Help. Roo or Hen

[DougDove]

Hey Group,
I was told this is a Buckeye. It's about 8 months old. I'm thinking it's a Roo.
I went out this morning, saw all the chicks out in the run except for it, and found it in the nesting box. I backed off, praying for an egg and I also had to go to work so I'll find out this afternoon.
We have noticed it in the chicken house watching as my Delaware lays her egg daily. It will sit up on the perch while the hen does her thing.
Do Roosters hang out in nesting boxes and if so do I need to keep him from doing so?

 

[Sadness Child]

rooster the saddle and hackle feathers are pointed compared to the Delaware their tails are also different, the red one behind it looks like an adult him

Beautiful bird either way

 

[Ridgerunner]

Do Roosters hang out in nesting boxes and if so do I need to keep him from doing so?

It's a boy. And no, you don't need to try to micromanage him like that. I don't see it that often but some males check out potential nest sites for the girls and such as that. The girls don't really need his help, they can manage fine without him, but he is not doing any harm. Just another interesting thing seen when observing chickens being chickens.

 

[sealer39]

That is a cockerel. Cockerels will hang out in the nest boxes.

 

[DougDove]

rooster the saddle and hackle feathers are pointed compared to the Delaware their tails are also different, the red one behind it looks like an adult him

Beautiful bird either way

The one behind it, there is no question on him. He's the Ruler of the roost.
They are the same age, that's why I question.

 

[Ridgerunner]

That brings up a good point. If he is scared of the ruler of the roost he may be hiding in the coop to avoid the dominant male. That's how the weaker survive in a flock, stay away from one that might beat them up. Lots of interesting interactions in a flock.

 

[DougDove]

That brings up a good point. If he is scared of the ruler of the roost he may be hiding in the coop to avoid the dominant male. That's how the weaker survive in a flock, stay away from one that might beat them up. Lots of interesting interactions in a flock.

He hangs out with the hens. Does go opposite direction when the big guy comes along.

 

[MysteryChicken]

He looks like a Cockerel, & not a buckeye. He's a Rose comb Rhode Island Red, or possibly a mix.

 

[ariri30]

My bantam rooster makes the cutest little sound calling the big girls into tiny spots to nest. The barred rock is even sillier that tries to squeeze in. They go with this all they long.
I call them chicken TV.

 

[chrissynemetz]

He's definitely a cockerel. And it's not too strange that he was in the nest box. He could be trying to avoid the more dominant boy, or he could just like hanging with the girls.
My dominant rooster goes in with some of his ladies while they're laying their eggs, he'll go in and fluff up the nest boxes for them. It's really cute.