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| Over the years I have had a small number of aggressive roosters, but this case is a first. |
| In late October I got a bantam buff laced Polish pullet as part of a pair at the Yankee Classic in Syracuse. I just had time to dart into the building and retrieve the various birds people brought for me. The Polish pullet and 11 other birds then got a ride to Maine and a long trip back home to Virginia. |
| When finally in Virginia, the new birds went into an approximately 16' x 20' outdoor pen with vine covered netting on top, a 4' x 4' hutch inside, and a ladders for climbing, perching, and playing king of the hill. Some of the birds were for a friend and a couple of others moved into another pen. Buttercup (the new little girl) now has the company of the buff laced cockerel, another pair of bantam Polish, and a Tollbund hen. |
| Buttercup is probably the lowest ranking bird in this group. She is not picked on or bullied as far as I can tell. More often than not, the door to their pen is left open. They can come out and mingle with the main flock. |
| Beginning several weeks ago, Buttercup began attacking me as I entered the pen. This has escalated to where has an obsession. Buttercup actually follows me out of the pen to continue her attack. It's quite like an aggressive rooster's attack. She will leap at me and kick with both feet and bite my hands or clothing when I touch her. |
| Once I pick up Buttercup, she settles down into my arms quite contentedly. There's only the occasional gentle peck. The minute I put her down, the attack resumes. |
| She did not do this when she arrived. I can't remember when this behavior began or if some sin on my part made her this way. She is kind of a lonely little pullet; Buttercup doesn't interact much with the other birds and isn't bonded to any other bird. |
| Is she lonely? She really seems to enjoy being picked up, held, and petted for a few minutes. I have so many birds I wasn't able to give her much attention. Now, since the attacks began, I hold her up each time I go into the pen. |
| Did Buttercup train me to pick her up and give her attention? I wish I had the time to bring her inside, work with her, and figure out what is going on in that little head. From the beginning I thought her better suited to being a frequently handled pet than part of a large group with little individual attention. |
| Kind of sad, and makes me nostalgic for the days when I only had a few birds. |
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