KristanR
In the Brooder
- Apr 5, 2015
- 19
- 0
- 22
Hey everyone and Happy Easter! 
We added a young rooster (well, the woman I purchased him from was 99.5% sure he's a rooster..lol) yesterday to go with our young hens. Everyone is give or take 2 1/2 months old. Until it's determined that he's NOT a roo..I'm going to call him "Leroy" (jenkins)..he's a nice fellow. I can pet him and hold him.
Anyway, here is my question..he makes it a point to "herd" the girls and will usually put himself between me and them when I'm out there with them. I sat down on that hay bale and he came and sat with me for a little bit (he closed his eyes for a minute too). I got up to make sure their water didn't have a bunch of sticks and such, which made the girls scatter and BOOM..there he was..LOL He "herded" them up into a corner and then stood between me and them. When the neighbors dogs start barking..same routine. He seems to like the smallest of the hens..he gave her a blade of grass (I thought it was really cute) and he sort of sings to her. Is it normal for them to act like this so soon? I understand that the pecking order needs to be established and there is one hen in particular that ruffles up at him, they have a little squabble and then she leaves it alone. But he likes to be near them for the most part and they just keep running from him. It reminds me of that one poor kid at the Jr High Prom asking all the girls to dance and they all just reject him..LOL My final check of the night on them last night before closing up the coop found all of the girls huddled in the corner (like they do EVERY night) and him on the roost above them.
I'm sure this was really more of a statement than a question..LOL I thank you for your time and insight!
We added a young rooster (well, the woman I purchased him from was 99.5% sure he's a rooster..lol) yesterday to go with our young hens. Everyone is give or take 2 1/2 months old. Until it's determined that he's NOT a roo..I'm going to call him "Leroy" (jenkins)..he's a nice fellow. I can pet him and hold him.Anyway, here is my question..he makes it a point to "herd" the girls and will usually put himself between me and them when I'm out there with them. I sat down on that hay bale and he came and sat with me for a little bit (he closed his eyes for a minute too). I got up to make sure their water didn't have a bunch of sticks and such, which made the girls scatter and BOOM..there he was..LOL He "herded" them up into a corner and then stood between me and them. When the neighbors dogs start barking..same routine. He seems to like the smallest of the hens..he gave her a blade of grass (I thought it was really cute) and he sort of sings to her. Is it normal for them to act like this so soon? I understand that the pecking order needs to be established and there is one hen in particular that ruffles up at him, they have a little squabble and then she leaves it alone. But he likes to be near them for the most part and they just keep running from him. It reminds me of that one poor kid at the Jr High Prom asking all the girls to dance and they all just reject him..LOL My final check of the night on them last night before closing up the coop found all of the girls huddled in the corner (like they do EVERY night) and him on the roost above them.
I'm sure this was really more of a statement than a question..LOL I thank you for your time and insight!
