Rooster attitude changing?

[Folly's place]

Update: He's behaving himself, however still runs to meet me when i'm out there. Interacts with some of the pullets and hens, at times, and hangs out with the bantams most often.
I had him locked in with our two EE bantam hens for a week, hoping for fertile eggs. Nope, none. It's late in the year, they are older and about done egg laying, and all he wanted was to get out to the flock!
If I was less attached, all three would be gone, but can't do it...
Mary

 

[LaFleche]

Maybe the old girls start laying again next spring for at least some weeks to give you the hatching eggs you were waiting for.
By Spring he should have calmed down and get accepted by them.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would say keep an eye on him come next spring with those surging hormones. That will be the real test.

 

[Folly's place]

I agree, this is a situation not resolved, and next spring, if he's still here, might be interesting.
He's now the 'odd man out', but there's no way he's being rehomed, because of this uncertainty.
Mary

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I look forward to the update next spring. Sometimes they just grow out of stuff. So I'm hoping he has.

 

[Folly's place]

I kept two bantam EE cockerels as replacements, too many! And hate to rehome either of them, but here we are, too many boys for the group... These cockerels have attached themselves to the big pullets, not part of the plan either. Another issue, thanks to C-19, and chicks unavailable this late spring and summer...
Mary

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Because of you I got 5 more bantam Easter egger pullets about 2 months ago. They are doing great with their adopted mom.

I have some bantam Easter egger crossed with bantam cochins that I love the look of. It all makes me want to switch from mostly bantam cochins to bantam Easter eggers.

 

[Folly's place]

My five bantam EE chicks from Cackle arrived in April; five cockerels and one pullet!!! Then, eggs from our two surviving hens didn't hatch, and everyone ran out of EE bantam chicks to order! We have one Belgian d'Uccle cross pullet who's adorable, and years ago i gave a friend a cockerel, same cross, who's a very nice bird.
That one 2020 Cackle pullet just isn't enough! Must order more, and hope for more pullets, for spring.
Mary

 

[Sally PB]

Just read this with interest. My cockerel is good with the pullets. I see no signs of over mating, even though there are just three. He tidbits, looks out for trouble, and will take a treat from my fingers and then give it to a lady.

Every now and then, especially in the morning when I let them out, he will challenge me. Feathers up, wings out, runs up to my feet. I am going to start taking a stick with me, just in case.

I'm wondering if he does this because he doesn't recognize me? It's cooled off, so I have a purple hoodie on. Usually, I'm wearing a long sleeved white tee shirt, which is my usual garden/chicken apparel. Once he did it when I forgot to tie my hair into my usual pony tail.

Is this possible? He's 5 months old. I had to cull two cockerels a couple months ago (straight run purchase at TSC), and I'm hoping he doesn't end up challenging me the way those two did. Can I hope?

 

[Folly's place]

@Sally PB, he's being a jerk, and I hope you can fix it soonest! Have you read @Beekissed , @BantyChooks , and @Shadrach 's articles? All helpful, and worth looking up.
Your boy needs to respect your space, as the giant who brings food, and move away from you as you walk through the flock, or 'through' him. Don't make excuses for his behavior, act to fix it, or he's not worth keeping, or adding to the gene pool.
Mary