Do my free ranging hens need a rooster

[JuliaSunshine]

Have you actually seen him chase them away? I find that some hens really like to stick close to a rooster while others may form cliques and go wondering on their own. Some roosters seem to try to keep the hens near him while most of mine let them go if they want to. The eggs are fertile either way. The larger the flock the more likely you are to see some cliques go wandering. I see this having more to do with the hen's choice than the rooster.

Are you sure they have stopped laying or are they hiding a nest in you?


Some people would not have a flock without a rooster whether they free range or not, they like them that much. Others are quite happy to have a free ranging flock of all hens, no rooster. Roosters do seem to be pretty vigilant looking for predators, mainly flying predators. The good ones try to keep peace within the flock, not all are good. Often the dominant hen will take on some of those roles if you don't have a mature rooster.

One thing I've noticed. If there is a perceived danger but they are not sure, a good rooster will put himself between the flock and the possible danger and sort of check it out. This puts him at more risk. Some roosters have been observed attacking some predators. But I agree with you. Mine are much more likely to try to lead the flock to safety once a real threat has been observed than to fight a rear guard action.


He's still a cockerel though it sounds like he has some attributes of a more mature rooster. He should be fertilizing the eggs, assuming they are laying. Are you saying you don't see him mate with the pullets or are you not seeing the bull's eye when you crack an egg? It doesn't matter that much what he is doing today as far as mating. Many males crank it up when the warm days of spring show up. I would not be concerned yet.


This is a question there is no universal answer to. Some work out fine, some don't. We are all unique with different flocks, different predator pressure, different management techniques, and who knows what else. I don't know what will happen to yours either way. My worst predators have been dogs abandoned in the country, much worse than foxes, coyotes, or any flying predator.

Yes, my rooster chases away 3 hens especially when I give them treats. So, they often can't eat treats unless there's leftover. I've seen him chasing them away when food is not involved, too.
Those 3 outsider hens sometimes stay with the flock, but I've noticed them looking scared and moving away when the rooster comes near them. Whereas other hens are very comfortable being near him.
Also, the 3 outsider hens don't hang out together. They actually chase each other away and often hang out alone.

I'm pretty sure they are not laying. It's possible they lay somewhere else, but they used to be super loud for a long time before laying in the fall. Now I don't hear them making a noise before or after laying.

He does mate with the hens, but I don't see the bull's eye when I crack an egg. I guess I don't have to judge his ability to fertilize yet.

I can see that abandoned dogs are more dangerous than other predators. I am also worried about my chickens' encountering dogs in the nearby forest where people walk their dogs. Once, a dog has gotten away and came into our property to chase my chickens. That was scary.
They still go near the cul-de-soc leading to the forest, but not as often after my neigbour's dogs barked at them there.
I'd rather not fence them in though because it'll make them more vulnerable to minks unless it's completely enclosed with hardware cloth, which will cost thousands of dollars.

 

[JuliaSunshine]

Once you've heard both the egg song and the alarm staccato chatter, it's easy to discern which is which. The first is emphatic without being frantic. The latter is the epitome of frantic desperation and panic.

Oh, that's good to know. I guess I was too focused on the rooster's alarm call to notice how the hens' alarm sound differ from the egg song. The rooster squawks very loudly. Thank you.

 

[JuliaSunshine]

Some of the variation in rooster impacts on free-range hen behavior is a function of season and sex ratio. During production season my hens forage more intensely while in the presence of a rooster. If the sex ratio is too much in favor of hens, the hens act much of the time as if the rooster is not present. Some hens are more prone to hang with rooster throughout the day while others seem to gravitate towards only when he gives a tidbit call, or they wish to mate.

That sounds about right. I have 9 hens and 1 rooster and wonder if he'd be happy with only 5-6 hens he hangs out and mates with. It looks like either I sell 3 hens and keep the rooster or keep all the hens and remove the rooster.
We were thinking of keeping him for good, so became quite attached to him, especially my husband.
It's hard to decide.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

My space is both open and wooded, too. they move around or hide and rest as they please. Do your hens make an alarm sound when there's bird of prey around? If they do, isn't it just the same as the one they make after they lay an egg? How do you tell if it's an egg song or an alram?

The alarm sound is definitely different, it's more like a scream. They will either do that or just freeze where they are and not move at all until the bird passes.

 

[centrarchid]

Multiple alarm calls that be specific to type of threat and sometimes context.

 

[Mrs. K]

Not all roosters are great roosters, some are a lot better than others.

As for not getting hit by a predator - I don't think it is the rooster, as in if you get rid of the rooster, you will suddenly start loosing chickens, but rather the predators have not found you or figured it out, or have easier meals somewhere else.

The thing of free ranging (and this means different things to different people) is that there is a huge probability that you will get hit. Sometimes I go months, sometimes weeks. Sometimes it is just a bird does not come in, sometimes one looses several all at once.

