hens
Alektorophobia keeps hens in one place: 82 stories so far. The section currently leads with “Three rowdy roosters have my hens running for cover: time to break up the flock”, “Odard the rooster is getting cocky: and we've got little kids to protect”, and “My wife bought the weirdest chickens: naked necks and frizzle feathers”. Oh, the drama in the coop! Odard the rooster is getting cocky, and with little kids to protect, that's a problem that's both egg-citing and terrifying. Chickens. Everything there is to know about chickens and the fear of them. The list below is every hens story on Alektorophobia, newest first.
Three rowdy roosters have my hens running for cover: time to break up the flock
Oh, the drama in the coop! Three rowdy roosters have turned my peaceful hen haven into a feathered nightmare, with the ladies literally running for cover. It's a classic case of too many cocks in the hen house, and things have gotten uncomfortably… fowl. The boys are ganging up, getting overly amorous, and engaging in some serious gang-mounting behavior that's anything but egg-citing. It's time to break up this chaotic flock before someone gets hurt, or my hens stage a full-on mutiny. If you're dealing with similar feathered fiascos, check out our piece on "Feather keepsakes from feathered friends" for a gentler side of chicken keeping. For now, I'm channeling my inner chicken referee.
Odard the rooster is getting cocky: and we've got little kids to protect
Odard the rooster is getting cocky, and with little kids to protect, that's a problem that's both egg-citing and terrifying. Our reader's Rhode Island Red has jumped at her twice, no spurs yet, no injuries, but the fear is real. We get it. You love the guy, he's beautiful, he's sweet to his hens, but you can't afford a dangerous bird. Chasing him around to prove you're not scared? That just ended in a frantic game of fowl hide-and-seek. Don't stew him yet. There are ways to curb this behavior before it escalates, and we've got the cluck-tastic advice to share.
My wife bought the weirdest chickens: naked necks and frizzle feathers
So my wife brought home the weirdest chickens I've ever seen, naked necks and frizzle feathers on what are supposed to be Silkies. One of them looks like a proper Frizzle, all chaotic curls, while the others rock that bare-neck look like they're wearing invisible turtlenecks. And I can't stop laughing. Why does this even exist? Honestly, the poultry world has some serious fowl play going on, and I'm here for it. These birds look like they lost a fight with a hair dryer and then decided to embrace the madness. If you think your chickens are quirky, wait until you meet a Naked-neck Silkie. It's the kind of cluck-tastic chaos that makes you question everything you thought you knew about feathered friends.
Cluck-tastic upgrade: Is the Eglu Cube fowl-proof enough for my hens
Oh, the bottom of the nesting box just *fell out*? That's the kind of wake-up call no chicken keeper needs, and I'm so glad your four Rhode Island Reds are okay after their unscheduled jailbreak. Losing your guinea hens to a raccoon earlier this year makes that anxiety completely understandable, you're right to want something sturdier. The Eglu Cube from Omlet certainly looks the part, and if their waterer impressed you, the build quality is probably solid. But is it truly fowl-proof? I'd love to hear from anyone who's put one through the wringer. For those still sorting out signs of trouble in the flock, our guide on "That red spot won't quit" might offer some clues.
Brahmas playing hard to get: help us crack the hen-or-rooster code
Oh, the classic chicken identity crisis, are those two light Brahmas hens or roosters? We've all been there, staring at our feathered friends like they're playing a very clucking game of hard to get. These Brahmas are keeping their secrets close to the chest (literally), and it's driving us egg-sactly crazy. It's a delightful dilemma that reminds me of when "Our girls braved the great outdoors and only panicked a little", sometimes our birds just refuse to cooperate with our detective work. The comb size, the feathering, the attitude... it's a fowl mystery that needs cracking. So help us out, chicken community. Are we looking at two lovely ladies or a couple of handsome gents?
