are hens less friendly when they have a rooster?

[Geena]

$60...holy moly.

From the Greenfire site

 

[Mrs. K]

I cannot hardly believe they can sell them at the price. I know some people want very specific breeds, and pure bred genetics, but WOW. That is a premium.

Make an effort to sell those genetics, but do not expect to get that back. Once, I bought a full grown pure bred rooster for $20. And I thought that was high, but he did make some very pretty hens and improved my flock.

MRs K

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Different chicken breeds track towards different personality types just as different kinds of dogs do. So you should first suspect the change in behavior owing to differences in genetics.

Second, how they’re hatched and raised can influence how they act. I am a big believer that extreme rooster aggression towards humans is due to them imprinting on humans at hatching time or being coddled and handled too much as chicks. You should cull that rooster that attacks you. You will not be able to fix it.

Third, chickens do learn from one another and they do influence each other’s hormones. Your previous flock probably didn’t see you as the rooster or else they would have been squatting for you, inviting you to breed them. But nonetheless having a dominant rooster head the flock is more natural and having that now may have a trickle down effect for other more natural behaviors, such as skittishness. Or he/they may simply be teaching the hens to be skittish. They stay alive longer if they fear potential threats. Especially if you free range them.

 

[igorsMistress]

You’re new to them and they’re new to their environment. Also, it can depend on how touchy feely the previous owner was. Not to mention, roosters don’t like you messing with their girls.

 

[sjango]

I agree with all said above, but am not in the camp that $60 is too much for a good quality bloodline. I have paid at least that much for my Rapanui landraces and have no regrets. As far as the feeling of culling an expensive bird, I feel your pain, I have done it a few times and it always is hard. However, aggressiveness just doesn't fly with me. Not one bit. They make fantastic tom kha and pho soups!