Rooster vs Ravens

[Happypika]

I am new here so I hope im posting this in the right spot... I tried googling this over and over with different phrasing and I can't it find an answer anywhere?

I got a new rooster about 1 week ago, we had him checked out by a vet before actually bring him home, he was clear of mites/lice/disease so she said it was okay to put him with the hens that day. His spurs are maybe about 1/2" to 1" inch long, so we think he might only be a year old or so... 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?

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

You should not immediately put a rooster or any new bird in with an existing flock. They will fight and attack each other and can seriously injure or kill one another. Let them be separate, but in view of each other. I did this with my hens after my roo was killed. I received a new roo and had them separate, but watching each other for 3-4 days. I let him out and he did fight with one of my feisty hens for .5 seconds and all was fine. It took him about a month to get the idea of his job - BUT my roo was very young. He was 5 months old and followed the hens around basically. Your roo should do a better job because he is atleast 1 year old. Roosters start with a dull nub for a spur and have a nice defined spur around the age of 1. It will grow in length every year. He could accidentally hurt your hens with it to mate so I would keep them separate for 1-2 weeks. If your hens are not used to a rooster at all it may take the hens longer to get used to him! lol.

I do believe he will protect your hens esp since he is older. It does depend on his breed also. What breed is he?

 

[Happypika]

We didnt set him in there immediately, actually we let him have free range of the yard while the hens are in an uncovered run. We left the xxl dog cennel out with straw we used to bring him home in next to the run which he staied in for 2 nights but he flew over the fence himself. We tried to kick him out 4-5 times before giving up. The rooster and hens never fought though. And actually i think it's been about closer to 3wks we had him now...

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

I laugh because I had my rooster in a XXL dog kennel too haha. Sounds like everything went well! Your rooster is already grown with spurs and will protect his ladies if he is a good rooster. I have seen some run away with hens and I have found blood in the snow from a violent fight with a rooster holding his ground. What breed is your rooster?

 

[Happypika]

He is a RIR, lol I though it was a great idea and didnt give it a second thought and hubby comes out "THATS what your gonna put him in??" What else am I gonna do carry him for 30 mins for the ride home

 

[Kat C]

Despite having game blood mixed in our flock our roosters seem more interested in fighting each other than doing any protecting from predators other than giving warning when a hawk flies over or roosts near the flock We have had hens stand their ground when they have chicks which usually is fatal for the hen. Did find one rooster flat on his back with a hawk on him. Maybe he was trying to defend and not successful. But we don't have ravens so perhaps our roos would drive them off. Since we have several roosters loose in the yard perhaps their preoccupation about who is mating who takes over. Lots of times one roo will knock another off a hen. Or sneak up on another roo to whack him to keep up the dominance thing....

 

[April’s Zoo]

I’m not sure, but does a rooster’s protective nature extend to the eggs? I know they’ll watch their hens, but do they notice or care about what’s going on in the nest boxes if the hens aren’t actually in the nest?

 

[RWise]

I would not expect a rooster to protect eggs from ravens. Even hens will not protect an egg, unless she is broody.
If you can pop off a shotgun at or near them (no need to actually shoot one) they will go away, and will learn to stay away,, firecrackers may work as well,,,

 

[Naser]

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

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

He is a RIR, lol I though it was a great idea and didnt give it a second thought and hubby comes out "THATS what your gonna put him in??" What else am I gonna do carry him for 30 mins for the ride home

lol You can also put them in a sack or kennel.