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rooster behavior towards hens

post #1 of 6
3/19/12 at 10:19am
Thread Starter 

We have had to get rid of one of our roosters due to his aggression towards people and the others in the flock.  But we still have 1 rooster left in with our hens and we're not sure what is appropriate behavior or not?  The remaining rooster has settled quite well but he does still get huffy with the hens on occasion.  Mostly he puffs up and does the funny little side step dance to them, occasionally he'll give them a peck as well when doing this.  Is this normal, or too much aggression?

Our menagerie: 1 horse, 2 dogs, 6 cats, 2 rabbits, 1 guinea pig, 3 hamsters, 1 Silkie roo bachelor, 1 Ameraucana/Easter Egger roo, 1 Ameraucana/Easter Egger hen, 7 Golden Comet hens. RIP Puff and Mocha.

 

Chicks coming in April: Ameraucana, Barred Rock, Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red.  Ducklings coming in April: Blue Swedish, Cayuga, Mallard.  More chicks come in July, all Buff Brahma.

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Our menagerie: 1 horse, 2 dogs, 6 cats, 2 rabbits, 1 guinea pig, 3 hamsters, 1 Silkie roo bachelor, 1 Ameraucana/Easter Egger roo, 1 Ameraucana/Easter Egger hen, 7 Golden Comet hens. RIP Puff and Mocha.

 

Chicks coming in April: Ameraucana, Barred Rock, Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red.  Ducklings coming in April: Blue Swedish, Cayuga, Mallard.  More chicks come in July, all Buff Brahma.

Reply

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post #2 of 6
3/19/12 at 10:46am

The side step jig he does is his mating dance. Ours doesn't do the classic wing down circling the hen hoe down but close enough to get the job done.

 

Minor pecking and occasional chest bumps are also normal, he must maintain standing at top tier of pecking order or they wont accept him. It's incredible how brutal the hens will be to him if he ever gets injured. Ours wattles and comb are still healing from pre winter leg break. He hopped down into the run so let him be with them for a few hours, came back to a bloody mess.

There's so little to fear from hatching even chickens dare. In fact, it's so easy a turkey can do it.

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There's so little to fear from hatching even chickens dare. In fact, it's so easy a turkey can do it.

Reply
post #3 of 6
3/19/12 at 12:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Egghead_Jr View Post

The side step jig he does is his mating dance. Ours doesn't do the classic wing down circling the hen hoe down but close enough to get the job done.

Minor pecking and occasional chest bumps are also normal, he must maintain standing at top tier of pecking order or they wont accept him. It's incredible how brutal the hens will be to him if he ever gets injured. Ours wattles and comb are still healing from pre winter leg break. He hopped down into the run so let him be with them for a few hours, came back to a bloody mess.

OK, thanks. We've never had roosters before and it's not exactly been a good experience so far for us. But if this is normal behavior then i'm hopeful that our issues with mean roosters is over. The rooster we just had to get rid of was ripping the hens feathers out just because he could and being just brutal when mating or when the other rooster was mating with a hen. We had another rooster who was also excessively rough with the hens and just mating them constantly but he isn't mean with people so we've been able to just seperate him to his own home.

Our menagerie: 1 horse, 2 dogs, 6 cats, 2 rabbits, 1 guinea pig, 3 hamsters, 1 Silkie roo bachelor, 1 Ameraucana/Easter Egger roo, 1 Ameraucana/Easter Egger hen, 7 Golden Comet hens. RIP Puff and Mocha.

 

Chicks coming in April: Ameraucana, Barred Rock, Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red.  Ducklings coming in April: Blue Swedish, Cayuga, Mallard.  More chicks come in July, all Buff Brahma.

Reply

Our menagerie: 1 horse, 2 dogs, 6 cats, 2 rabbits, 1 guinea pig, 3 hamsters, 1 Silkie roo bachelor, 1 Ameraucana/Easter Egger roo, 1 Ameraucana/Easter Egger hen, 7 Golden Comet hens. RIP Puff and Mocha.

 

Chicks coming in April: Ameraucana, Barred Rock, Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red.  Ducklings coming in April: Blue Swedish, Cayuga, Mallard.  More chicks come in July, all Buff Brahma.

Reply
post #4 of 6
3/19/12 at 3:53pm

The little sidestep, usually accompanied by one wing dropping down, is a courting move. It's supposed to encourage the hen to squat to be mounted. If it all works right, mating is quick and easy. It's when the hens don't squat or the roos don't give that signal things get so rough. Sounds like he may be a keeper. Does he call the girls for treats, or warn them when you approach?

Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reply

Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #5 of 6
3/19/12 at 4:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HSerChickLady View Post


OK, thanks. We've never had roosters before and it's not exactly been a good experience so far for us. But if this is normal behavior then i'm hopeful that our issues with mean roosters is over. The rooster we just had to get rid of was ripping the hens feathers out just because he could and being just brutal when mating or when the other rooster was mating with a hen. We had another rooster who was also excessively rough with the hens and just mating them constantly but he isn't mean with people so we've been able to just seperate him to his own home.
Our blue boy Cordon is on his way out. He's easily riled up when our young children are outside so are putting him down. He actually is just too good of a protector and our kids too disrespectful of him. Running into and through the flock when free ranging, stuff like that gets him to start chasing them. Basically I believe we'll always be putting down the mating rooster each spring once the fertile eggs are in the incubator. Cull the hatched roosters for the best one. By the time the rooster starts to be a good protector it's winter. Who knows, eventually we may end up with a cuddle boy but until then spring soup and a rooster free summer lawn for kids to play in will work just fine.


 

There's so little to fear from hatching even chickens dare. In fact, it's so easy a turkey can do it.

Reply

There's so little to fear from hatching even chickens dare. In fact, it's so easy a turkey can do it.

Reply
post #6 of 6
3/20/12 at 8:05am
Thread Starter 

I'm not noticing one wing drooping.  He just does the dance, bumping the hen around, and occasionally he'll nail her (peck her hard).  I don't see it happening a lot, at least not while i'm watching anyhow.  He does perk up when the dog comes around but he knows she isn't there to bother so doesn't do too much about her.  He is getting a tad bit more aggressive when the kids are out there.  He stays at the fence when they're there.  Sometimes he also puts his head down and scratches the ground and does his little dance with his neck feathers a bit puffed up if they're doing something he doesn't like.

Our menagerie: 1 horse, 2 dogs, 6 cats, 2 rabbits, 1 guinea pig, 3 hamsters, 1 Silkie roo bachelor, 1 Ameraucana/Easter Egger roo, 1 Ameraucana/Easter Egger hen, 7 Golden Comet hens. RIP Puff and Mocha.

 

Chicks coming in April: Ameraucana, Barred Rock, Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red.  Ducklings coming in April: Blue Swedish, Cayuga, Mallard.  More chicks come in July, all Buff Brahma.

Reply

Our menagerie: 1 horse, 2 dogs, 6 cats, 2 rabbits, 1 guinea pig, 3 hamsters, 1 Silkie roo bachelor, 1 Ameraucana/Easter Egger roo, 1 Ameraucana/Easter Egger hen, 7 Golden Comet hens. RIP Puff and Mocha.

 

Chicks coming in April: Ameraucana, Barred Rock, Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red.  Ducklings coming in April: Blue Swedish, Cayuga, Mallard.  More chicks come in July, all Buff Brahma.

Reply
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