is this nomal?????

[coffeychicks]

So this morning I let my chickens out to free range as always. My new roo (after quarantine only been with hens 2 weeks) runs out finds a carrot from yesterday treats makes a clucking noise the girls go running. Then decided they didn't like it and walks off. He finds watermelon rine clucks again girl go running they like this he backs away. I have had roos in the past that had aggression issues and never seen anything like this. Is this a good sign?

 

[chooks4life]

Very. A rooster requires much less feed than a hen, and is naturally inclined to spend a lot of time helping her find the best foods to supply her eggs and in future the chicks that hatch from those eggs.

The best roosters do some kind of measuring, like a hen with chicks will, of food. By sight alone they judge whether or not it's enough for their priority; which is for hens and roosters alike, chicks, and for a rooster with hens but no chicks, the hens are the priority. If he thinks they need feeding up, and doesn't think there's enough for him too, he will stand back and not partake. This is a best case scenario of good instinct in action. Many chickens have had this bred out of them. I highly value it in my flock because contrary to some opinions, in my experience anyway, more instinct equals calmer and happier non violent birds. Many people associate instinct with violent and terrified birds, but that's one instinct they're thinking of as representing all the natural ancestral instincts. Tame but otherwise instinctive birds are great in my opinion.

In desperate circumstances roosters have been known to starve to make sure the hens are fed, and likewise the hens with the chicks will starve if necessary to ensure the chicks are fed. Chickens are, in the wild as well as some in domesticity, extremely social and family oriented birds, which is another reason nobody should tolerate a hen or rooster who kills chicks as that is extremely aberrant.

 

[crazycluck86]

My roo does exactly the same, in fact I never see him eat! Hes even worse when there are chicks around, in a good way though! I have to seperate him to make sure he eats as it worries me. If I go out to give him a treat, I try and sneak it to him without the hens seeing but he still does the 'cooing' and calls them over for it! Hes a very sweet bird

 

[RedDrgn]

Yes, he's doing his job and looking out for his ladies' needs.

Hens laying eggs need to consume more food than roos because of the massive amounts of energy required to keep producing those eggs and maintain their own nutrition levels. Our roo behaves the same way. If he finds a tasty morsel, he calls the girls. Once they start eating whatever it is, if there is plenty for all, he'll join in the meal. If there isn't, then he stands aside until they are done and moves on.

 

[coffeychicks]

Thank you for your replies. this makes me so happy. we got him out of a horrible situation so i guess you can say he is a rescue. he isn't too friendly with us yet but he is starting to warm up to me when i have treats but he doesn't so much eat them but calls his 18 girls over. his home before was 12 roosters with 2 hens. constant fighting. he has some battle scars left but seems to like it here. what can i say they don't call me the crazy chicken lady for nothing

 

[coffeychicks]

This is doodle bug. My roo with some of his girls

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[coffeychicks]

 

[RedDrgn]

This is doodle bug. My roo with some of his girls

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Barred rock? Nice looking, and just wait until he gets a full set of tail feathers!

 

[coffeychicks]

I don't know the breed he has some yellow he finally started to grow tail feathers. He lost them in a fight

 

[rachlore]

Reading this makes me wish my neighborhood allowed roosters! I never knew they could be so kind and loving toward the hens. Often times the only stories I hear about them are bad and how they "break the eggs in the nesting boxes" or "are so aggressive toward visitors and the other chickens". This really shocked me- I never knew this!