Rooster behavior change in springtime?

[Gwhite3678]

Hi there, I have a young flock of 9 hens and 1 rooster who are all about to a year old around April. So far I’ve had no issues with my rooster, Herb, who is a Wyandotte. He is very good with the hens finding treats for them going to them if they seem in distress ect. I’ve never had any interaction issue with him either, he has let me pick him up in the past when I was checking out some frost bite on him.

This morning I noticed all my girls somewhat frenzied running around trying to get away from him. He was doing his little dance he does and very determined to sow his morning oats. I’ve never seen the hens act this way around him, I heard some run into the fencing area even.

I’m curious if this is a spring time amp up of hormones since I’m assuming it’s breeding season and if I should expect him to settle down again or is this his new normal?

I did see a hen with a broken wing feather and kind of scruffy looking and now I’m wondering if it was from him.

Any advice appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[Callender Girl]

My younger rooster was a complete, frenzied, overbreeding jerk his first spring and summer. He is now 2, still a jerk, but less convinced that all hens want him to romance them. I don't know if his hormones settled down or the girls -- since he's a Bantam -- decided they didn't have to put up with their smaller suitor.

Best wishes with Herb and your girls!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Yep that’s what spring does to them.

 

[lolobearleo]

Hi there, I have a young flock of 9 hens and 1 rooster who are all about to a year old around April. So far I’ve had no issues with my rooster, Herb, who is a Wyandotte. He is very good with the hens finding treats for them going to them if they seem in distress ect. I’ve never had any interaction issue with him either, he has let me pick him up in the past when I was checking out some frost bite on him.

This morning I noticed all my girls somewhat frenzied running around trying to get away from him. He was doing his little dance he does and very determined to sow his morning oats. I’ve never seen the hens act this way around him, I heard some run into the fencing area even.

I’m curious if this is a spring time amp up of hormones since I’m assuming it’s breeding season and if I should expect him to settle down again or is this his new normal?

I did see a hen with a broken wing feather and kind of scruffy looking and now I’m wondering if it was from him.

Any advice appreciated.
Thanks!

I’m also having rooster problems so I wanna keep an eye on your thread. Best of luck!

 

[centrarchid]

What you can expect for the next few month is the rooster will come off roost before other birds. He will mate hens in turn as they come of roost. Mine will also peck juveniles and chicks. The pecking results in the pecked giving a short vocalization before normal behavior is resumed. It seems to be a bonding behavior too.

 

[aking19]

I think it's because it's spring time. My rooster, Hank, does all of the above as well, and they are all the same age (just under a year). He waits right outside the coop door in the morning for the girls to come out and he grabs them. They have started coming out the door in pairs almost as if in an attempt to confuse him, it's quite a show really. He has also been a little bit of a jerk towards me, especially when I handle the girls, the last couple weeks. I assume it's because it's spring. Even one of my hens has been a bit of a jerk too, puffing up her feathers and screeching at the others. I observed her just the other day peck Hank on the head when he got to close to her. Spring is definitely in the air! Best of luck