Roo sharing with the ladies or intimidated?

[chicksngoats]

So I was feeding my chickens some grapes tonight after reading so many threads about how that seems to be the fave with our feathered friends and I notice that my banty frizzle roo won't eat any of it... The ladies loved them! But he would run up to a grape and then make a sort of "purring" noise. Occasionally if a hen didn't grab it, he would pick one up and hold it in his beak making the same "purring" noise until one of the hens would take it away. So my question is he just trying to be nice to the ladies and let them eat? Or is he getting picked on because of his size (the ladies are RIR and Barrred Rocks)?

Just trying to understand more about the behavior of these guys

Thanks!

 

[PeepsInc]

He's finding food for his girls. That's part of his job as flock protector.

 

[chickencrazymom]

Our rooster does this ALL of the time, he always feeds them before himself !

 

[mamaKate]

My roo bullied my hen and hogged all the food when they were chicks. Now it's really hard to give him a treat because he always lets her eat first.

 

[chicksngoats]

Oh that's so sweet! Maybe I could have him teach my hubby a thing or two

Thanks for the info!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Yep, that's what my roo does. If the hens happen to eat all the treats before he gets to taste any, he's okay with that too.
ETA: If it's something I know my roo really likes, I save him some in the house and bring him in to feed it to him. It's the only way he'll eat it without sharing with his girls.