Rooster dance

[iam4hymn]

Newby questions here. Every single morning when I open the coop the rooster comes zipping out and chases the closest hen in a mad race around the yard. He then does his rooster dance with all the girls for the first 10 minutes they are out of the coop. Is this normal rooster behavior? Is he afraid they are going to forget overnight that he is top dog and wants to remind them? Also, I have 1 hen who is 4th down in the pecking order but she constantly chases and challenges the rooster. He rarely gets lucky with her and if he does it is a sneak attack. Are some hens more dominant than the roo?

 

[Tanichca]

He's actually showing off for you. He's trying to show you that he's in charge of the coop, not you. You might need to take him down a peg or two. A cocky rooster like that would eventually pose a physical threat to you, and could bite or spur you or another person. Dance right back, and then scratch his hens' backs until they squat for you. Make sure that you're the top bird in the coop, absolutely unchallenged- he'll still mate with the hens and protect them, but he will definitely know his place in the pecking order.


As for the hen, it's possible that she's just cantankerous and mean. Some hens are. No worries there.

 

[GitaBooks]

My rooster likes to count all his hens and remind them who is boss each morning also.

Some hens can be very bossy.

 

[aart]

My roosters have always sought a little morning action out in the run.
I am out of sight at the time, so I don't think it's a human dominance thing.

 

[chicksurreal]

My roosters do this as well. They aren't challenging me, but they do chase the girls around a bit after they come out of the coop.

I have one Delaware pullet that will try to hop on the roos back, he just looks at her like she's nutty. Lol!