This is our first time keeping chickens. We started in Nov. 2011. As is stands right now, we have 19 pullets and 3 cockerels and 23 baby chicks in a different coop. (I don't know how to update my sig, we got rid of 7 cockerels last weekend).
Of the cockerels and pullets, half are 19 weeks and half are 18 weeks. Big Red, our NHR cockerel is the Alpha, very dominant and protective of the pullets. Bruster, our BR always seems to be the one ah....hem making mischief with the pullets. Let one of the pullets hollar and no matter where Big Red is, here he comes a runnin'.
Yesterday, we were wrangling the chickens up to put them back into the run before night fall. Big Red and most of the pullets were already in the run. I had the door to the run shut but not latched. Bruster was still out and a few pullets were as well. Bruster decided to jump on one of the pullets and of course the pullet screams. No more than a second later Big Red stops what he was doing and comes running for the run gate...remember it's shut, but not latched. Big Red literally busts the door open (I kid you not!) and runs to the pullets defense and attacks Bruster. It's hilarious to watch Big Red in action defending his girls. BUT I worry that he is going to kill the Barred Rock cockerel. We don't have another coop to put the BR in. But I'm thinking that's what were gonna have to wind up doing is building another coop to house rough roosters. The third rooster we have, Dudley, is a RIR. He is very shy and anti-social. He's 18 weeks old and STILL has not crowed yet. So Big Red doesn't mess with him. I love Big Red!!! He is always the first chicken to run up to me when they are free ranging, once I step outdoors. "Oooo.....mama got treats!"
Have you experienced a rooster like this and how did you handle it? Thanks for any advice.
Of the cockerels and pullets, half are 19 weeks and half are 18 weeks. Big Red, our NHR cockerel is the Alpha, very dominant and protective of the pullets. Bruster, our BR always seems to be the one ah....hem making mischief with the pullets. Let one of the pullets hollar and no matter where Big Red is, here he comes a runnin'.
Yesterday, we were wrangling the chickens up to put them back into the run before night fall. Big Red and most of the pullets were already in the run. I had the door to the run shut but not latched. Bruster was still out and a few pullets were as well. Bruster decided to jump on one of the pullets and of course the pullet screams. No more than a second later Big Red stops what he was doing and comes running for the run gate...remember it's shut, but not latched. Big Red literally busts the door open (I kid you not!) and runs to the pullets defense and attacks Bruster. It's hilarious to watch Big Red in action defending his girls. BUT I worry that he is going to kill the Barred Rock cockerel. We don't have another coop to put the BR in. But I'm thinking that's what were gonna have to wind up doing is building another coop to house rough roosters. The third rooster we have, Dudley, is a RIR. He is very shy and anti-social. He's 18 weeks old and STILL has not crowed yet. So Big Red doesn't mess with him. I love Big Red!!! He is always the first chicken to run up to me when they are free ranging, once I step outdoors. "Oooo.....mama got treats!"
Have you experienced a rooster like this and how did you handle it? Thanks for any advice.
