Roos low on pecking order -- what society is this ;-)

[amiachicknorwat]

I just threw a cob of corn into the run and my one (of 9 chicks) declared rooster approached it as if low on the pecking order. Not the first time I noticed this, but now here I wonder if males rank low in Chickendom, or is it that he's vastly outnumbered? Thanks for letting us know where we roos stand

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How old?
They usually rank highest once mature regardless of how many hens.
They usually stand back and let the hens eat while they stand guard.

 

[cpsmith02]

My rooster stands guard while the girls eat and when they are done they lay down while he eats for a few minutes. Then he joins the hens once again to protect them. That could be what your roo is doing.

 

[amiachicknorwat]

2 1/2 months old. Just did his first cock-doo almost a week ago and no full cockle-doodle-doos as yet heard. So the standing guard makes sense. I just hope he gets his share in end.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

That age is pretty young still. He may be standing guard and understanding that the hens are capable now of beating him in the pecking order. With maturity, he should be at the top of the pecking order.

 

[cpsmith02]

2 1/2 months old. Just did his first cock-doo almost a week ago and no full cockle-doodle-doos as yet heard. So the standing guard makes sense. I just hope he gets his share in end.

The girls used to not let my boy eat the snacks until they didn't want them at all anymore because he wasn't as old as them and he wasn't old enough to start mounting them. They have now been claimed by him and they all get along. He ended up getting snacks. Your roo will get his fair share eventually.

 

[sourland]

Testosterone will work miracles for the boy as he enters puberty.

 

[donrae]

I agree, they're just babies right now. they're not so much male and female, they're all just adolescents out for themselves. As they mature, he'll see the benefit of being on the hen's good side

I tossed apples in the breeding pens yesterday. My good rooster Eric only has one hen, and some littles. He ignored the littles but broke off bits of apple for his lady. She even took them from his beak, if she wanted it before he dropped it. She is one pampered princess right now!