free range rooster really does sacrifice for hens

[centrarchid]

I have a free-ranging flock made up of 8 hens, 1 rooster thats rules, and two roosters that are satellites. The ruling rooster has all the ladies follow him about except when laying eggs. The rooster keeps pointing out food, mating, chasing the satellites and active aggressive when red-tail flies over. Every night for last two weeks the ruling rooster hits roost with an empty crop. Everyone else is topped off. I think he is loosing some weight. I am suprised how much he is sacrificing so he can invest more into fertilizing eggs. At some point he is going to have to slow down.

 

[Lesa]

Oh, what a gentleman! Can't you sneak him a few treats??

 

[centrarchid]

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I do with meal worms which he flies up into my arms for. He takes one then calls hens up to take rest of mealworms.

 

[Lesa]

Too cute! What a guy!

 

[centrarchid]

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Satellite males do not think he is cute. He whoops them hard when they get too close to hens and if they get sassy he chases them the length of a football field.

 

[WiMoSiFr]

I don't have a lot of experience, but I have to wonder if having the satellite roos is making him hyper vigilant? I think he would still be a gentleman, but maybe he would eat more if he weren't so busy keeping his hens rounded up and the other roos at bay. Just a thought.

 

[Thegrayeyedgirl]

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Satellite males do not think he is cute. He whoops them hard when they get too close to hens and if they get sassy he chases them the length of a football field.

Now THAT is a rooster worth his weight in gold. Hopefully he passes on those golden genes of his to lots of chickies. We can all do well with more guys like that in the world, human or chicken

 

[centrarchid]

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The ruler, Eduardo, does not round up hens, rather they follow him. Satellites do take some of his time but most effort directed at hens. Eduardo is a game. Rulers of other flocks on property, not games, do not seem to invest so much. Kind of interesting seeing how flocks avoid each other now.