Is this normal bedtime behavior for a rooster?

[Honeybee22]

The sun was setting tonight and I was out with my 9 pullets and 1 cockerel watching them before they went in for the night.

My 2 month (or so) old cockerel started to do this whiny cheeping sound until all the pullets went into the coop... excpet his main squeeze, a barred rock, who just stayed plopped down on the ground.

Here's where it got interesting (for me at least)... He started pushing under her chest until she stood up and continued to headbutt her in the chest until she moved. She jumped up on my bench and sat next to me as he paced in front of us whining. She jumped down and eventually ended up in the coop, but not in her usual spot. So he jumped up to the spot where she obviously wasn't suppose to be, and started to push under her with his head and nip at her toes. She'd move over everytime he did this until she was smashed up against the wall. It was getting late, so finally I just put her where she usually sleeps and he was satisfied.

I've never seen him do this before. Is this normal bedtime behavior for a rooster? His girlfriend seems ok, but I'll be watching her extra close tomorrow. Maybe he knows something I don't? I just don't know.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I've never had that kind of attention exhibited by my roosters, but each roo is different.

He is definitely attentive towards her, and her unwillingness to move is a bit concerning. He may know that something is amiss. Roosters do want their flock at the appropriate place at the appropriate time. (Mine simply paces and cockles and does his little swoopy wing dance to round some stray up, but he doesn't lift assist).

So something could be wrong. Or not. He may simply really adore her and was insecure that she wasn't where she was supposed to be and he is an amazingly attentive helper.

Continue to watch and assess. If she seems ill, obviously take appropriate action. If all is well, be thankful you've got an especially tender rooster.

LofMc

 

[aart]

Great story and observations.
Pretty good sign(I think) that he is rounding up the flock to roost at 8 weeks old.
Are all the birds 8 weeks?
Will be interesting to see how they all get on as they grow up.

 

[scottcaddy]

Great story and observations.
Pretty good sign(I think) that he is rounding up the flock to roost at 8 weeks old.
Are all the birds 8 weeks?
Will be interesting to see how they all get on as they grow up.

Thanks for posting this!
I hope that this story will get updated as he gets older.
Scott

 

[lazy gardener]

Sounds like he has the makings of becoming a wonderful roo. The issue I might come away from with in this story is that she appears to prefer your company over that of the cockerel. He may become more assertive as time goes on... not necessarily a bad thing, unless he decides that you are a competitor. You would do well to take a hands off approach with him, and see to it that you keep him at arm's length, and never walk around him. If he's standing in your way, make him move. As a matter of fact, make it a point to make him yield space to you every day.

 

[wild chick]

Yes, what Aart said. Also what breed is this youngster? Is he also a barred rock? Curious minds want to know.

 

[Honeybee22]

He's a Wyandotte. He was brooder mates with a welsummer and the barred rock. He's not that into the welsummer, but she's not very interested in him either. The barred rock loves him and he loves the barred rock. They are always together.

His harem consists of 3 older pullets that are just about 4 months, he and his brooder mates are around 2 to 2.5 months, and 4 younger pullets that are 6.5 weeks.

In my inexperienced opinion, he matured really early. Waddles and comb at 4.5 weeks and crowing at around 6 weeks. I even saw him climb on the BR's back last week while she was relaxing in a dust bath... Idk if he was looking for love or not, but she was not having that and he didn't to it again.

He's a cool little rooster. Awesome little protector, but still manages to be pretty low-key and mellow. He's really good with the younger pullets... The only chicken that hasn't pecked and chased them and he'll even stop others from pecking them. He's just an all around good guy.

He was a surprise and we shouldn't really have him, but we're trying our best to keep him. Can't see giving up such a sweet guy. Hopefully he always stays this way.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Time, of course, will tell. However, I waited a long time before choosing the right roosters for my place. Those that had stellar, and special, qualities as chicks have, thus far, kept them.

The ornery ones showed their colors from the beginning. The mediocre usually went to the dark side once hormones hit.

But the really steallar ones as chicks have tended to stay that way as adults, if you handle them correctly.

Since keeping a rooster is technically not allowed where you are, I can recommend the No Crow Collar (you can find them at My Pet Chicken or even make one yourself).

They really do work, after you've spent a day or two watching and fiddling to make sure it fits correctly and does the job.

My Barnevelder rooster has worn one for several years. I'm about to fit my young Cream Legbar roo with one.

LofMc

 

[wild chick]

I hope you update this thread as he gets older, especially during his 6 mos to 1 year age. I have Wyandottes, got 20 in a straight run and watched 11 cockerels grow up with 9 hens. None were that attentive, but perhaps because there were so many. I thought I was keeping the best one for the hens (when it got down to two, I let the hens choose and he is fine with them) - but he has been aggressive toward people and now the dog. I just posted another thread about looking for a nicer breed to use as my free-range flock rooster.

 

[Honeybee22]

I have been using a no crow collar and it works to my liking. Keeps him no louder than the laying hens that live next door. I started bringing him in at night last week too (I wanted him to get a break from the collar). Now I'm thinking I should bring his main lady with him.

When I was debating keeping him I was checking through the forums and found that Wyandottes have a bad reputation when it comes to the breed's roosters. It seemed like a lot the roos were rough in the lovin' department, but fierce protectors. We decided to give him a chance any way when I couldn't find anyone to take him. So far I'm glad I kept him. Hopefully I did get lucky.

He's always facinating to watch. The other week we brought our younger dog (on a leash) into the run. Tookie, my roo, ushered the girls into a cage we had in there and once they were in he came to the front and sat on the edge of the cage face to face with the dog. He didn't do anything, but neither did my dog. Tookie sat there as if to say, "That's far enough big, furry thing." We were pretty impressed.

I really hope everything continues going well. I heard the "teenager" time can be challenging, but if we can get pass that and establish who's the boss that things should be good. My bigger concern is how rough he'll be with the ladies. I spend what some people would consider an unhealthy amount of time with them, so I'll be keeping an eye on the situation.

I'll deffinately keep everyone updated on his progress.

Here's a quick pic of him and his girlfriend, Oreo.

I wish I could get a better pic of him. The stupid collar makes him look like such a dork.