I love to see mine out and about, and I hate loosing them. Ugh!

A good rooster, can and has made a difference, but it is not 100 %, not like you have an armed guard patrolling the area. Mostly they keep watch, and some are better than others.

I think if your neighbors are getting hit, you eventually will too, with or without a rooster...or he is way better than you think?

Mrs K

 

[JuliaSunshine]

Multiple alarm calls that be specific to type of threat and sometimes context.

If hens can make different alarm calls I just need to learn them! I know when they're screaming but their alarm calls sounded too similar to egg songs. If I don't have a roo I'll have enough chances to distinguish them.

 

[JuliaSunshine]

Not all roosters are great roosters, some are a lot better than others.

As for not getting hit by a predator - I don't think it is the rooster, as in if you get rid of the rooster, you will suddenly start loosing chickens, but rather the predators have not found you or figured it out, or have easier meals somewhere else.

The thing of free ranging (and this means different things to different people) is that there is a huge probability that you will get hit. Sometimes I go months, sometimes weeks. Sometimes it is just a bird does not come in, sometimes one looses several all at once.

I love to see mine out and about, and I hate loosing them. Ugh!

A good rooster, can and has made a difference, but it is not 100 %, not like you have an armed guard patrolling the area. Mostly they keep watch, and some are better than others.

I think if your neighbors are getting hit, you eventually will too, with or without a rooster...or he is way better than you think?

Mrs K

I think my chickens have been lucky as well as good at hiding from predators. I started to lead them for free ranging when they were 5 weeks old and taught them to hide whenever big birds flew over.
If my roo is any better than other roosters in terms of keeping hens safe, it's probably because he's way more scared than them.
He was the most scared chick of the batch.
Eagles and ravens are abundant here but I think eagles finally gave up on my chickens after circling in the sky constantly for a couple of months and seeing us guarding them all the time. It was a bit scary even for me to see a whole eagle family flying around.
I've seen raccoons on my property and I heard that some neighbors had minks attack their chickens during the day last year or so.
I think we didn't have an attack because we're a bit far away from other houses and the chickens move around constantly yet stay close to humans and buildings when they feel unsafe. And I'm always home going out several times a day to check on them even though sometimes I can't find them where they are and I'm okay with it for a bit.
I'm worried if I put them in a run, unless it's covered with hardware cloth completely including top and bottom, minks will get them all because they'll be trapped in there.
So I'm taking a bit of risk letting them free range.
Maybe my scared rooster is doing a good job keeping them safe. Another reason to keep him. It's darn cute seeing them going around together, too. I guess I'll have to wait until the spring to see if all the hens will lay well again.
I tried to separate the rooster from the flock to find out if he's affecting the egg production negatively by being mean to some of the hens, but I gave up as he crowed so much in the morning locked in a small run alone. And I felt too bad for him suddenly being locked up after roaming freely all his life.

 

[cincyfarmgirl]

I have nine hens and one rooster that are 7 and a half months old and they free range all day on a couple of acres without fence.
There are lots of predators around like eagles and ravens but I haven't lost a chicken to any.
Light Sussex is supposed to be good at foraging and hiding from predators and also I go out to shoo away ravens whenever the rooster makes an alarm sound. I see him often stand guards when the hens are foraging or dust bathing.
Other people around here lost lots of chickens to ravens and raccoons.

Now I'm thinking of not having the rooster as I'm tired of hearing him crow earlier in the morning and he occasionally chases away 3 chickens so those 3 often stay away from the flock. They seem to have stopped laying whereas other chickens are still laying.

But I'm wondering if my hens will be okay without him.
I know hens also make an alarm sound but it's just like an egg song so I probably wouldn't go out every time they make that noise.
So it's nice to have a rooster that warns me of any danger even though he's the most scared of them all. He'll be the first one running away.
I also like the fact that my hens usually form a group around him.
I was going to have chicks from him next year but I'm not sure he's even capable of fertilizing eggs. I haven't seen any eggs fertilized yet.
Also I might just skip the next year and get chicks the following year.

How are other hens doing that free range without a rooster? Do they still stick to each other and hide well from predators?

I find that the rooster sounds the alarm & generally alerts the flock to dangers and they will run in whatever direction he tells them which is usually back to the covered yard and barn. Some hens stray a little further and don’t heed his warnings as readily but they themselves are pretty alert.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thank you. I still can't decide but it's good to hear that hens manage to survive without a rooster. My roo ran away leaving the hens behind when a dog chased them and when a chipper showed up and he didn't come back until everything was over and safe. So I'm not sure if he'll sacrifice himself for the hens lol. But he's protective of the hens against us humans...

He's protective of the hens against you humans? Hmm, I don't like the sound of that. What do you mean exactly? Does he attack you if you get too near the hens? This is definitely NOT in his job description! Especially if he runs away from real dangers. This is not a good rooster. But he might make a lovely soup!