Rooster behaviors...or tyrant head hen?

[newmarch2014]

This is NOT a question as to if I have a roo or a hen! I know that I am just waiting for the egg or the crow but I am asking about rooster behavior as opposed to just mean hen behavior. I think we may have a rooster in our new 7 week old flock but am not sure really.The chick in question has developed a 4x larger comb that is 4x as red and tiny little red wattles that the 2 sister production reds have nothing in comparison as well as thick legs and a pushy personality. I have read that the roos are supposed to be good and protective of the flock finding them food and such. If that is usually the case when do they start that type of behavior? The one in question is a tyrant and sometimes wont let anyone else near the food or water. They are all very skittish of him/her. When I take the offender out of the brooder everyone seems to relax and get along. I honestly do not know if it is only when I am standing there and it feels like it has to get bossy and 'protect' them all from me or if this is going on all the time when I am not there. I am trying to get them all in the new hen house but have to put a floor in it still so I am not sure if they are simply overcrowded and that is her problem (6 of them in a med size plastic kiddie pool) or if she is just a mean hen that will always be a terror to the others or a rooster that is just a bad seed...any suggestions?

 

[MySweetChickens]

iit sounds like you got a bad rooster usually they turn out mean to the hens and people

 

[debid]

Chick behavior is not an exact predictor of adult behavior (skittish pullets often calm down as they reach laying age, for example) but a good rooster isn't a mean chick that suddenly figures it out. I'd name that one chicken dinner and not get attached. Early behavior of a future good boy includes things like calling to the others when they are out of sight. Protecting them from you would be charging at your hand when you stick it in. Bullying others away from the feed is just being a jerk.

 

[newmarch2014]

sigh that is what I was afraid of. I am already kind of attached because he/she really is nice with people but I am more attached to the runt that he picks on and the sweet B.O. that is the big benevolent leader hen if the he/she is not there. I am too much of a softie and cannot eat him, or cull him myself. Will have to face the music in a lesser way and find someone that will take him and make him their dinner instead.

 

[donrae]

Chick behavior is not an exact predictor of adult behavior (skittish pullets often calm down as they reach laying age, for example) but a good rooster isn't a mean chick that suddenly figures it out. I'd name that one chicken dinner and not get attached. Early behavior of a future good boy includes things like calling to the others when they are out of sight. Protecting them from you would be charging at your hand when you stick it in. Bullying others away from the feed is just being a jerk.

x2

Why are you waiting for a crow or egg? From the comb, it sounds like a rooster. If you don't want a rooster, get rid of it. Even if it's a hen, any bird that doesn't get along with everyone else goes, around here. Flock harmony is way more important than an individual bird.