marshmallow, Snowflake, and BooBoo seem to agree (my chickens).
I found a chicken when I was around 10, got her a rooster and had three generations .I loved my chickens but didn't know anything about what you teach here. This was so informative and adorable.
Delightful! Thank you.
Thank you! This is all very very interesting. You created an awesome video! ♥️
Awesome to see a new video...I'm in the process of getting my two roosters their own flocks and this helped a lot....thank you
My rooster literally has a different warning sound for my husband and another for my dog.. its wild!
I put 5 chicks under my broody mom. She was so happy! And the chicks grew up loved.
I started watching this an I said to myself "umm..." and, my assumption was right you are a "Crazy Chicken Lady" and I love it! Thanks for this very insightful and funny video
Sounds like you are a "Crazy Chicken Lady" too! :)
Love the intro! ❤
Thanks and good to see you again, Winnie!
My girls crane their necks at me and give me toothless grin before hopping onto my lap .
One we have nicknamed Thunder Thighs chases cats out of the garden ,I have a 19 year old cat who is ignored ,but any other cat gets chased .
My hens where really freaked by the hedgehog 😂 .
It came out early a few nights ,and they created rather a fuss and came running up the garden to the safe space where I was sitting .
I’ve had non as chicks ,they just seem to see me as protecter ,my husband thinks they see me as mother hen ,not too sure of that ,but nothing bad has happened to them from me and I have tasty treats on occasions .
Super interesting, thanks!!! You have really helped me understand my chickens better.
you are a fantastic chicken mama 💓
I bet you are too! 💕
Loved when you were talking to Roofio and telling him you were working with the other rooster, the other rooster returned & was doing the side-present while he checked out the ground...showing the "sorry, let's keep the peace."
Lol great observation! :)
Loved all this information. Learned a lot! Definitely sharing this video .
Great video. Not sure why there are downvotes, the information is quite accurate.
We added 2 more chickens from their original batch(family). They seem to stay very separate still. Will they connect with the other girls eventually? They free range all day and don't beef with he others. They just stay separated for the most part.
very informative! best chicken video I saw in a while 😊
Great video and information. I love your intro. You have really shared some great nuggets of information. Thank you so much for your time. I am sure your chickens LOVE you!
Thank you! I suspect yours love you too! :)
So glad to have found your channel. 😊
About to get some rescue chickens soon. 👍🏽
Their house 🏚 for the night 🌙 to sleep in is already here. 💤
Thank you for sharing your insights 💡
Just ordered the grandpa's feeder. 🌽
Like to have things in place for when they'll come 🐔🐔🐔
They will be a lovely addition to the family.
🐴🐎🐈🐈🐐🐐🐐👩🌾👨🌾
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Sounds like you're well prepared and your rescues will have a glorious new life! Best of luck!
I watched this entire video and I don’t have chickens, 😂. I just love animals and this was so interesting and well done❤
Thanks! :)
wow this is the best chicken channel, i was doing so much wrong, thank you
Would love to see a video on the details of chicken social theory!
You are fantastic.
Yes to truth about the pecking order! Please!!! ❤
It's awesome that you put into words exactly what I am experiencing with our chickens. Thank you for helping me be a better chicken steward. Nooice! 😎 STOC
The music and the mini tea set....just perfect. I learned a lot! Thank you.
Super interesting, thank you. And yes please the first offered new video sounds interesting as well and hope you'll have time to create it.
Yes please video on proper chicken social rules!
knowledge and understanding is key, thank you!
What is the best way to introduce a new rooster (the only rooster) to a new flock?
Do you have other roosters in the flock or only hens?
Only hens
Pinkies out! ☕️🫖
I had one chicken left after an infestation of red mites. The other two died so Matilde was left on her own. It took weeks to remedy the chicken coop so Matilde slept inside. I have a doggie stroller and that is where she sleeps and lays her eggs. She like to come in under the A/c when it gets hot too. 😂 Anyway I got her 3 friends but she just pecks at them all the time so have given them separate areas during the day and they sleep in the coop at night and Matilde comes in and gets into her stroller. I give them treats both side of fencing so they eat together at times and the main watered us up against the fencing so they can also drink “together”. Am hoping Matilde comes around and can join the other girls. Any tips?
