Wednesday, February 27, 2013

My roosters are trying to kill each other!

Two of my roosters started fighting each other, at first it was funny watching the chase all over the yard. I watched for maybe 10 minutes laughing because they had made about fifty laps. They got tired and eventually started the wrestling, neck biting, and spurring, that's when it wasn't funny anymore! I took my old trusty broom outside and tried to seperate them. They just bit the broom. A couple whacks on the fanny, they still wouldn't quit. At first I was furious and thought "fine kill each other" then I saw how much blood they had on their necks. I was about to cry. I couldn't make them quit fighting and I really didn't want them to kill each other. I finally grabbed a 5 gallon bucket filled it with water and threw it on them! The fight was over, thank goodness. I love my boys, they protect the girls from hawks. This weekend they had sounded the alarm while I was outside and to my horror right above my head was a hawk. I was so proud of them for seeing it and warning the others! I had always planned on keeping Lil' Squirt, and Old Man has the nicest feathered legs I have ever seen (he also didn't join in the fight) so those two will stay. Randy who I think got the best of Lil' Squirt at some point will have to go. When I can catch them, those two roo's will be penned up seperately. I will treat their wounds and once Randy heals he will be put up for sale. I hope Lil' Squirt and Old Man can get along after he's gone. I have never seen a fight that brutal before and I hope I never see one again!

16 comments:

  1. We also had that happen this weekend... I penned the Australorpe rooster and he will be put in the freezer as soon as we have a free moment to git 'er dun...my white leghorn got the worst of it and hid wattles were dripping with blood...*sigh* such if farm life!

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    1. Maybe it's the full moon! My guys are hot messes right now! I have blood drips on the porch and smeered on the house. I can't believe how rowdy they got! I had never had this happen before, CRAZY!

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  2. It is so sad when you have to choose which one to keep.
    I'm glad I kept my Charlie - he is wonderful. He protects the girls and warns when there is danger around and above. My other two roosters were more handsome with beautiful feathers, but they were too mean and fought all the time. I gave them away to local farmers. I still think about them though.

    Phyllis (N/W Jersey)

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    1. Sorry about your boys Phyllis. I got rid of my last two beautiful boys a few months ago. One would flog the children the other would chase my little dog, which is a no-no! I miss those guys too. The roo's tend to be funniest to watch as well as beautiful! Thanks for the comment ☺

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  3. We've had roosters chase each other but never get into a drag 'em out fight like yours did. Glad you thought of the dousing with water to finally settle them down. I tell ya, if it ain't one thing . . . :o/

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    1. I have the worst roosters lately! I don't know what got into them today. I think one set it all off, they normally get along fine, they are all brothers. Once the blood got introduced I think they just couldn't quit. I don't know, it was just nuts. It really isn't that bad around here, it just sounds like it ☺

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  4. I've never kept an overly aggressive rooster long enough for a blood bath like you've had, so can't help ya there. Ours chase each other around the place, and do the little hopping ruffled feather jumpy thing, but that's about it. It is pretty funny to watch though. (mine, not yours)

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    1. These guys have never been crazy, I don't know what happened today :/

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  5. Kelly,

    It's had to understand what set them off. Good thing you thought fast on your toes with the bucket of water. Water works good for kids too, lol..

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  6. We had the same thing happen last year - it's brutal to watch!! We had 3 roo's and we only wanted one, I don't even know how we got the other two - in a straight run of chicks from TSC or a hatch at home, but we ended up shooting the two fighting - there was just NO stopping them and it was a bloody mess! Good luck getting yours fixed up and the one sold, and sorry you had to see that :(

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    1. It was insanity! They normally get along! I don't know if it was the full moon, if Randy got randy with one of them, who knows. Little nutjobs! I had planned on getting rid of one of them and could never decide which one. Now I know which one and hopefully the other two boys will get on just fine!

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  7. I have had them kill each other or at least to where I had to finish the job. Once I had the gun out, I just took care of all of them but one who never caused problems. Roosters are not necessary.

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    1. Wow! I think we were almost to that point but the water did the trick. Now I have seperated the fight starter from the other two. The funny thing is, he looks worse than both the other roo's put together! Once I find a nice rooster I will keep it and only it. I like the crowing and the fertile eggs ☺

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    2. It is a shame that it is so hard to neuter them, you have to do major surgery as the testicles are inside near the backbone. Wish they were hanging under their tails!

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  8. I remember when I first had chickens and my 2 roos were bloodying each other. I ran around the house to get a broom to beat them apart. When I got back, each of my sons had a roo in his arms. They'd stepped in and broken up the fight. I realized then, sometimes it just takes a guy....even a little guy (or 2).

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