Last Thursday we swapped out our big barred rock rooster for a little bantam less than half his size--the old rooster attacks people, so he had to go (not in anyone's pot, yet, unless he doesn't reform his manners out at Mary's farm). The hens are less than pleased with Half Pint (in the photo with Boss Hen). He didn't make a very graceful entrance--came in and started attacking the girls, flapping his little body high up to try to slap them in the face. Boss Hen gave him what for, tearing out a chunk of feathers and sending him after the meek little black hens. Whereas the old rooster stood watch while the flock pecked and scratched, Half Pint fights for his food. The girls probably wouldn't let him eat otherwise. I think he has a Napoleon complex--he spends a lot of time chasing the hens around and hopping up onto high places to crow his tinny wind-up toy crow. He was trembling as I held him and carried him into his new home; it took a lot of bravery for him to storm in and claim a place. I'm sure they'll get used to each other soon enough, and he is a beautiful little bird. Beautiful and hen-pecked.
When Mary came to swap roosters, I asked her about a sick-looking hen. Egg-bound, said Mary. The egg won't come out. Treatment options? Range from sitz baths to hysterectomy. Oh dear. I took her home for the weekend, gave her hot baths (which she seemed to really enjoy), got oil down her both ends (lubrication is a crucial component to this issue--one blog actually recommended KY jelly. I used sesame massage oil). My roommates thoroughly enjoyed having a chicken in the living room for the weekend, and she does seem somewhat better, but still has a swollen body and hasn't laid any eggs.
This weekend, the Georgia Aquarium vet operated on a penguin with the same problem. Maybe if our little red hen doesn't get better we'll dress her up as a penguin and leave her on the Aquarium steps...
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