Captain Flint has started to attack DH.
I'm not surprised; as I've pointed out to DH, one day there's him and his Missus, then there are 7 others next door, and then they are all sharing the same paddock (although not the same house). And as we know at least one of the Littlees is a boy too, he's obviously feeling threatened.
Each day, DH comes back with evidence of the attack.
Today I went to the allotment with him, as we were cleaning everyone out and it's always nice to have a second pair of hands to do this job. Flinty decided to attack me too. The second time he attacked me, I decided I'd better do something about it. I know with agressive hens the best way to show them who's boss is to push them down, gently but firmly, as if I was the cockerel. I decided to do this with Flint, but I couldn't get my hand on his back to do it. He was really quite spectacular, with lots of Hong Kong Phooeey leaps and chops. I took a sideways stance, with one fist out. Not to hit him, of course, but to protect myself. WIth this, I was able to back him up, and eventually I got him into a corner and kept him there. His leaps got a bit less frenetic, and then he stopped.
I've no idea if I've won the war (I doubt it!), but I've won the battle, and we were able to both be in the same paddock without any trouble. I'm pleased that I was able to do it without having to physically do anything.
I've got some amazzing bruises on my leg from his first attack!
I'm not surprised; as I've pointed out to DH, one day there's him and his Missus, then there are 7 others next door, and then they are all sharing the same paddock (although not the same house). And as we know at least one of the Littlees is a boy too, he's obviously feeling threatened.
Each day, DH comes back with evidence of the attack.
Today I went to the allotment with him, as we were cleaning everyone out and it's always nice to have a second pair of hands to do this job. Flinty decided to attack me too. The second time he attacked me, I decided I'd better do something about it. I know with agressive hens the best way to show them who's boss is to push them down, gently but firmly, as if I was the cockerel. I decided to do this with Flint, but I couldn't get my hand on his back to do it. He was really quite spectacular, with lots of Hong Kong Phooeey leaps and chops. I took a sideways stance, with one fist out. Not to hit him, of course, but to protect myself. WIth this, I was able to back him up, and eventually I got him into a corner and kept him there. His leaps got a bit less frenetic, and then he stopped.
I've no idea if I've won the war (I doubt it!), but I've won the battle, and we were able to both be in the same paddock without any trouble. I'm pleased that I was able to do it without having to physically do anything.
I've got some amazzing bruises on my leg from his first attack!
