Is the rooster always in charge?

[aart]

Does a nine year old boy have the instincts to protect the nine year old girls he associates with? It will come in time.

LOL! Some might, but you never know with live animals

, including humans.

Yes, he's too young to have the good attributes of a mature cock bird.

 

[donrae]

I hear of folks who have young cockerels that have more mature behaviors. I don't know if it's that I've bred specifically for docile males or what, but at 4 months my boys are still basically babies. They run from the mature hens, and come running when the mature rooster calls the food call. When the mature bird sounds the alert, they duck and cover! some of it may also being in a multi-age flock, IDK. But I'd just give your boy time to grow up and see how things shake out in the spring.

 

[towen91]

I hear of folks who have young cockerels that have more mature behaviors. I don't know if it's that I've bred specifically for docile males or what, but at 4 months my boys are still basically babies. They run from the mature hens, and come running when the mature rooster calls the food call. When the mature bird sounds the alert, they duck and cover! some of it may also being in a multi-age flock, IDK. But I'd just give your boy time to grow up and see how things shake out in the spring.

I work night shift so the girls and roo didn't get to free range today. I noticed that the new girl is actually staying a little closer to the old ones now. I wonder if I should actually keep them in the coop run for a while forcing them to establish a new pecking order. Is it possible that my new girl may never stand up for herself, or challenge one of the others to move up the latter. But, as I said they seem to be doing much better. With the exception of my smallest pullet that still keeps going after the new girl.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Be patient. They are doing fine.

 

[donrae]

Be patient. They are doing fine.

This. Just let them be. You can't make a bird be more assertive. Someone's got to be the Omega in any group (even humans, although we don't like to talk about that).

 

[towen91]

This. Just let them be. You can't make a bird be more assertive. Someone's got to be the Omega in any group (even humans, although we don't like to talk about that).

I understand this, but I haven't seen the new girl even once she any kind of attempt to move up in the pecking order. I feel like she needs to try to establish herself, so they there will be an understanding of who is what in the flock. It almost seems like she's not a part of the flock sense she is so skittish around my smallest pullet. Today however the cockerel and most dominant pullet seemed to get along with her just fine, unless the other girl went after her. I'm jus letting it be. I do find all of this very interesting tho!

 

[aart]

Quote: The low bird accepts her position, she may always be skittish....just keep watching, observation is the best way to learn if you've got the time and patience.

 

[towen91]

The low bird accepts her position, she may always be skittish....just keep watching, observation is the best way to learn if you've got the time and patience.

Is it normal tho to have one member of a small flock ( mine is only 3 pullets and a cockerel) be almost completely separate from the other 3? I'm not concerned, I'm just a newbie and really find all of this fascinating! I spend hours outside just watching them haha

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Is it normal tho to have one member of a small flock ( mine is only 3 pullets and a cockerel) be almost completely separate from the other 3? I'm not concerned, I'm just a newbie and really find all of this fascinating! I spend hours outside just watching them haha

Which bird is apart from the others, the cockerel or a pullet?

 

[towen91]

Which bird is apart from the others, the cockerel or a pullet?

One of the pullets. I originally started out with 4 and lost one in the first week. So about a week ago I purchased another pullet of the same breed age and size to replace the one I lost. Of course the other 2 pullets, and the cockerel had been together sense they were hatched and this new girl has now only been with them for a week. The other 2 pullets are literally connected at the hip. The cockerel as normally always with them as well.