Rooster making a nest...

[RWise]

I have seen a hen get the roo and take him to a new nest box, he inspected it inside and out, went in and made a nest and (looked like) he gave his approval. No body used it though. I have seen my cockerel doing this as well with his pullets.

 

[debid]

Yep, my rooster did that. It drove me crazy because he picked corners on the floor of the coop and lots of undesirable places out in the yard. Good for hiding eggs to brood on the sly, bad for collecting! I was glad they didn't listen to him. My favorite was how excited he got over a tipped trash can.

 

[acsinos]

Several of our roosters do this. They make nests for the hens and coax them in, showing them its a "good" spot to lay. Often, we'll see one of the roosters nestled down with the hen, encouraging her while she's laying. Once the egg is laid, they fully participate in the "Egg Announcement", squawking right along with the hen. Both our outside OEG roosters do it and our little bantam cochin rooster has started cheering on the girls here lately. I caught our black silkie and our mille fleur bantam rooster in nest boxes today, purring and cooing, trying to lure a hen in. Its so cute to watch. It seems like the older roosters (1 yr +) are more apt to do it than the younger ones (we have 9 right now ranging from 5 months to just 1.5 years). Maybe they mature with age and become more chivalrous?

 

[Mattemma]

Our roo would go into the nestbox and talk to the ladies.

 

[theron99]

Mine are 5 months old now and getting ready to lay. I just finished my nesting boxes last night because the were doing the super loud bok bok bok beegok sound and you can tell they're getting ready. My barred rock roo has sense made them into little nests and also other corners of the coupe. If I mess up the corners he promptly makes them back. He is so nice to them and is also the only one I can pick up or pet without him flinching or even making a sound.

 

[cjlauder]

I just googled that question and came to this answer...its so funny b/c I have a miniature rooster and he started doing the same thing, except he's been in the box all day getting it ready!

 

[JeanR]

When pullets or hens are laying, they are most fertile immediately after laying their egg--. Few realize that this is why the rooster urges entry to the nest (hurry up and lay an egg), and even gets in the nest as described, singing:: " come on 'a my house, my house 'a come on". ... He wants to be first in line (whether or not there is more than one rooster in the pen), to have the next egg contain HIS offspring. The vent is still extended after passing the egg, and thus the mating is sure to be a success to fertilize the next egg! Not all roosters do this, but many do--and hens accept it! Several hens? Often a rooster has a favorite........

 

[casey197530]

My ee rooster just made a nest under the boxes and was purring and cooing to them it was very sweet

 

[AKfishchic]

So funny! I just caught my young ameraucana roo doing this the other day in a plastic milk crate. I have 3 best boxes for my 7 girls and noticed this nest like indentation in the crate the other day but never saw an egg there. Then I saw him go in there, scratch around, cooing, and two of the hens came over to check it out! Maybe they don't approve because I've never seen an egg there but at least he tries! So cute.

 

[shortgrass]

When pullets or hens are laying,  they are most fertile immediately after laying their egg--.   Few realize that this is why the rooster urges entry to the nest (hurry up and lay an egg), and even gets in the nest as described,  singing:: " come on 'a my house, my house 'a come on". ...  He wants to be first in line (whether or not there is more than one rooster in the pen),  to have the next egg contain HIS offspring.  The vent is still extended after passing the egg, and thus the mating is sure to be a success to fertilize the next egg! Not all roosters do this, but many do--and hens accept it!  Several hens?  Often a rooster has a favorite........

Great point

Mine have alwaysade a "nest", but not all of them have done it for a nesting box, but a roosting spot. I had a Red Star roo that insisted on making a nest away from the roost on top of the boxes so he could sleep sitting in a nest lol; usually had 3 or 4 girls cuddled with him

Now I have a bigger flock, and more roos, so its neat to watch how some hens prefer a certain roo and will even fight for the spot next to him on the roost. But the boys pick who sits next to them, and its always the same line up. Neat because my bottom hen in the pecking order skipped up to top hen by just adding a roo that seems to prefer her, "Momma" now gets prime spot right next to my Alpha roo. So nice since she's my only bantam and always got picked on so much; now she's the queen

The Hamburg roo makes the nest and lures his Hamburg girls in to lay, but my Andalusian makes sure everyone has been mated with first thing in the morning, so its funny to watch Pete(Hamburg) get all mad when he's in the coop wooing the girls but they hop out the door and Blue(my Andalusian) is sitting right there waiting for them