Rooster Behavior Question

[Dbl T in CO]

I have a question that maybe one of the experts out there can help me with!

I have a small flock of Buff Orpington hens that are 2 years old. Whenever I have ”treats” for them I have always called them and they come running.

About a month ago I adopted a 4 month old rooster whose fate was to find a new home or get butchered. In the beginning he was great. He had never had an opportunity to free range so living here was a new experience. He seemed to fit right in.

Whenever I go out in the yards, my hens have always come running to see what I might have. In the last couple of weeks, this seems to cause the rooster to “attack” me. I have stood my ground but am finding this behavior irritating because I literally have to watch my back now to make sure he’s not coming after me.

My husband thinks he’s actually jealous because my girls always want to be around me when I’m out in the yard. Could this even be possible?

I was hoping we would have chicks in the spring but at this rate he might become dinner and get replaced. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on this?

I appreciate any help or suggestions.

 

[Shannon's Chix]

I might be getting my first roo tomorrow...I'm so afraid of something like this!

 

[toetoe]

I have 7 hens, three pullets, 12 chicks and three full grown roosters.
1 Road island red..my Alfa
1 Bantam ..second in command
1 black silky

I have never had a problem with my birds. I have let them know from the start that I am the one in command.

The first week that I was given my first 4 hens and 3 roosters I got myself a red sweater, when the RIR rooster flapped his wings and crowed I did the same right after him.

I wear this sweater when I go out to the coop in the day. If at any time the roosters do something I do not like just like the alfa does to chase the other rooster and flap his wings I do the same.

My birds are not frightened of me, I pick them up, pet them and they come to me when I go outside. They just see me as the top bird.
It works for me.

 

[Aj1911]

well here's 2 things you could do

plan A: pick the rooster up and hold him upside down tell he stops flapping/squawking then set him down and make him walk away FIRST.

plan B: do like i did and chase them with a broom for 40mins if they even think about coming for you

after they are done squawking for an hour i can guarantee they will never come after you again and if they do, do it again

mine are to the point if i even show them a broom they squawk and step back and they know when i walk into the coop to back off and behave.

 

[fuzidragonbunnie]

I used a household spray bottle with water (you can add a couple of drops of lemon juice so it has a smell) and when Ramon, our Polish, decides he wants to get too close, I squirt him with it-this worked really well, when I had to rescue a hen-pecked hen a few days ago. He hasn't bothered me since.

 

[SallyF]

I used the squirt bottle method also. Worked as long as I saw the rooster coming. He learned to wait until I turned my back or looked in another direction, then he'd come running. We did some interesting dancing in the yard! Unfortunately he was injured by a raccoon and died shortly thereafter, so his dancing days are over. I just got two buff rock roosters who have been very well behaved.

 

[Dbl T in CO]

I ended up keeping him and the girls in their pen for a couple of weeks, meaning, no free ranging. That seemed to do the trick. I guess it made him realize who was really in charge. Regardless, he changed his behavior and is behaving himself, which is all I wanted. Now we can look forward to chicks in the spring, which was our plan and why we adopted him.

 

[PortageGirl]

Here's Rooster-red's suggestions. https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2588-Roo_behavior In the past, I've caught mine and just plopped him in my brooder pen if it's empty any time he's gotten cocky. (sorry, couldn't that, but that IS where the expression comes from you know!!)

I love having a roo around, and love being able to hatch chicks, so it's worth the effort for me.

 

[Dbl T in CO]

I have to agree … I like having a rooster. He has added a dimension I never expected. And he is beautiful and has a fabulous crow. We love listening to him. And our girls love him too. Gotta have a roo in the flock!!