Rooster behavior

[McKangel]

This past spring, we added 6 chicks to our existing flock of 4-year-old Rhode Island Red hens. Two of the chicks turned out to be roosters. Now that the roosters are full size, they are constantly "herding" only the older Reds into the henhouse. They are great with the hens they were raised with, and also with each other. However, I am having to let the older Reds free range at different times from the others to insure they get outside time. Is there anything I can do to curtail this ungentlemanly behavior, or is this common? The 2 roosters are Jersey Giants. Thanks for any advice.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is common for young cockerels to behave as unruly hormone addled teenagers.

 

[McKangel]

Lol, do they ever outgrow it? As long as I am in the coop with them, the roosters stay away from the Reds. The moment I leave, they are back to bullying.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

After a year or two.

 

[Beau plus penny]

This past spring, we added 6 chicks to our existing flock of 4-year-old Rhode Island Red hens. Two of the chicks turned out to be roosters. Now that the roosters are full size, they are constantly "herding" only the older Reds into the henhouse. They are great with the hens they were raised with, and also with each other. However, I am having to let the older Reds free range at different times from the others to insure they get outside time. Is there anything I can do to curtail this ungentlemanly behavior, or is this common? The 2 roosters are Jersey Giants. Thanks for any advice.

might just be me but there is a possibility this is a protective behavoir and the roos are trying to kept older ones safe by keeping them into the henhouse. but id need to know what else do when interacting with the older ones

 

[BigBlueHen53]

After a year or two.

Why aren't the matron hens teaching these youngsters some manners? I thought that's how this was supposed to work.

 

[McKangel]

Initially, a couple of the older hens disciplined the Roos when they tried to mate them. Gradually, all 5 older hens have become submissive to the Roos, and go into the henhouse when the Roos come around. If they don't go inside voluntarily, the Roos will certainly chase them in. They do all roost together though. The older hens do not seem to be suffering, I would just like for them to wander freely around the yard and not stay inside which they do unless I'm out there running interference.

 

[McChooky]

Why aren't the matron hens teaching these youngsters some manners? I thought that's how this was supposed to work.

You need an older rooster to teach the young cockerels how to act.

 

[McChooky]

This past spring, we added 6 chicks to our existing flock of 4-year-old Rhode Island Red hens. Two of the chicks turned out to be roosters. Now that the roosters are full size, they are constantly "herding" only the older Reds into the henhouse. They are great with the hens they were raised with, and also with each other. However, I am having to let the older Reds free range at different times from the others to insure they get outside time. Is there anything I can do to curtail this ungentlemanly behavior, or is this common? The 2 roosters are Jersey Giants. Thanks for any advice.

Raising a cockerel with the pullets in a flock of older hens isn't ideal. He will show favoritism to the pullets he was raised with .1/2 of my flock of older hens accepted the cockerel I added to the flock( they're big hens,a docile breed) My wyandotte,barred rock and Dominique still refuse to mate him .He still allows the young hens he grew up with to harass my 4 older hens, take their food ,chase them off the nest boxes and chase them out of their own coop if I'm not around.I free range them all at the same time everyday but have a fence that separates the 2 flocks.Him and his hens fly over the fence to steal their food,etc.I hope to replace him with one of the baby cockerels in the flock.The broody hen raising them is one of the older hens who accepted the rooster and joined the flock of pullets

 

[McKangel]

Raising a cockerel with the pullets in a flock of older hens isn't ideal. He will show favoritism to the pullets he was raised with .1/2 of my flock of older hens accepted the cockerel I added to the flock( they're big hens,a docile breed) My wyandotte,barred rock and Dominique still refuse to mate him .He still allows the young hens he grew up with to harass my 4 older hens, take their food ,chase them off the nest boxes and chase them out of their own coop if I'm not around.I free range them all at the same time everyday but have a fence that separates the 2 flocks.Him and his hens fly over the fence to steal their food,etc.I hope to replace him with one of the baby cockerels in the flock.The broody hen raising them is one of the older hens who accepted the rooster and joined the flock of pullets

Thanks. So far all the hens of both ages are co-existing peaceably. For now I'm letting all the hens free range at the same time while I keep the Roos penned for 45 minutes or so. Then I let the Roos out and by that time the older ladies have wandered to the other side of the house where they are somewhat hidden. The Roos leave them alone unless they spot them or until everyone starts to wander back to the henhouse. It's rather exhausting. The chicks were supposed to be sexed so we did not realize we ended up with roosters until they found their voice, lol. You are right, they definitely show favor to the pullets they were raised with. Have you considered clipping the flight feathers? I was having problems with a couple of mine getting over the fence. I clipped one side on each chicken and it worked like magic.