Rooster Chat

[newhamplover]

Hi folks,

Right now my 15-month-old roo is the only chicken molting - and so far he's still interested in covering. Do roos tend to give the girls a break when they are molting? Or does it differ based on the particular roost

In my breed, New Hamps which are a meat breed, they stop laying in molt. I have one hen where molting has started & she has quit laying. The other hen hasn't started molt yet & is still laying. Harry is also starting molt, those beautiful tail feather are going fast. He never tries to breed when a hen is not in lay. My 5 month pullets are not in lay yet so he pays them no attention. I am glad they stop laying so all of the protein can go into making new feathers.

 

[newhamplover]

I only feed an All Flock or a non medicated grower. No more layer used here. There's not enough protein in it in my opinion for backyard flocks who get extras. The extra calcium needs are made up with oyster shells.

I agree with you. I feed Purina Flock Raiser. I still feed the layer too. I put both out free choice but the hens eat very little of the layer. The roo never eats the layer. I also agree with you about the higher protein. I think they need it. I keep out oyster shells & the purina flock block cube. They stay in beautiful condition.

 

[newhamplover]

I just bought a new sack of the layer but after it is gone I think I will just stay with the flock raiser. Wished now I hadn't opened it. I guess I was thinking the hens needed it too but I should have "thought" if they weren't eating it very much. When I had the 5 young roos I was buying flock raiser 2 bags at a time. They never stopped eating. I was filling bowls several times a day. The 2 pullets do a good job of eating too.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I agree with you.  I feed Purina Flock Raiser.  I still feed the layer too.  I put both out free choice but the hens eat very little of the layer.  The roo never eats the layer.  I also agree with you about the higher protein.  I think they need it.  I keep out  oyster shells & the purina flock block cube.  They stay in beautiful condition.

I've read others have offered both too and the layer isn't consumed as much. It probably is a perfect product for laying hens if they are fed nothing else and only fed it while they are laying.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

I never thought about nixing it

 

[newhamplover]

I never thought about nixing it

Well I didn't either until I read OldHen's post. When I just had the 3 I didn't notice it so much but with the 7 babies I got to noticing the hens just quit eating the layer altogether. They just ate the grower. I wondered is that good but I leave it to them to eat what they need. That is why I had always fed both. Then when the 5 boys left they continued the same. I wished I had thought of it before I bought the new bag. They do eat a lot on the flock block.

 

[sebloc]

My rooster is going around pecking all the hens in the butt. Normal? 18 weeks old? Help? We'd rather not have this escalate any further because I'd rather get rid of our rooster before it turns into a deeper relationship. Thanks.

 

[microchick]

Sebloc:

Sounds like a rooster being a rooster to me.

Young roosters have no finesse when it comes to courting the hens. It sounds and looks pretty much like aggression until he figures out what he is supposed to be doing. You have to remember that what looks like 'abuse' to us is normal mating behavior for young roosters and sometimes older ones also.

Right now his hormones are starting to surge and he is reacting to them. Also, he may just be reminding the girls that he is at the top of the pecking order and they are beneath him, once again, normal chicken behavior. Once he matures things will settle down with him.

18 weeks sounds about right for this to start happening to your boy. I just had three roosters that started this behavior at 12 weeks. They are almost 7 months old now and are the flock masters. Still a little pushy but they are growing into fine young roosters and treat the hens well.

If you are not free ranging or planning to brood any of your hens, then re homing your boy is an option. But you cannot beat a good rooster on board if for nothing else, protecting your hens, even if they are in a pen. I wouldn't be without my roosters even though I do not free range our flock due to predators.
I've seen them sound an alarm, herd the hens into a corner of the run under cover then put themselves between the hens and whatever caused them to sound the alarm. No doubt in my mind they would have given their lives for those girl's safety.

 

[uzisuzuki]

Well, apparently Year 2 of chicken keeping is the year of reality for me. My first year was so easy! My 3-4mos olds got attacked by a couple of giant skunks last week and my youngest cockerel was killed in the fight. I'm super distraught about this. He was my "special" little guy (he had the chicken version of scoliosis) and I just really enjoyed his quirkiness. There was a lot of feather damage to the other 2 cockerels, but they and the 2 pullets survived.

I just lost 2 of my favourite hens (1 was this little guy's grandma) just last month, so I guess it's a little much so quickly. I have noticed that since he died, the Ayam Cemani cockerel has finally started to act like a cockerel - he's started crowing and chasing the pullets around.

Anyhow, I'm just sad he's gone and wanted to share him a little here because I really liked him.

 

[MarySue]

Well, apparently Year 2 of chicken keeping is the year of reality for me. My first year was so easy! My 3-4mos olds got attacked by a couple of giant skunks last week and my youngest cockerel was killed in the fight. I'm super distraught about this. He was my "special" little guy (he had the chicken version of scoliosis) and I just really enjoyed his quirkiness. There was a lot of feather damage to the other 2 cockerels, but they and the 2 pullets survived. I just lost 2 of my favourite hens (1 was this little guy's grandma) just last month, so I guess it's a little much so quickly. I have noticed that since he died, the Ayam Cemani cockerel has finally started to act like a cockerel - he's started crowing and chasing the pullets around. Anyhow, I'm just sad he's gone and wanted to share him a little here because I really liked him.

I'm sorry for your losses