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epiphiny43 -> RE: Chickens as Peacekeepers (1/27/2014 4:06:39 PM)
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NO roosters. The current set in the yard are getting transported as soon as the weather clears and catching them isn't dangerous in the mud.
Chickens peaceful? Must be a different space/time warp than where I live. Roosters are vicious competitors, hens slightly less. Where do you think the term 'Pecking Order' came from? Many commercial breeders cut their beaks precisely to prevent injury to those not on the top of the dominance chain.
Get pigeons instead. Smaller eggs, less conflict. You can train racers to fly locally and come back after they exercise. Much better entertainment than the constant feeding ground aggression.
Whatever birds, stay on top of insects on the birds or feeding around the cages or suffer the consequences. Bird mites can require a full property treatment repeatedly, most difficult to remove from complicated interior home construction. Some folks just move. Diatomacious Earth is the least toxic of effective substances. See your vet for dealing with internal parasites, bird generally and ocean mammals are the most heavily parasite laden animals on the planet. You Aren't going to be able to prevent wild bird issues from affecting any captive birds that aren't always caged and rarely then. Ground feeders get everything around.
In the video, the rabbits are normally playing, the chickens pretty much have to be sisters or parent/child to be non-competitive, and as surmised, most likely have nests nearby. I've had a number of hens attack me when my feet got too close to their babies or brooding egg nests. I'm considerably bigger than a rabbit. Hens will do strafing attacks on mongoose attacking or holding chicks. They won't stand and fight, but peck at their head moving by fast. All the mongoose avoid a female when chasing, they rarely let go once they have a good bite on a baby. Rabbits do better. Rattlesnakes and coyotes have been injured and killed by a doe jumping over and kicking to the head repeatedly when defending a burrow or young. Don't laugh till you've tried to hold on to a strongly kicking adult rabbit. Hold by the scruff of the neck, let the rear feet alone!
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