Bert the bad chicken

**ladytoysdream** · 08-08-2009, 07:49 PM

We got into chickens ( unplanned ) this spring with the purchase of 12 chicks for meat purposes. Then we got given 6 more chicks ,we labeled the road runner gang. And then I just had to buy 3 older red hens that are laying eggs. Current head count on all the birds is 12 hens/pullets and 4 roosters.

Two of the road runner gang are white roosters that are called *Bert and Ernie*. Bert is the bad chicken. Always getting out. His latest adventure is eating bird seed under the regular bird feeder. I call the chickens cheap entertainment. They put a smile on my face every day I go out there. Bert will usually come to the hubby who picks him up and puts him back in their yard. I no longer chase him........just tell hubby....*YOUR chicken is out again* ...........

One of the hens quacks like a duck...her name is *Ducky*

Hopefully we will have their winter building up soon. And a more pemanent yard for them. Which was not part of our original plans.
Plan was to raise a few meat birds for the freezer.
Not expecting the chickens to have personalities either.
Quite a few of them have names too.
Even the 2 dogs enjoy watching them

**mauimagic** · 08-08-2009, 08:02 PM

Mahalo for sharing - what a source of humor!!

**madhen** · 08-08-2009, 08:05 PM

Chickens definitely have personality, and people don't give them credit. They are much more intelligent than they are represented to be.

I had to call Animal Control out last week to take a dog away. While I was standing there talking to her, one of my Rhode Island Reds walked up and started "growling" at her. The ACO stared at the hen for a second, then asked, "Is that chicken GROWLING?" I just smiled and said yes, that was what she was doing, and maybe she thought the ACO was threatening me.

She had never heard a chicken do that before. (The same RIR loves to be held and petted, and if you can sit with her for a few minutes, she'll close her eyes and purr.)

**ladytoysdream** · 08-08-2009, 08:10 PM

I think a couple of ours purr too

One of the big white hens will literally stand under hubby's feet. I know she likes to get petted. But that evening one of the big roosters was trying to be romantic with her...and she was not liking it. You could see it on her face....like *pick me up, human....now ! *

**madhen** · 08-08-2009, 08:12 PM

My RIR will peck you if you ignore her.

**frugal-fannie** · 08-08-2009, 08:28 PM

Truly an "animal farm.LOL

**ladytoysdream** · 08-08-2009, 08:30 PM

One of the big white roosters pecked hubby's hand the other day. He was just being mean. Now hubby believes me why I named that bird *Mr. Attitude* Last few days he and the other big rooster take turns being in the time out corner in the yard. We use a smaller cage as a gate, to block them in a corner so they cool off. Hubby said they would both be sunday dinner but so far, he is procrastinating that chore. I don't blame him, but am getting tired of being a chicken babysitter. It upsets the hens too. They go over and stand as close to the rooster as they can get. I guess they want the big guy loose again.
Then the crazy BERT goes and jumps in with the big rooster in the little yard and proceeds to eat his food, and then jumps back out again. I stood there the other day and watched him do it. I keep telling him....*Bert...you're a BAD chicken ! *

**Debbie-cat** · 08-08-2009, 09:00 PM

That is just too cute! And madhen....I don't doubt for a minute what you chickens do!

**madhen** · 08-08-2009, 09:01 PM

I have about seven roosters. Five of them were from one batch of eggs, so are the same age. When they reached about six months of age, they were all bloody for a few days, while they worked out who was tougher than who, to the point that I was actually thinking I might have to find homes for some of them. But it lasted about a week, and now they all seem to get along. I've even seen them eating from the same bowls. Chester and Rudy are even buddies.

(Chester is the one and only rooster I've ever had who I would call mean. He was born that way, and as a chick, used to run at me and bite me. Now that he is older, he has mellowed considerably, but still glares at me.) Bob, my barred rock rooster, will also glare at me, but only if I spend too much time petting "his" hens. He pecked me once - not hard, though - when I had three of his girls hanging out with me, getting neck scritches. He snuck up from behind, pecked me on the back, then retreated a few steps to see what I would do.

