Rooster walks his hens to the nesting box each day, then takes over the nesting box instead of letting them lay their egg?

[Lyris]

Mausoleum is a very dedicated little guy. Each day he walks the hens to the shed they use a coop and guards it while they lay their egg. Then he walks them back to the flock. He will even happily sing their egg song with them. I put in some proper nesting boxes for the girls a while back, which they're finally using. A few times I've gone out there and have found Mausoleum sitting in the nesting box while the hen frantically looks for another place. (They have eight nesting boxes and only use one because why not) He used to walk his hen to the nesting boxes, but since she's now sitting on eggs he walks everyone else over. I can't tell if he's bullying them, saving the nesting box for his favorite hen (I don't know that he has a new favorite) or if he now thinks he is a hen and is going to lay an egg. It's not typically a huge issue since the hen just decides she will lay later and leave, but I'm curious. Why would a rooster take over the nesting box?? Is there a biological reason he might be doing it? Is he just a jerk? He's been an incredibly sweet rooster and loving to the hens, even if he's low in the pecking order and they don't respect him. (Seriously, he avoids my top hen like the plague and respects her authority over him)

Sorry for the ramble - Penelope is still sick and is currently chilling on my lap yelling at me.

 

[DobieLover]

He will even happily sing their egg song with them

The 'egg song' is an escort call. It's an instinct. In a natural environment the cockerel/rooster would forage with his harem. When one left to lay an egg, the flock may have moved on so she issues an escort call. He answers to acknowledge her and comes to escort her back to the flock. Even if it's on the floor of the coop under the nest boxes.

he's low in the pecking order

He's not part of it.

It sounds like you have a cockerel who is still learned without aid of a rooster. The older hen is teaching him manners. It sounds like he's coming along very well.

When he gets in the nest box, does he wiggle around in there a little? Does he make the tid bitting noise? He's likely telling the hens "look at this great place I found for you to lay eggs". I had a little sebright rooster that absolutely loved to hang out with the girls when they were laying.

 

[WthrLady]

Yep, he's mansplaining the perfect nesting site.
Mine, who is 5 was telling his 5 year old sisters how awesome laying eggs in between the blades of the snowblower would be, while they just rolled their eyes as they walked by. I swear I heard one say, 'earl, you're an idiot.'

 

[MiraBella Ranch]

I love your rooster story...."is he just a jerk?" ha ha!

I have these fake wooden eggs and I put one in each of 4 nesting boxes...I still have some empty nesting boxes...Usually I find most of the freshly layed eggs together in one box, but the nests with a fake egg usually have an egg or two. No one uses the empty nests.

 

[Possum-Pie]

I agree with others...Doubt he is being disagreeable, my Roo feels he needs to show hens every good place to scratch, every treat, when to come in to the coop, and when to leave. I've seen him in a nesting box once or twice, I chalk it up to embracing his feminine side b/c he doesn't stay. I must say the "WOO HOO!!! I laid an egg" song the hens and roo sing multiple times a day gets a bit annoying, but I know it is instinct...Better for ALL hens to lay in one general area so any broody hen can gather a clutch and sit on them.
WthrLady, I refuse to name my chickens, (already too attached to them) but if I did I LOVE the name "Earl" for a rooster.

 

[RcoM]

Thanks for all these beautiful stories! It seems I have a young, dedicated rooster too! He is doing all these things. I came here trying to find out if a rooster making a nest "all nice and scratched up and calling to the girls to convince them", was normal. I really want one to go broody and I am hoping yesterday's indecisiveness by one hen, and his concern to help find the "best nest" is maybe a sign. She usually just lays in the same place. And eventually she did. But this is the first time I have seen him so concerned about convincing his lady over a nest!!! PS I adore all my flock and I really like roosters. I only have one now. Hopefully not for long.

 

[prairiemeadow]

Yep, he's mansplaining the perfect nesting site.
Mine, who is 5 was telling his 5 year old sisters how awesome laying eggs in between the blades of the snowblower would be, while they just rolled their eyes as they walked by. I swear I heard one say, 'earl, you're an idiot.'

you're so funny, i'm going to enjoy this site!

 

[kbroom]

I love your rooster story...."is he just a jerk?" ha ha!

I have these fake wooden eggs and I put one in each of 4 nesting boxes...I still have some empty nesting boxes...Usually I find most of the freshly layed eggs together in one box, but the nests with a fake egg usually have an egg or two. No one uses the empty nests.

Someone stole my wooden eggs and I replaced them with plastic eggs. The hens don't seem to care.

 

[prairiemeadow]

i

I agree with others...Doubt he is being disagreeable, my Roo feels he needs to show hens every good place to scratch, every treat, when to come in to the coop, and when to leave. I've seen him in a nesting box once or twice, I chalk it up to embracing his feminine side b/c he doesn't stay. I must say the "WOO HOO!!! I laid an egg" song the hens and roo sing multiple times a day gets a bit annoying, but I know it is instinct...Better for ALL hens to lay in one general area so any broody hen can gather a clutch and sit on them.
WthrLady, I refuse to name my chickens, (already too attached to them) but if I did I LOVE the name "Earl" for a rooster.

I think Earl's a great name too! .I love my one rooster i call "Raul" - it is an ancient name meaning " wolf counsel" And he's the big mouth on the place, and when it's time for the hens to start laying, he will be one of those parading around to show them where to lay, I'm sure.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Thanks for all these beautiful stories! It seems I have a young, dedicated rooster too! He is doing all these things. I came here trying to find out if a rooster making a nest "all nice and scratched up and calling to the girls to convince them", was normal. I really want one to go broody and I am hoping yesterday's indecisiveness by one hen, and his concern to help find the "best nest" is maybe a sign. She usually just lays in the same place. And eventually she did. But this is the first time I have seen him so concerned about convincing his lady over a nest!!! PS I adore all my flock and I really like roosters. I only have one now. Hopefully not for long.

Careful what you wish for...I had 1 broody last year, 1 broody the year before, and 10 broodys this year. 1 of which that hatched chicks and immediately went broody again that I had to break.
It went viral!

Still waiting for Kong to go broody...