My chicken's giving me the cold shoulder: and the cold weather's got me worried
Oh, the classic chicken cold shoulder, and I mean that literally and emotionally. One of your new feathered friends has decided the run is her preferred nighttime hangout, and with temperatures dropping to 0°C, that's more than a little fowl play. You've just moved in, these girls were established long before you arrived, and now this rebel is breaking all the rules. It's enough to make anyone feel like the awkward new roommate who doesn't know the house quirks yet. Before you panic, know that chickens sometimes pull these stunts for surprisingly simple reasons, bullying, a drafty coop, or just being a dramatic diva.
My rooster gives his blueberries away and now I'm crying over chicken chivalry
Oh, the chivalry! I'm right there with you, crying over a rooster who gives away his blueberries. It's the purest form of fowl play, seeing a tough little guy with a comb and wattles act like a feathered gentleman, sprinting to his hen so she can have the first snack. That's not just cute; that's the kind of wholesome madness that makes you question who really runs the farm. It reminds me of that mystery chick who thinks you're a perch, another bird rewriting the rules of chicken affection. These creatures are too good for us, honestly. They're terrifying one minute (those claws!), and the next they're offering you a masterclass in selfless love. I'm not crying; you're crying.
Hen with the reddest face: could she actually be a he
So, Helen's mom is convinced one of her new hens is actually a rooster, and honestly, I'm here for this little identity crisis. The lady in question has the reddest face in the flock, and apparently, she might have been caught crowing. That's a pretty solid piece of evidence. A hen can have a bright red comb and wattles, sure, but when you add a crow to the mix, the math starts looking a little fowl. I think mom might be right. It happens more often than you'd think, you raise a batch of chicks thinking you've got a peaceful all-girl band, and then one starts showing off.
When Your Flock's a Foul Case of Mistaken Hen-tity
Oh, the heartbreak is real when you're expecting a cozy flock of hens and instead get a surprise crow-off. Poor u/puggylover22 thought they had four sweet ladies, but at 13-15 weeks, those Australorp bantams are starting to reveal their true… identities. And one is already crowing. That's not just a ruffled feather, that's a full-on fowl identity crisis. From the photo, I'm counting at least three that are looking mighty rooster-ish, which is a tough break when you wanted to keep them all. It's a classic case of mistaken hen-tity, and it's enough to make anyone want to chickening out of the whole poultry plan. For more cluck-tastic breed mysteries, check out our piece on cracking the case of two feathered friends.
Cluck-tastic Tips for Welcoming Rescued Battery Hens to Your Flock
Losing a beloved hen after three years together is always tough, and we're so sorry for your loss. But giving rescued battery hens a second chance? That's some truly cluck-tastic generosity. You're already a hero for considering it. For the nitty-gritty on introductions, remember that quarantine is non-negotiable, those girls need a solid 30 days in isolation to make sure they're healthy before meeting your Rhode Island Reds. Slow and steady wins the race here, with side-by-side runs before any face-to-face mingling. And hey, if your new ladies stage a little fowl revolt? Totally normal. For more on that, check out our related piece, "Chickening out is totally okay when your feathered friends stage a fowl revolt." You've got this.
Two Roosters, One Flock, and a Whole Lot of Fowl Play
Two roosters, one flock, and a whole lot of fowl play, that's the egg-citing dilemma we're cracking into today. You've got a gentle, scaredy-cat production red who'd rather flee than fight, and a teenage chocolate Orpington rooster who's already strutting around with his neck feathers flared. It's a classic clash of personalities. I've seen plenty of flocks manage multiple roosters, but it's not always a peaceful coop. Your docile boy might get bullied if the newcomer decides he's top bird, especially since he's already being a bit of a food-hoarding jerk. With 35 hens and plenty of space, you've got a fighting chance, but keep an eye on their body language.
Our Bantam Rooster Declares Coop Independence Just in Time for Winter
Oh, the audacity. For years, my flock and I had a perfect dusk routine, but now my bantam rooster has declared full-on coop independence just in time for winter. This little guy decided sleeping on the coop roof was his new vibe, and despite being safe from predators in his enclosed area, I am not about to let him freeze. After a week of me playing night-shift chicken wrangler, a second bantam hen joined his rebellion. Now, three weeks in, a third chicken, my olive egger, has joined the fowl play. I've checked for mites, confirmed no bullying (he's the boss, but generous with snacks), and set up a camera. Nothing.