I have to give him points for bravery!

**ladytoysdream** · 08-08-2009, 09:10 PM

I wish these two roosters would get past the WHO IS THE TOP ROOSTER stage. The underdog one gets bloodied up and limps. Goes to the far corner and pouts for awhile. Then he tries sneaking up on the hens again, and Mr. Attitude nails him again. Rinse, later, repeat all day.

Then BERT runs around the yard being his goofy self. He is starting to fiqure out he is a boy too. Mr. Attitude could hurt him bad, but Bert can outrun him. So far..........

**frugalfranny** · 08-09-2009, 03:14 AM

Oh this is just toooooooo much! I feel like I am reading about a 'funny' farm. What a hoot!

How about some pics you guys?? Would love to see them? Too bad we don't have audio too........want to hear the quack.

I am afraid Bert would be chicken (rooster?) stew.

I can't say too much, I used to go buy corn for the ducks (wild ducks) when I lived in Sacramento. Had to drive a long ways to get to the feed store too! The minute I stepped out on my balcony a huge flock would fly in to eat. They had personalites too.......and I named some of them.

**ladytoysdream** · 08-09-2009, 08:22 AM

Bert is a *keeper*, I'm afraid to say. Too big a comedian

Their coop is out back of the garage. Hubby will be working in the garage and in will walk Bert. Like *hi human, what cha doing ? * and he is completely innocent. Like he thinks it's fine he is out and about. I guess no one told him he is a chicken and to act like one.
At first Bert was white and now him and Ernie are getting some yellow colors on their tail and back. I hope they get more...could be a real pretty bird.

The 3 pullets in that group are reds with white trims. Then LITTLE RED is the extra bird I got from a friend and who was the same age as the road runner crew and got put in with them. LITTLE RED is a buff orpington. My son has the mom and dad of her, and I hope to get some babies in the spring. I got the mom/dad in a swap earlier this year. They would not blend in with our group because of the big white roosters.

I was able to get a 15 hole metal nest box for them. Used unit, as I could not have afforded that new. So it sits in their temp yard/house out there and the 3 red hens use it, thank goodness. Now the 4 pullets of the road runner gang use it. I tell hubby they are practicing. Nothing yet, but soon we hope. I hope we can get enough eggs to sell some to help with the feed costs.

My son got 5 red hens when I got the 3. I asked him yesterday how many eggs he was getting and he said only 1 or 2 a day. So our 3 hens lay mostly 3 a day, once in awhile 2. So in the conversation, I ask the son what he feeds his. No laying mash. Oops

So I think the son fiqured out why he is not getting eggs like he should. And these 3 are looking really good. I got them from a flock of 400 birds that the guy had to downsize to about 1/2. He lost his egg market. For being hens out of a production group, these 3 are really tame. They don't hesitate when I feed them treats like bread and garden produce. They are quick

I have picture of them young. I can take some more recent pictures.

Ours is not quite a animal farm. More like a chicken farmette.
I think madhen can lay claims to the animal farm

We only have 2 dogs, 3 gold fish, and the chickens on our 2 acres.

http://imageevent.com/ladytoysdream/chickens?rotp=2541&

Each of the pics in the album can be enlarged.

**Debbie-cat** · 08-09-2009, 10:06 AM

Love the pics ladytoysdream! Especially the one of freckles sitting amongst the chickens all innocent.

**madhen** · 08-09-2009, 11:53 AM

Great pics!! Freckles looks like one of the "girls" sitting in there!

**frugalfranny** · 08-09-2009, 01:30 PM

OH, thank you ladytoysdream, I love the pics. If you get more be sure to post them......always love seeing the critters that others have.

In a couple of the pics it is like Freckles saying, "maybe if I ignore them they will go away"......was surprised that they were so close to the dog.

Tooooooooo cute.....