Hens won't come out of coop

[BreezyMeadowsNJ]

For the past 2 mornings I have noticed that our hens won't come out of the coop in the AM right away. Normally they all come running out. Only the rooster will come out - he crows then goes back in crows again and then the hens come out after him. They are all 16 weeks old. Is this normal behavior - maybe the rooster teaching them to do what he wants?

 

[sourland]

Or maybe they are trying to avoid the rooster's attempts to breed them. Young roosters can be quite randy in the morning.

 

[BreezyMeadowsNJ]

Or maybe they are trying to avoid the rooster's attempts to breed them.  Young roosters can be quite randy in the morning.

You might be right - he has been chasing them all over these past few weeks grabbing at their neck feathers. I hear the hens holler all day. Is this ok and normal or should I separate him for a while. I didn't want a rooster and now out of my 8 chicks 4 are roosters. Ugh! I am trying to find homes for them and I was gonna keep 1 but don't want to if he is being aggressive with the hens and stressing them out.

 

[sourland]

4 roosters to 4 hens? I'll almost guarantee that is why the hens are reluctant to come out. All that harassment is probably cutting down on their eating which will delay egg production. I would separate the roosters from the hens.