The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: bigchicken on February 11, 2010, 07:56:18 pm

Title: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: bigchicken on February 11, 2010, 07:56:18 pm
Why is my wyandotte cockrel goose stepping. This is really strange and of coarse he is not treading the hens so unless I can fix him he will have to be replaced
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: Roxy on February 11, 2010, 11:21:22 pm
Can't say I have ever seen a goose stepping bantam, but I am trying to imagine it!!  Its been cold and icy here, if its the same with you, perhaps he is trying to hold his feet off the ground  to stop them sticking, or being cold!!!?
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: Rosemary on February 12, 2010, 09:14:25 am
Maybe he's a power freak. What's he doing with his wings? Saluting? ;D
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: doganjo on February 12, 2010, 09:35:10 am
Yeah, with two fingers! ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: bigchicken on February 12, 2010, 04:28:57 pm
Come on its no time to be flipant a life is at stake here ! but I have noticed that he has a small mustash that new  ;)
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: Roxy on February 12, 2010, 04:57:10 pm
No, we must be serious - and come up with some serious suggestions (not that I can think of any!()  I still think his feet are cold.....maybe a little pair of socks will help?!!
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: doganjo on February 12, 2010, 05:54:08 pm
No I think the time has come for Jack Boots ;D ;D ;D
Sorry bigchicken, perhaps it's just a habit, his way of strutting his stuff.  I'm sure he'll get back to work soon ;)
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: bigchicken on February 12, 2010, 05:55:11 pm
Now thats the first good idea socks where will I find some what about all you knitters, (Had to be carefull there!) could be an opening of a great idea.  ;)
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: sagehen on February 13, 2010, 01:12:26 pm
Not sure why your cockerel thinks he's Hitler, but I knit, and I'm not sure where to begin to knit socks for chooks! There isn't a pattern out there, so I'll have to start from scratch but I'm in danger of being sectioned by my knitting buddies if I tell them about it  ;D
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: bigchicken on February 13, 2010, 02:16:38 pm
Its OK to be sectioned I think, Ill tell you a story, I was in the pub many years ago and this fellow had just been released after being sectioned and was being ribbed about it when he turned round and prodused a official looking document to say he was perfectly sane and asking his tormentors where there paper was. End of conversation he had won and a few people had a bit of a think.    So feel free to do some socks for my chap.   By the way he has started to have the odd jump now his ears are perfectly clean although he is a bit light and his comb is not as red as it should be. He is eating OK and is not being picked on by the others. 
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: sagehen on February 13, 2010, 05:07:43 pm
Ran the idea past a friend, who is probably still laughing her head off, but she had a good point - if your feet are cold, wearing wet/muddy socks will make them colder, and probably make you walk even funnier. So socks aren't the best solution for a chook with cold feet. Wellies, on the other hand.....  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: bigchicken on February 13, 2010, 05:25:33 pm
My mind is pickled I know socks were a possibility but wellies thats a hole new ball game do you think Hunter or Dunlop would make a special pair.
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: doganjo on February 13, 2010, 09:29:29 pm
No, as I said before - Jack Boots!!!!!  Like the german army wear!
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: Roxy on February 13, 2010, 09:31:57 pm
Yes, if he wore black wellies he would look the part for goose stepping!!

This is very funny, but not helping you sort the problem is it, Bigchicken!!!****
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: bigchicken on February 14, 2010, 02:52:34 pm
No Roxy and you may remember him ,he is the buff wyandotte I bought at Skipton.  He was full of beans this morning and was prancing, running, lo-loping around, so funny to watch the other cockerels look at him kind of funny and dont bother him.
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: sagehen on February 14, 2010, 02:54:30 pm
So is he better now and no longer has the spirit of Hitler in him?  ;D Maybe he's just got happy feet *tappity tap tap shuffle*
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: bigchicken on February 15, 2010, 12:23:38 am
No still the same, when he runs its a kind of skippy hop kind of run just not right.
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: doganjo on February 15, 2010, 09:34:56 am
maybe he's just telling you it'll soon be Spring and is enjoying life?
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: sagehen on February 15, 2010, 11:10:11 am
Have you had a close look at his feet to check if there isn't anything in there?
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: Helencus on February 15, 2010, 12:24:37 pm
sorry I am crying with laughter here.. have you tried speaking to him in german about it?  ;D
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: doganjo on February 15, 2010, 04:21:30 pm
Just yell ACHTUNG and see if he stops, stands to attention and salutes
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: dixie on February 15, 2010, 05:20:31 pm
You know what, he's not the first to join the ministry of funny walks! We had a chicken last year that only walked sideways like a crab, seriously it was so funny, but she was otherwise healthy, lasted a fortnight then she was fine!
We now have another hen walking like hitler, so funny but my guess the ground is wet and muddy so she takes her time putting her foot back on the ground! dont cull him just 'cos he walks funny :chook:
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: bigchicken on February 15, 2010, 07:52:47 pm
No I wont cull him I kind of like him. no the problem is I wanted to use him on some of my hens, He is a Buff Wyandotte Bantam and I have three Buff hens for him and at the moment he is in cloud cuckoo land and is showing no signs of being serious.
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: dixie on February 15, 2010, 08:23:15 pm
How long has been like Basil Fawlty? ;D
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: bigchicken on February 16, 2010, 09:34:48 pm
Thats fantastic I will name him Basil, He.s been like this for about a month or so, I would say that at first he was not so bad as he is now.
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: dixie on February 16, 2010, 09:42:54 pm
Can you film Basil and show us? ;D
Title: Re: Goose stepping Bantam
Post by: bigchicken on February 16, 2010, 11:52:23 pm
Yes I will try don't know how to but I know a man who does may take a few days.