Rooster destroying eggs

[StephanieB1220]

A few months back my brooder hatched a bunch of eggs of which we kept 2. Surprise surprise 1 is a rooster and he has started mounting the older hens. We already had a rooster (obviously). We have not witnessed any fighting and they tend to stay across the yard from one another.

Today my older rooster found a clutch of eggs that had been laid on a table. He was seen gripping the eggs in his claws before kicking them off the table. This obviously resulted in the eggs breaking. He did not go and eat them to my knowledge and we don't feed them raw eggs.

So I'm curious if anyone has experienced the same? Is this retaliation for his son now mounting the flock? Or is he just a murderous chicken lol?

 

[HappyClucker7]

I wonder if it's because he doesn't want the other male's genes in the flock?

 

[StephanieB1220]

I wonder if it's because he doesn't want the other male's genes in the flock?

Right?! But then how would he know who fertilized those eggs?

 

[sourland]

Right?! But then how would he know who fertilized those eggs?

He wouldn't.

 

[theoldchick]

Well, I wouldn't allow him to get near the eggs on the table again!

 

[StephanieB1220]

He wouldn't.

Isn't the whole point of the cycle of life to procreate? So why is he destroying fresh eggs?

Well, I wouldn't allow him to get near the eggs on the table again!

Lol well thats hard. They free range and we currently have a broody that has taken over the coop so the other girls lay wherever they deem appropriate and sometimes we can't get right to them. We will definitely try to be more mindful that's for sure!

 

[HappyClucker7]

Right?! But then how would he know who fertilized those eggs?

He definitely doesn't know.

 

[StephanieB1220]

He definitely doesn't know.

I understand there is no way for him to know. The question still remains as to why is he doing it. Is it because there is another male? This has never happened before and he's about a year old, his son is about 5 months.

 

[nuthatched]

Sounds like he was just scratching around, I doubt very much he had a clue what he was doing and it certainly wasn't malicious.

 

[aart]

He, and I, are wondering why is there a pile of eggs on a table?