My Rooster Took a Three-Day Vacation and Came Back Clucking
We've all had that heart-stopping moment when a beloved feathered friend vanishes into thin air. One morning, my rooster, a sweet silver laced Wyandotte, the friendliest of the bunch, was simply gone from our large, reinforced run. No feathers, no fuss from the hens, just a ghost bird. I figured he'd either cleared our 12-foot fence or been snatched by a hawk. With freezing rain and snow for two days, I mourned him. Then, three days later, I let the flock out to forage, and there he was, clucking along like he'd just popped out for a snack. Dirty, but totally fine. How? No clue. For more puzzling poultry escapades, check out "Cluck-tastic mystery: Who laid that pretty blue egg in my flock."
Our new rooster charmed the hens: no fowl play here
Well, color me egg-cited, our new rooster strutted into the coop and the hens didn't even stage a protest. No fowl play here, just a charming gentleman who somehow passed the vibe check on day one. That's a win in my book, because integrating a new rooster can be a total cluck-fest of drama. This guy? He's already making friends, which honestly feels like a small miracle. It's the kind of heartwarming success that reminds me why we put up with all the feathery chaos. For more feel-good flock moments, check out our related piece on the "Hurricane refugees turn my coop into an egg-citing new flock", proof that even storms can lead to happy little surprises.
My feathered friends are plotting something: and I'm both proud and terrified
I spotted Meatball's swollen face in that frantic post the other day, and now here comes another feathered friend with a secret plot. Honestly, I'm both proud and terrified. My chickens are up to something, maybe a coordinated escape, maybe a coup on the treat bucket, and I can't decide whether to applaud their cleverness or run for cover. This is the fowl life we signed up for, right? One minute you're admiring their little brains, the next you're certain they're planning your demise. It's cluck-tastic chaos, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. If you need more proof that chickens are secretly masterminds, check out "My Rooster Took a Three-Day Vacation and Came Back Clucking."
Dry fowl pox has landed: here's how to help your clucky patient through it
Oh, poor clucky patient, and poor you, watching those mysterious spours pop up on your hen's head. Dry fowl pox is no joke, but you're already doing the right thing by asking for help. The good news? Once this runs its course, your whole flock should be immune, which is oddly comforting in a "we all suffer together" kind of way. The bad news? It's a slow, ugly process. Those spots on your other hens are likely the start, so keep a close eye, and maybe a little distance. You can't really "dry" them before they erupt, but keeping the coop clean and stress-free helps.
How to stop your big hens from gobbling up the baby chick feed
Oh, the classic hen heist, your big ladies see that chick feed and suddenly it's a five-star buffet they *must* destroy. I feel your pain. You've done the hard work of integrating Cruella and her crew, and now you just want to feed the babies without playing bouncer every ten minutes. The trick is making the chick feed inaccessible to the big goons. A simple DIY solution: cut a small entrance in a brooder box or tote that only the six-week-olds can squeeze through. The hens will huff and puff, but they can't follow. It's fowl play at its finest, and it buys you peace of mind. For more flock drama, check out our piece on "Your Speckled Sussex Is Doing Something Weird."
Four fluffy babies and a feathery white mystery: onagadori drama begins
Four fluffy babies and a feathery white mystery, my kind of egg-citing drama! This keeper has four new chicks, three of them already confirmed roosters, and that naked-necked white one? Yep, also an Onagadori, despite looking like a tiny, featherless alien. I'm crossing my fingers those boys stay calm with a flock full of hens already waiting. It's a classic fowl play scenario: hope for peace, prepare for chaos. This reminds me of our piece on a hen who screams bloody murder when her pal lays an egg, because apparently, chicken drama is always just a squawk away. Here's to hoping these feathered friends keep the love-hate relationship more love than hate.
