[help] observing cockerel behavior

[Vata Raven]

I'm sure this has been asked several time, so feel free to forward me to a thread with the answers I seek.

What is considered a good cockerel/cock? I have cockerels.

Yes, I know them attacking the human is bad, but how does a good cockerel treat the ladies?

I'm trying to decide if I have nasty birds, or if they're just doing the pecking order thing.

I already plan to cull 2 because their combs are growing in funky.

Thanks for the help.

 

[CoopBoots]

I had a rooster as a kid. He was my pet. Loved him to bits, but his mating was quite aggressive, and I remember him running the hens down often to mate. He was a jerk at bedtime with constant aggressive pecking of anyone he could reach. At least a couple of hens actively avoided him.

My current rooster is an old man. He is quick to offer treats to the girls vs. eating them himself, in fact, I can barely get him to eat anything at treat time. He dances for them, approaches them from behind, and the girls seem to have the choice of accepting his advances or not. I see him get yeses and nos, and nobody suffers for it. Now, he has balance issues and is not a graceful lover, so a few feathers are missing. But everyone seems to like spending time with him and I can still hatch eggs at around 50% fertility. I'd say he's a good rooster TO THEM although he's a bit human aggressive. Having seen the difference, I don't think I'd keep a rooster they didn't like in future.

 

[Vata Raven]

At least a couple of hens actively avoided him.

Ah, so that's bad?

I think I've been seeing that, but I also think my nasty cockerels are also the ones with the bad combs.

 

[Sussex19]

So there is a big difference between a cockerel, and a rooster.
Generally, cockerels are silly, hormone driven, and no hen or pullet likes them very much.
Whereas a good rooster will be considerate, do whatever is needed to keep is hens safe, and loved by his hens.
In my books, a good cockerel is one that doesn't do more than the odd chase and feather pulling on the girls, and doesn't do more that the odd very slight wing dance to me.
But do expect them to upset the girls every now and then, and as long as no actual harm is being done I don't worry about it.
As they get older, I expect them to move out of my way at any time, never even hint about attacking, and treat his hens well.

 

[Sussex19]

How old are your cockerels?

 

[Vata Raven]

How old are your cockerels?

They'll be 3 months old on April 11th

 

[Sussex19]

They'll be 3 months old on April 11th

They are only really babies at that age.
Generally I would wait till at least 5 to 6 months to get rid of the really bad ones, and then up to a year to make final decisions.
You can only be sure of how they will turn out after that.
Of cause, if there is one or two that you really don't like, then cull as soon as you want to.

 

[Vata Raven]

In my books, a good cockerel is one that doesn't do more than the odd chase and feather pulling on the girls, and doesn't do more that the odd very slight wing dance to me.

I see one always pecking the girls. Not sure if it's pecking order, normal, or him being an idiot.

 

[Sussex19]

I see one always pecking the girls. Not sure if it's pecking order, normal, or him being an idiot.

Can you get a video of him doing it? No worries if you can't though.
How old are the girls? The same age as the cockerels, or do you have any older hens to teach them some manners?

 

[Vata Raven]

How old are the girls? The same age as the cockerels

same age