Do Roo's help keep the peace? Problem with bullying hens!

[sallihennipenni]

I have a flock of 14 six month old laying hens. I've noticed two hens which are always getting picked on. I've seen a couple hens who constantly are running them off, pecking at them....even keeping them from going/staying in a nesting box. I have one and sometimes two eggs on the floor and I suspect that may be the reason? Anyway, I'm considering getting a rooster if that would help with this kind of behavior. Would a rooster help even things out or just add more problems? Also, my grandkids are enjoying my hens a lot. Is there such a thing as "kid friendly" roosters?

 

[BooBear]

My Silkie rooster Cinimon loves huggs n cuddles.
Lester, who is the sheriff in my laying flock, does not like being touched but is not people aggressive and he does a good job. He is a Wyandotte.
There are good breeds that produce nice boys, but, there is still the few aggressive ones that pop up in those breeds.

Yes, a good rooster is the flock sheriff. He keeps order, showers the girls with affection, escorts them to the favorite spots, brings them treats or calls them over for goodies, and he is willing to die to protect them.

Importantly this good rooster is good to his human caretakers too.

 

[RoosterRanch]

Quote:
Roosters are a hit and miss kinda thing. I have had a loooonnng line of roosters with mixed results. I currently have 6 roosters with the BOSS being Smilin BOB who is far and away the best I have ever had. He DOES break up fights amongst the ladies and seems to keep order in the flock in general. I think without a strong ROO one of the hens will fill that role and run the show. As far as kid friendly, be very careful with that. I dont think any rooster could be called kid friedly unless they are very used to that kid and then maybe not, seeing them as a subordinate. I have a 3 yr old Grand daughter which is why so many roos have been to Freezer camp. Sad thing is, she used to love to gather eggs with Pa Paw until one day when a ROO jumped my leg. It scared her really bad and now when Bob Crows she wants me to pick her up despite the fact that he would not harm her. Good luck.

 

[sallihennipenni]

Thanks Boo Bear and Rooster Ranch. I appreciate your comments! Now it sounds like I need to decide whether to put up with bossy hens...or if my grandchildren enjoying the chickens is the top priority. Hmmmm

 

[Mommysongbird]

We had 2 roos (only 4 girls) but the main roo did NOT keep the peace, he was an aggrivation to our girls and kept them from really laying, eating and just really being chickens.

Our girls are now roo free and all 4 are now laying every day now for the past 3 days. The roos have been gone for about a week now. The girls seem so much happier. They still have their pecking order and our EE is the odd girl out, but they are starting to let her do more with them. So I think all is well.

 

[al6517]

I know that the roosters really don't keep the peace amoungst posturing flock hen's, they are really only concerned with their own standing as THE MAN in the flock and really doesn't care which hens argue with what hen's. I know when I see a bunch of women talking in a group somewhere about something and it is somewhat heated, I can't run fast enough in the other direction LOL.

 

[Farm_Maven]

I have a hen that picks on the others, when she does, my roo is right there, correcting her.

 

[sallihennipenni]

Thanks! Sounds to me like it depends on the Rooster. I think I'll try dealing with the bossy hens myself for a while longer rather than try a rooster yet.

 

[chookhead]

some times a rooster disturbs the pecking order enough and the hens will stop or u can isolate the trouble hens until there postuion drops in the pecking order

 

[al6517]

personaly I don't have time to mess with the emotional issues in the coops, I let them work it out, the only time I intervene is when one becomes hurt then after she heals if she still can't cut the mustard with the others, well the survival of the fittest takes over and she get's gone. I wouldn't want that whimpy attitude to be bred into my other birds. I have never seen a rooster interfer with squabbling Ole hen's and I keep at least 12 roosters.