Rooster vs Ravens

[April’s Zoo]

but how long does it take for roosters to start protecting their flock? Ravens are still getting into the chicken coop and stealing eggs. Hubby and pop think getting him was a waste of resources but i think he is still a little ypung and not been with the hens long enough?

Roosters don't prevent birds from eating eggs, you have to eliminate the ones eating the eggs, shoot them or trap them, one way to do it is; put a spring trap in a good sized flower pot, cover it with light soil or compost or similar, put eggs on the top and hang it high in a place non target animals "and people" can't access. after eliminating culprits staple a cloth of dark fabric at the entrance of the nesting box "two parts the hens go through them like a curtain"., hens will go through, wild birds won't, they don't go into places if they can't see what is coming in their back, no point putting the cloth before killing the culprits, the ones who tasted the eggs will go through the cloth. The cloth will also prevent hens eating their eggs as they can't really see the eggs

That’s what I thought.... that the rooster’s protective instincts extend only to his mates, not to anything in the nests, especially since generally roo’s don’t ever even *see* what is or isn’t in the nest.... maybe if the ravens were going in to the nest while the hens were there singing their egg song, then the rooster might give a damn.

So, Happypika, sounds like hubby and pop might be right. If you were counting on the roo stopping the eggs from disappearing, then you are going to be disappointed.
Try Naser’s suggestion, above, and see if that helps....

Good luck!

 

[llombardo]

I would think the bird just coming in would cause him to chase him off? If there is a pecking order that needs to be established and a new bird comes in I would think they would go right for it? Or does that only extend to chickens coming in? I know my 4 month old boy pinned one of the younger girls. Don't think it was mating either(but it could have been) I didn't expect that and thinking about it, I almost think he would do the same thing to anything new coming in.