I wrote a while ago about two sick chooks, one of them getting a hard time by the rooster. Well firstly they all survived and are healthy I did three things, I de-liced them and the pen again, put fresh garlic in their drinking water, a clove per chook and I started giving them fresh mince. Now one of those hens was being chased away by the rooster before she looked really poorly, and she was often a bit of a loner. Now she is away from the group either in the pen or outside 80% of the time. When she sees the rooster she avoids him and/or half/three quarter flaps her wings and then runs off. He chases her away, if she doesn't get out of the way in time. I know all about the pecking order but this wing flapping is new to me. If its relevant they are all moulting.

-- Fiona (fidel@netconnect.com.au), April 16, 2002

Answers

Fiona, do you post on one of the poultry forums? Someone there may be familiar with this type of thing? Don't know if the hen is signaling "don't hurt me!" or whatever? You might ask on TPC and see what pops up. Poultry, lot's of fun and interesting. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 16, 2002.

Are you sure she's not just rejecting his "advances"? My little bantam hen used to hide out in the goat barn because she just didn't want the roosters jumping on her.

-- mary (mlg@mlg.com), April 16, 2002.

Ahhh, self defence, she is the smallest. He is an extremely frisky chap.

-- fiona (fidel@netconnect.com.au), April 16, 2002.