A rooster that actually roosts and protects?

[RenoHuskerDu]

Our hens are mostly only 6-18 months.

 

[Chickassan]

This is your answer. Fellas don't tend to roost with the young ones even when them theirselves are young . He is being normal, when your other ladies get to an age of his liking he'll have more company on his roost.

Our hens are mostly only 6-18 months.

 

[Shadrach]

I don't think it is uncommon for the senior rooster to take his favorite off to roost first and let the rest follow after. Most of the roosters here do this.
It's the junior cockerels job here to stand out iin the pouring rain watching the junior hens get those last bugs and feed in before bed.

 

[aart]

My cockbird doesn't not gather everyone into the coop at night,
he is usually roosting earlier with the other birds of his age(2-3yo),
the younger birds(~8mo) come in on their own.

I do see some of the younger ones make it up next to him, probably shoving the oldies out of the way. Haven't watched the whole RoostTimeRumble scenario in quite awhile.

 

[centrarchid]

Starting with onset of heavy molt through about a month after winter solstice, the association between the mature rooster and hens is at its weakest. In my setting, the adult rooster may or may not move about with hen(s) beyond staying communication with some and those individuals may vary. If area is large enough with enough roost and roosting options, then it is also the time the hens drift from one group to another. Pullets also disperse if they can. Once photo-period / day length starts to increase, then you will begin to see the stronger association between hens and roosters as they move in tighter and more coordinated groups usually interrupted only by a hen going broody and rearing chicks through about 5 weeks post-hatch.

The association is stronger when social groups are smaller or late season breeding involved.

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

That is some deep avian wisdom there. Thank you.
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