Rooster breaking up fight between hens?

[LtDanFan]

I saw something curious yesterday, and i am wondering if this is normal rooster behavior.
I have about a 4-5 month old cockerel. His comb is red and hes a very pretty boy. He has just started to crow randomly in the last couple weeks. He is a cream legbar, and was hatched from eggs i purchased from a local farm. Overall, he seems very respectful to my ladies, and he is younger than some and older than some of the pullets/hens.
I have never seen him get aggressive until yesterday. I am not even sure if it qualifies as “aggression” per se because he put himself in the middle of 2 hens that were scrapping. I added 2 new hens to the mix and yesterday, they had direct contact with each other for the first time.
I’m sure it was a pecking order thing, but when Russel Crow saw the new girl and one of the older settled girls going at it, he jumped in the middle. I can’t recall who he pecked at it was just a flash of feathers and clucking but the argument broke up and he then walked away.
i know a good roo will protect his flock from predators but i was unaware that he would act as peacekeeper/bouncer and break up a fight.
Is this normal? Am i over-interpreting his behavior? Just curious.

 

[Debbie292d]

I believe you have the making of an excellent rooster there!

We have only a couple of a dozen various roosters that will do that. They all protect younger chicks free ranging. If they see a hen getting aggressive, most will go stand between her and them and do their dance. She'll back off.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

My current cockerel has done this as well. He’s not an excellent cockerel but does the bare minimum lol. That is indeed what they are supposed to do.

 

[Altairsky]

Yes, that is what good roosters do! My flock would be a total mess without my rooster keeping peace and breaking fights!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I saw something curious yesterday, and i am wondering if this is normal rooster behavior.
I have about a 4-5 month old cockerel. His comb is red and hes a very pretty boy. He has just started to crow randomly in the last couple weeks. He is a cream legbar, and was hatched from eggs i purchased from a local farm. Overall, he seems very respectful to my ladies, and he is younger than some and older than some of the pullets/hens.
I have never seen him get aggressive until yesterday. I am not even sure if it qualifies as “aggression” per se because he put himself in the middle of 2 hens that were scrapping. I added 2 new hens to the mix and yesterday, they had direct contact with each other for the first time.
I’m sure it was a pecking order thing, but when Russel Crow saw the new girl and one of the older settled girls going at it, he jumped in the middle. I can’t recall who he pecked at it was just a flash of feathers and clucking but the argument broke up and he then walked away.
i know a good roo will protect his flock from predators but i was unaware that he would act as peacekeeper/bouncer and break up a fight.
Is this normal? Am i over-interpreting his behavior? Just curious.

Agree with all the above, but I just wanted to add that I love his name!

 

[Mrs. K]

There are several wonderful traits outstanding rooster have, and that is one of them. If you get a rooster with all of them you have a flock master. I too, agree, roosters are a crapshoot, but you may have just rolled the dice right!

Mrs K

 

[LtDanFan]

He does seem like he’s going to be a lovely roo all around, so far at least. He’s not aggressive with people, kind to the girls from what i’ve seen, and regularly can be found laying with his brooder mates (all pullets). doesn’t seem to be hen pecked by the older ladies and doesn’t harrass the youngest pullets, about 2 months younger than he is.
Unfortunately, i cannot have roosters so its just a matter of time before he has to go. I am desperately trying to find him a home but i only know 2 people that can have roosters and they both have one already. If there is anyone in the SE wisconsin area that wants a purebred crested creamlegbar roo, i will give him away to a good home in exchange for a few hatching eggs next spring . I thought about putting him in a pot, but since he was one of 7 out of 11 that survived our house fire of brooder origin, i feel bad doing that if there’s another option for him. Especially since he seems to be a growing into a grand boy.

 

[LtDanFan]

This was taken a few weeks ago, hes gotten even more regal and handsome since.

 

[Mrs. K]

Contact your county extension office, ask for 4-h clubs. Or ask for poultry clubs.

 

[LtDanFan]

Good idea. I will look, however my hopes aren’t high given that the three county area that i live in all restrict roosters for most chicken owners. Wish us luck
I’m hoping to be able to bribe my neighbors with eggs lol. Once all the ladies are paying egg rent, i should end up with a dozen or so every week if all goes well.