The nighly roost rumble

[NorthwoodsChick]

My rooster wouldn’t allow a particular hen to roost next to him. He is usually flanked by a couple of higher rank hens, and the one he pecked away was a lower rank. I’ve never seen a rooster save a spot for another hen. Curious if anyone else has a rooster that calls roost space dibs for his favorites?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Oh yeah. I haven’t watched my Leghorn rooster actively dissuade any ladies but only the Light Brahma is allowed to sleep next to him. And I know she’s his favorite because she is missing feathers on the back of her head

 

[fluffycrow]

Every mature and established rooster here did this. Only their favourites roosted right next to them, or under their wings.
Anyone who didn’t obey that rule got a serious peck.

The only exception is the head hen, in my experience. Possibly out of mutual understanding, the head hen was free to roost wherever she pleased, even if that was right next to the senior rooster.
If the head hen was also a favourite of the senior rooster, then its natural that they roosted closely, but in cases here where the head hens were not favoured by the rooster as mates, they were very much respected as partners

 

[Tired old Rooster]

My rooster currently sets himself up between the two three month old chicks and the adult hens, to keep them from getting bullied off the roost.