Rooster Question

[Sandigee]

Just discovered that my new chicken is a rooster although so far a very quiet rooster - a couple short crowing attempts in the morning and maybe one in the late afternoon. He is quite large and gorgeous - a Black Copper Maran. Skittish, but calms down once he is caught. A couple of nights when I have gone to check that all is well at bedtime, I have found him perched on top of the coop. Before the crowing started he was always inside next to the two BFF hens. Is this typical? Should I just leave him be? Thanks!

 

[FortCluck]

You should put him back inside the coop at night. He will learn that’s where he should go.

How big is your coop? Is it large enough for all your chickens? Are there enough roosting bars so everyone is comfortable with enough roost space?

 

[Sandigee]

Coop house is inside a screen room and sits up high. Only 2 hens and plenty of room for everyone to sleep. He's been sleeping there all along and usually going up first. Just started roosting on the top of the house the last few nights. I have put him inside and he stays. Thanks.

 

[aart]

Only 2 hens and plenty of room for everyone to sleep.

Good ventilation too?

 

[Sandigee]

Yes -- the roof completely opens and for summer I prop it up a bit and it also has a small door with wire on it. There is a ramp that leads down to a small "coop" area also all wire so air comes up through that way as well. House is set up on a platform in a large hardware screen house. This was just a new development from this new "little" roo after he crowed. He used to be the first one up. Last night again found him perched outside and he went right up and stayed when I put him by the ramp and stayed all night.

 

[aart]

Yes -- the roof completely opens and for summer I prop it up a bit and it also has a small door with wire on it.

Is it still predator proof with the roof lifted?
Guessing it may be kinda small as your 'little' birds get larger.

Oh, and...Welcome to BYC! @Sandigee
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[Sandigee]

Just changed my info -- located in Southern California. My hens are fully grown and this roo was a chick my husband brought home from a motorcycle ride in his tank bag 11 weeks ago - he was probably 6 weeks old. Just crowed for the first time last week - we were hoping for another hen even though we knew he was too pretty for that! Yes, everything is totally secure. This chicken house has 2 nest boxes and a roost for 4 full grown chickens. Very secure as it is inside a large screen house which was originally built to house growing vegetables to keep squirrels and rabbits at bay. Has a brick floor -- mice still get in and the occasional frog or lizard. For the summer I have a built-in cool coop with a dirt floor for baths which is in a concrete patio area that has cement block walls, a mister for the concrete to keep it cooler, and wind that blows through the "tunnel" at the back of the house. These birds are quite spoiled and pretty sweet. The rooster is still a bit spooky, but fine once I get a hold of him.

 

[Sandigee]

Okay, just figured out why my poor roo is outside the chicken house. When I went to check last night and put him in, Ellie is intimidating him and almost pushes him out. I can contain him in the open area area underneath the chicken house and then he'll go up first and then opening up the door after it gets dark and letting the hens go up. That way they'll be a little drowsy and just want to go to sleep?

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

Okay, just figured out why my poor roo is outside the chicken house. When I went to check last night and put him in, Ellie is intimidating him and almost pushes him out. I can contain him in the open area area underneath the chicken house and then he'll go up first and then opening up the door after it gets dark and letting the hens go up. That way they'll be a little drowsy and just want to go to sleep?

That sounds about right. Some females are bossing around the rooster, nothing special.
That sounds like a good plan. If it doesn’t work you can always try something else.