Straight Run Surprise: When Those Cute Chicks Turn Out to Be Roosters
Oh, the straight run gamble, a cluck-tastic lottery where you never know if you're getting eggs or an early morning wake-up call. My husband apparently found two irresistibly cute bantams, and now we've got Izzy and Mohawk sporting combs and pointer tails that scream "rooster." I was rooting for hens, but these tiny feathered friends are clearly up to some fowl play. It's a relatable dilemma: you fall for the adorable chicks, only to realize one might crow at dawn. If you've ever wondered about other mysterious barnyard happenings, check out our piece on "Feathered Friends or Feline Foul Play? Help ID This Mystery Mess." For now, I'm just hoping Mohawk's marking doesn't mean he's plotting a solo concert.
Egg-citing hide-and-seek: 6:30 am and the hen-keeping hunt is on
6:30 AM and I'm already losing a game of hide-and-seek with my own hens. This morning's hen-keeping hunt is egg-citing in the way that makes you question your life choices, did I really sign up for this? One minute they're pecking peacefully, the next they've vanished into the cosmos of my backyard. It's a fowl kind of magic trick, honestly. If you've ever felt this particular brand of morning chaos, you know the struggle is real. And speaking of surprises, our piece on "Straight Run Surprise: When Those Cute Chicks Turn Out to Be Roosters" dives into another delightful curveball chicken keeping throws your way. Because let's be honest, nothing prepares you for the feathered plot twists.
Hamburgs got the zoomies? Our new Marans are the chillest chickens
So our Hamburgs are basically tiny feathered toddlers on a sugar rush, and then we added two Marans. Night and day. These new girls are nine weeks old and they actually… chill. They *lie down*. Quietly. It's throwing us for a loop because we are not used to poultry that isn't vibrating with chaotic energy. The Marans are serene little zen masters compared to our original squad. It's a cluck-tastic lesson in chicken personality, and a reminder that not every hen is out to test your patience. If you need a break from high-octane fowl play, maybe skip the Hamburgs.
21 birds, 8 weeks, and suddenly they're all looking a little too roo-y
Twenty-one birds at eight weeks old, and suddenly they're all looking a little too roo-y, I feel this in my bones. That moment when your feathered friends start strutting with that extra swagger, and you realize the peeping fluffballs have turned into teenage troublemakers. ArizonaGal2019, you've got a full flock of potential crowing chaos, and honestly? That's egg-citing news. It means they're healthy, growing, and developing those glorious personalities that make chicken keeping a fowl adventure. Sure, the roo-y phase brings its own brand of feather-ruffling stress (ask anyone who's played hide-and-seek with a cockerel), but it also means you're doing something right.
From water belly to walking fine: one hen's egg-citing recovery
She drained the fluid from her water belly, and now this hen is walking fine and laying eggs like nothing happened. That's not just egg-citing, that's downright cluck-tastic. We've all had those moments where a feathered friend scares the feathers right off us, only to bounce back and act like we were the ones being dramatic. This recovery story is a perfect reminder that sometimes our chickens are tougher than we give them credit for (even when we're busy chickening out on their behalf). If you're into dramatic recoveries, you'll also love "My roo collapsed and I thought I lost him: now I need your cluck-tastic advice", another tale of fowl resilience that'll make you laugh and sigh with relief.
These three senior hens are still clucking strong after twelve years together
Fourteen and a half years old and still clucking strong, Heckle, Ginger, and Daisy are basically the golden girls of the coop. I love that one of them suddenly started cawing like a rooster this year, despite never having one around. Maybe she's just found her voice in retirement. These three musketeers have been together since March 2012, always chattering, always pecking, always attached at the hip. They stopped laying eggs eight years ago, but who cares? They've earned their "me time" with treats and warm tail-feather soaks. After losing others between 7 and 12 years, these ladies are defying all odds. How much longer will they keep going? Honestly, I'm just grateful for every clucky morning.