As chickens grow, their temperaments may change. Roosters are more likely to have their temperaments change as they get older.
When many roosters are young, they are kind and more docile. But, as they grow older, they may become more of a bully. This is important because roosters need this temperament to help protect their hens and babies. There is a major change when they are about one year old. Some breeds of roosters may not change their temperament. Some breeds are simply known for being more aggressive, like Leghorns. We had two leghorn roosters. When they reached a year of age, they started attacking us. When they were babies, they ate from our hands. This does not mean that they don't like you, it's just what some roosters do. They don't have a choice--it's all in their hormones and how they mature. Even some hens have a change in their temperament, also. These changes can be because of too many roosters, too few roosters, having babies, or illness. Orpingtons, hens and roosters, most likely will not have a major change of temperament. This breed, along with others like silkies and cochins, tend to remain docile into their old age. But, that doesn't mean that they will all remain super sweet. Lucy, our bantam cochin hen, for example, experienced a major change after she hatched out her last baby. She went from being very sweet to suddenly killing a new flock member. This is very unlike a cochin, but it can happen. This doesn't happen to all chickens. Many, like Goldie, Fluffy, Mottie, Big Mama, Poser, and Whiny haven't changed at all in their two and a half years with us (even if we do wish some would, like Whiny and her constant noise-making!). So, don't get discouraged if you come across a chicken who has a sudden change. It has nothing to do with you, but it's just chicken logic!
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Snape and Lilly are our newest birds. They are Black Sumatras. These are a critically endangered breed; that means that there are very few of them left. This is Snape and Lilly side-by-side. Their faces are black, or sometimes purple. This is rather unique to black sumatras. Lilly's tail is very large for a hen. Can you see how long Snape's tail is? This is Snape's face. He has extra skin under his beak. His earlobe and waddles are connected. His comb is bent and wavy. Chickens usually have one spur. But, sumatra roosters tend to have multiple spurs. Three is the ideal number. Snape has three, but one is fairly small. This picture does not show his true color very well. His black feathers have a beetle-green sheen to them.
His saddle feathers and tail feathers are very long. The tips of his tail feathers are wearing down and getting dirty because he drags them. It is impossible for him to keep them off the ground. These originated in Sumatra and Yemen and are very similar to their wild ancestors. The roosters tend to be fairly calm, but they can get territorial for a few months during their breeding season. The natives used to catch wild roosters to have them fight for shows. Then, after the breeding season was over, the roosters were released back into the wild. These are not fighting birds, but they have been bred into many breeds that are known for fighting. Some birds do better in different places. Not all chickens do well in cold weather. This has to do with the amount of fluff they have and how you care for them.
Fluff is down feathers. These are feathers that are underneath the outer feathers. The purpose of these feathers is to keep them warm. The more down a chicken has, the more likely it will be to do well in the cold. Chickens with lots of fluff may not do as well in hot places because they will be too warm. If your chicken doesn't have enough fluff on it, it will not be able to stay warm in very cold weather, so you will have to keep it somewhere warm. A secure coop, for example, will help. You may be tempted to use a heat lamp to keep them warm, but this is a bad idea! The lamp might start a fire!! Chickens with smaller combs and waddles do better in cold weather. This is because there is less skin exposed. Chickens with big combs and waddles, and sometimes earlobes, will be more likely to get frostbite. You can protect their exposed skin on freezing cold days and nights with petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly is flammable, but it does not freeze. Some chickens love running and playing in the snow. Some don't. So, when you feed them, be sure to remember the ones that don't go out and put food near the coop. You'll need to check their water to make sure it's not frozen. Just because it's cold out, doesn't mean they don't need water. Chickens do not eat snow, so they still need to drink. If you do not take care of your chickens, then be on the look out for birsicles. It's pretty easy to care for chickens in the cold weather, but you do have to do a few extra things just to be sure they're okay. Despite their name, they are not the mythical firebirds. Phoenixes are a docile chicken breed. They are lightweight, standard size chickens. The roosters will grow very long tails and saddle feathers (those right above the tails). Their tails can get up to 36 inches (3 feet) long; they get so long that they drag on the ground. Phoenixes are a threatened breed, meaning they are not very common. We named our pair Joker and Harley Quinn. Joker is a gentleman. He looks out for Harley, but he is gentle enough that he is in the same pen as our mama chickens, babies, and quail. Yet, despite all the little ones all around him, he doesn't mind them and he hasn't been aggressive towards anyone. They are both very quiet, too. We haven't heard Joker crow at all, even though he is an adult. In this picture, you can see Harley and Joker side-by-side. Eating with them are a chick and a quail. You can see part of mama in the back. She wouldn't let Joker and Harley near her babies if she thought they would harm them. "Ooh, look at the fluff on her!" Joker must have been thinking while looking at Mama. Here, you can see the difference in the colors on Joker and Harley. Joker will get more silver on him in the next few months, but he won't get much bigger. They are Silver Duckwing Phoenix chickens. Harley has silver on her neck, with pencil-thin black lines. The quail aren't always amused by the chickens, especially Joker. Phoenixes are show birds. If they're going to be in shows, the roosters need to be kept off the ground, or kept in extremely clean pens in order to keep their tails clean and in good shape. Dirt will actually wear away their tail and saddle feathers.
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Just two brothers
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April 2016
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