My son, Brett, had told me that Oscar had attacked him and then Anthony, his police officer tenant (so no lightweights but REAL men). I didn't think much of it really. While there I went into the pen to feed them some grain...a treat in chicken world. Before this I knew nothing about rooster behavior...big zero. And Brett being a calm guy and a man of few words didn't describe the attacks so I thought a few lightweight pecks might be in order...not a problem I had long pants on....surely I can handle a ornery rooster!
I opened the door to go in and no sooner had I opened it and Oscar comes over and rushes
at me...I tried to close the door but the door sticks and I couldn't get it closed. I scooted
away from the pen with Oscar hot on my heals. Husband, David, and Brett are in the garage talking cars and cannot see me or hear me. At this point I am thinking that when I leave the pen area he will just go back in and forget about me. Not so! He begins his attack in earnest which consisted of him rushing me and flying MAYBE a foot off the ground. So remembering that Brett told me that
he just kicked Oscar when he did it to him; I kicked him (I REALLY, REALLY didn't want
to do it). Some after-the-fact reading told me you are not supposed to do it because it makes them meaner). Well, not wanting to hurt him, I gave him a "conservative" kick which just made him
come back at me when he pulled himself together after my kick. By now I am running a few feet kicking, squawking; he is rushing,flying. Clearly he has got the upper hand here. He never actually nipped me but that may have been because I was a bit too fast for him/adrenaline dontcha know??? My heart is pounding and I then ran fast towards the guys...Oscar ran too, right with me. DARN! When Oscar saw the two 6 footers coming at him to round him up; he ran away (CHICKEN!). They got him back in the coop in no time.
It was quite comical I should say. My post-attack reading tells me that what I should have done is side step his attacks and then pick him up (the pick him up thing was not going to happen) because that intimidates him in front of his girls. He was nice as a chicken teenager though...but he has been tramatized a couple of times by watching several of his women getting taking away by coyotes to be dinner! And, roosters can just be ornery like some men:)
That was my weekend excitement....I am not going in the pen again....don't want to
have to pick him up and I refuse to kick him. Brett said that Oscar was eating out of his hand that same afternoon. Brett goes in the pen regularly and picks him up...I guess he has achieved status of HEAD rooster:) He should just eat him! Just kidding...really I am.
UPDATE: my wonderful brother-in-law/farmer, Calvin told me that my story entertained him almost the whole day! He also told me that the pecking wasn't what I should have worried about; the rooster was flying up to try and slash me with his spurs. Those spurs on an angry bird can cause injury. Now I am glad ignorance was on my side.
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| Oscar as a teenager; he still sits on son's arm though UPDATE November 2013: Oscar is in the freezer, I guess he ticked Brett off one to many times! |
