Rooster Behavior

[trudydrew]

My 6-month old rooster has been fine until today. He has always crowed during the day. but today he is bawking constantly and refuses to be near the hens. Can anyone tell me if they have had this experience?

 

[centrarchid]

Look around to determine if a predator is near.

Can you post a video of the behavior?

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC @trudydrew !

More info is needed...where is the 'rooster' and where are the 'hens'?

 

[trudydrew]

I will post a video later today. He ignores the hens. If the hens are free ranging then he stays near the coop. When the hens went in the coop area, he left and went free ranging. He did get all the hens in the coop last night and after we got in the house he quieted down. But he's at it again this morning

 

[aart]

Did all your birds grow up together?
....or have some been added recently.
How many and how old in months are the 'hens'?
A 6 month old cockerel may not be 'mature' enough to manage the flock as well as you'd like.

FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

Oh, and.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[trudydrew]

Thanks for the info on semantics... Still new to all this. Cockerel is 6 months old as are two pullets. Also have three hens that are 18 months old and three hens that are three+ years old. First nice warm spring type day was yesterday and Pippi (the cockerel) was mounted on one of the chickens when my husband was down in the coop. My husband shooed him off with his hand, which is what we were told to do by a Rooster Lady last year (that we gave our first rooster too who was too aggresive). She said not to let them "mate in front of humans. Don't know why; etiquette? Anyway, since then, Pippi has been doing this "bawking" thing and yesterday he did it while walking the perimeter of the fenced in run even though the rest of the flock was out free-ranging. Today he did it in the run, standing in the same place all day again while the rest of the flock was out free-ranging. Any suggestions or help gladly taken. Wasn't able to get a video of him today because he stood under the canopy in the run all day and it was dark.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

My 6-month old rooster has been fine until today. He has always crowed during the day. but today he is bawking constantly and refuses to be near the hens. Can anyone tell me if they have had this experience?

His hormones are probably kicking in and he's more aware of your presence now, seeing you as a challenge to take on...... which is why he doesn't seem as interested in the hens. He's more interested in kicking your behind.

 

[Banditschickens]

 

[aart]

Pippi (the cockerel) was mounted on one of the chickens when my husband was down in the coop. My husband shooed him off with his hand, which is what we were told to do by a Rooster Lady last year (that we gave our first rooster too who was too aggresive). She said not to let them "mate in front of humans. Don't know why; etiquette? Anyway, since then, Pippi has been doing this "bawking" thing and yesterday he did it while walking the perimeter of the fenced in run even though the rest of the flock was out free-ranging. Today he did it in the run, standing in the same place all day again while the rest of the flock was out free-ranging. Any suggestions or help gladly taken.

Which chicken did he mount?
Did she submit?
Not allowing him to mount in front of humans is nonsense, IMO.
Is he crowing?
The 'bawking' needs to be heard here to translate,
but I doubt it's anything to worry about...unless it was 'aimed' at humans.