I started raising gold comet and barred plymouth rock pullets this spring, but my local Co-Op didn't have any cockerels. I talked with a neighboring man who raises chickens and he offered me a Rhode Island Red rooster that was also just hatched this spring. (By my guess the 'roo' is at least 6 to 8 weeks older than the young hens.
I recently built a larger coop and run for my pullets and I had the rooster seperated from them for about a month to observe any signs of sickness etc. I decided he was clear of disease so I threw it on in with the girls.
Immediately the dominate hens began to challenge him(?) and being bigger he(?) typically wins by stepping on their backs or pecking them in the back.
The waddles look like typical waddles on a RIR hen and I don't see any sign of spurs starting to grow so I am questioning whether this is actually a rooster or not.
The rooster(?) is very controlling and will attack one of the hens if she so much and scratches the ground in a manner it apparently doesn't like. This morning that happened and it pecked and held the hen by the neck until she managed to get away (squaking in a manner that seemed to indicate considerable pain) and I am concerned that I may need to remove the rooster from the coop with the hens.
Is this behavior normal and should I regard this bird as a threat to my flock?
I have noticed no attempts by the rooster(?) to mate the young pullets. Currently I am just waiting to see if spurs will grow or if it will lay an egg...
Any suggestions/advice?
I recently built a larger coop and run for my pullets and I had the rooster seperated from them for about a month to observe any signs of sickness etc. I decided he was clear of disease so I threw it on in with the girls.
Immediately the dominate hens began to challenge him(?) and being bigger he(?) typically wins by stepping on their backs or pecking them in the back.
The waddles look like typical waddles on a RIR hen and I don't see any sign of spurs starting to grow so I am questioning whether this is actually a rooster or not.
The rooster(?) is very controlling and will attack one of the hens if she so much and scratches the ground in a manner it apparently doesn't like. This morning that happened and it pecked and held the hen by the neck until she managed to get away (squaking in a manner that seemed to indicate considerable pain) and I am concerned that I may need to remove the rooster from the coop with the hens.
Is this behavior normal and should I regard this bird as a threat to my flock?
I have noticed no attempts by the rooster(?) to mate the young pullets. Currently I am just waiting to see if spurs will grow or if it will lay an egg...
Any suggestions/advice?
Last edited:
