Calm Down, Marcus!

Marcus Aurelius the rooster has been feeling a little edgy lately.  He’s been the undisputed King of the Flock ever since we got him and Sven to protect our hens.  He’s spent his days strutting and crowing and mating, happy rooster stuff.  But recently, Sven has started challenging him.  He’s been mating with more of the girls, more of the time – and even tries to break up Marcus’ liaisons.  Sven has been crowing A LOT – so much that Brian finally introduced him to rooster couture, aka the “No Crow Rooster Collar”.  (It doesn’t work that well, yet.)  Sven and Marcus have even gone at it a few times, neck feathers fluffed and feet flying.  Marcus has remained dominant, so far….

All of that, and Spring is in the air, and there are 4 more teenage roosters growing up in the coop (The Liege), and there suddenly are a lot more chicks peeping around the place – and all these dynamics must be getting Marcus off his game a bit.  Because, he attacked me!  The first time, I thought I’d just accidentally tripped on him.  But when he came after me with beak and claws from behind, I was astonished.  We are NOT going to have a rooster who attacks people.  I explained this to him by giving him a good solid kick, and then whacking him with a stick a couple times, while chasing him around a tree. (Brian enjoyed this scene very, very much; Marcus less so.)  We had to have this ‘conversation’ two more times, but I think we’ve cleared things up.  He’s now keeping a respectful distance, and lately seems to be contemplating joining the others to eat treats out of my hand again, like a good boy.

Note to self:  we got Marcus, Sven, Winnie, and Bari as adults.  All the others we’ve raised from day-old chicks, handling and hand-feeding for as long as they can remember.  No doubt that’s a better recipe for durable interspecies harmony.  (A recipe we all vastly prefer over chicken pot pie.)  So, Marcus, unruffle your pretty feathers, and let’s go back to getting along!