Help! Bossy Roo

[zinkie]

My sister and I both got chickens for the first time about 4 months ago. I got 7 various breeds from the feed store and 3 from a lady on Craigs list- 2 EEgs and 1 other. My sister got 4 from the feed store and also 3 from a lady on Craigs list (2 EEGs and 1 other).

She ended up with 3 boys out of her 7 total. (1 feed store and 2 EEgs from Craigs list). She was very upset and knew that she could not keep all 3 boys.

Since I didn't have any roo's I told her I would take 1. She gave me 1 of the EEgs about a week ago.

When I first got him.... my girls were very scared of him. I kep him in the pen for about half the day and let my girls free range then let them all free range together for the rest of the day. He is nice to me, but bossy to my girls. He will not let them most of them eat. I need to put multiple bowls out so that they can get food. He seems to like a few of them, but most of the others will not even go near him for fear of getting a peck.

When roosting.... a few of my girls have started laying on top if the nesting boxes (never did before) and will not even go on the roost (about 6 feet long). The first night- everyone was in a panic and it was crazy and my favorite chick was so scared that she flew onto my head. Thought it was a better alternative I guess.

It is almost a week, and he is still very bossy when roosting. He will peck anyone who comes near him and will kick them off and it is a half hour affair to get everyone settled. And there are always 3 or 4 sleeping on the nesting boxes.

I am hopping that he will get better with time.


The biggest problem is that my sister gave him to me....

I can't get rid of him... she will know... he was perfectly behaved at her coop.... I don't think I can give him back... she has to many boys!

What should I do. I think he knows that I am boss.... so I am not sure I can consider him mean.... but he is mean to my girls.

DO I need to add more roosts so that they have a choice to get away from him?

 

[zinkie]

And the tough part is .... is that I really wanted 1 rooster to watch my girls...

 

[hotrodflash]

If you can put up a second roost, and let the girls roost before him and place him on the new roost after everyone is roosted for the night. You may have to hold him and let the girls get settled, then place him on the roost. He is wanting to be top of the pecking order and needs to be taken down a peg or two. It is just natural and is easily corrected.

 

[barbiegirl]

Maybe you can talk to your sister and ask her to trade for another rooster. Explain what's going on. Good luck!

 

[zinkie]

OK, so we need anther roost. I actually did that the first day... I held him down and stood there until he got up and then did it again.

Ok, thanks..... have I read here somewhere that EEGS roos have a tendency to be mean?

Ya, maybe I can switch with another rooster... but it would be the other EEG

 

[hotrodflash]

I would keep him since he is not aggressive to you, it is easier to "fix" his dominance issues with the hens than it is to correct an aggressive rooster. Just my opinion.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If I understood your post correctly, you have a cockerel there who is immature and doesn't know how to be a gentleman to the ladies yet. He should learn, give him time.

 

[HomesteadDebi]

Maybe you can talk to your sister and ask her to trade for another rooster. Explain what's going on. Good luck!

That's what I was thinking.

 

[appps]

Sometimes honesty is the best policy. Tell her he is not working out. You will give him x more time but if he hasn't turned into a nicer rooster or started showing signs he will she has the choice if taking him back or you will have to rehome
When it all gets down to the nitty gritty her problem of too many roosters is her problem. Don't make it yours

That said mine took about a month after the hormones kicked in to stop being violent when mounting the girls but he was never the sort to stop them eating he would watch them eat often taking nothing himself till they were done.

The other alternative is offer to exchange for one of her others again on a trial basis but you may find putting this guy back where he came from is a bigger headache for her as the others won't like him after him being away.
Again though. If she doesn't want him back you rehoming is up to you she can hardly not want him but complain if you don't either

 

[appps]

Oh and ps . If we were going to have a rooster again (and the neighbours weren't going to complain again). I would not just take the first one offered. They can really become a nightmare and even our hand raised one had started attacking us. I would be researching placid rooster breeds and getting one of those. I wouldn't take a known to be aggressive rooster breed especially if you had kids around them.