Awesome video, first of yours I’ve seen but have subscribed and will be watching them all! ❤
Great video .... (another one). I learned quite a lot ! Thanks
Lol😂pinky up!!!!! 😂😂😂😂 I’m cracking up!!!
Im also looking forward to the integration video! One hen got super broody, so i snuck 4 babies under her. They're now 10 weeks old but the nuggets (as i call them) are always sticking together and haring off on their own. Their mother is actually the one that harasses them the most, driving them away from the feeder or favorite perches. It's frustrating. Btw, i love the little teacup! 😂
Lol! Thanks for commenting!
It sounds like your mama hen is weaning her chicks. Weaning typically starts when chicks are 6 weeks old and continues until 12 weeks or later.
In the wild, mama hens chase their chicks out of the flock at this time- this results in the chicks starting their own flocks or joining other flocks, but the long-term purpose for this is to decrease or eliminate inbreeding within a flock. However, it can certainly be unpleasant for us to watch in our backyard flocks!
@@thefeatherbrain Oh, that's a relief! So when the nuggets hit full rotisserie size (I figured I should stick with the nickname theme) 😅 they should be big enough to assert themselves and be part of the flock. That's good! Thank you kindly!
Love this, you’re a wonderful chicken momma! 🥰 I have 3 hens (for now) absolutely adore my girls.. thank you for sharing this fantastic info, new subscriber. Chickens are the best! ❤❤
Sounds like you are a wonderful chicken momma too! 💕💕💕
@@thefeatherbrain thank you so much! 💖💖
This is great, this is what I have observed, rewrite the books!
I didn't find your channel until a couple weeks ago when our first chicks were about a week old. I didn't know about the benefits of spending as much time as possible with them in the first day or two of getting them as day old chicks. We have them in a tent brooder and I get in with them at least once a day to offer them feed in my hand. But they don't like to be held. Is there anything else that can be done to get them to "warm up" to being held like you show in the video? Or is missing that initial imprinting window kind of a deal breaker? Hand feeding time has been fun though, so if that's the extent of the bonding it is still rewarding.
Sadly, very few people know anything about imprinting - I'm trying to spread the word with the hope it will someday be commonplace in the backyard world. But you definitely can still tame them, and you may find that when your chicks reach laying age, some of them may seemingly turn tame overnight. After that imprinting window has closed (after a couple days of life), chicks naturally become really fearful of everything (except for the mama they've imprinted on). This is because they're now at an age where they're exploring the natural world a lot, which means they're wandering off from the protection of mom - they have to be fearful because everything wants to eat chicks. So they're just naturally skittish. But once they reach laying age, they calm down a whole lot. The fact that you're spending time with them every day now means you may still end up with snuggly chickens later without having to do anything extra. But if not, you can work on gradually getting them accustomed to being touched. I'll do a video on this topic one of these days. But if you do want snuggly chickens, there's always a way.
Don't worry too much, it's not a deal breaker. I usually get chicks a lot older (5-12 weeks old), and of course that imprint window was long gone. But, depending on their personality, most will come to like and trust you in time (follow the etiquette, don't spook or grab at them!), and some will be your forever-babies. I used to have one that would always sit on my lap all the time, and my new perma-baby will always run up to 'her mommy' every time she sees me.
You’re awesome!!! Omg I can’t wait to show my husband!!!
💕💕💕
I don't know if you ever mention that happy chickens tend to be more productive, too! I was raised with this, so I try to keep them as happy as possible and I get the bonus of their affection.
I LOVED this! So much great information. And you're adorable. 😊
Lol! Thank you!
I didn't know chickens are so fascinating! I learned so much. Thank you.
The thing I notice most people do not have is a place in the run to hide. If the chickens see a hawk they do not have a place to go under
Love this video. Thank you
This video is so cute! Lol. And informative too😊
Love this!!! ❤
I’ve had 8 roosters of my own, never attacked by any of them. Different story at the neighbors farm, had to carry a pitchfork for protection 😂
My rooster always attacks me 😂
I miss you😊