The roosters role in the flock

[Hei 20]

Very interesting!
Is he your only chicken?

Yes, the other 3 eggs did not make it.

 

[WaveyCreekChickens]

Yes, the other 3 eggs did not make it.

Aww, that’s too bad! But as long as HE is happy and has TV!

 

[NatJ]

when it comes to regular food, he pecks the hens so they leave. He will go to the food as soon as a hen goes to the food, as if she reminded him of it. (The food is always available.) Then he makes her leave.

If you only have one feeder, you could try adding a second one, far enough away that he can't guard both at once.

 

[Coops Dad]

My rooster calls his ladies to food, watches for hawks, dogs and cats, and keeps the hens from scrapping too much. He used to be human aggressive but he's been cured of that. He's turned out to be a good bird. Blue Andalusian/Jersey Black Giant mix.
I've even learned the difference between a "hawk!" call and a "cat/dog!" call, and been able to deploy appropriate countermeasures because of my newfound fluency in chickenese.

 

[WaveyCreekChickens]

My rooster calls his ladies to food, watches for hawks, dogs and cats, and keeps the hens from scrapping too much. He used to be human aggressive but he's been cured of that. He's turned out to be a good bird. Blue Andalusian/Jersey Black Giant mix.
I've even learned the difference between a "hawk!" call and a "cat/dog!" call, and been able to deploy appropriate countermeasures because of my newfound fluency in chickenese.

Sounds like a good guy! Mine does all that in the summer, but was never human aggressive.

 

[WaveyCreekChickens]

If you only have one feeder, you could try adding a second one, far enough away that he can't guard both at once.

Yeah, that is my backup plan if he gets worse.

 

[WaveyCreekChickens]

If you only have one feeder, you could try adding a second one, far enough away that he can't guard both at once.

Twice a day they get 3 plates of the layer feed moistened with milk or whey, and between 9 birds everyone gets a chance to eat. This is in addition to the bucket feeder that is out all day. You would think Gonzalo is fed enough food...

 

[WaveyCreekChickens]

I now serve their “wet” food on 5 plates/bowls. The rooster does a lot better that way, and the hens have lots of options.
Another thing I have tried that worked was fed him ahead of feeding time, and it took the edge off his hunger/aggression.

 

[LaFleche]

When he keeps the hens from eating after he had a bunch of food

I just butchered my otherwise very good senior rooster for the same behaviour: he stuffed himself with food until he would almost fall over and still went to pick the hens away from the feeder.
During the past three years he was a very watchful, protective and caring rooster, so I took the time and watched his behaviour for almost two weeks until I had seen enough.
The moulting hens getting starved and even slightly injured while he was getting bigger and fatter by the day. He turned out to be extremely heavy with enormous fat pads.

I do not know what led to this change of behaviour, maybe an injury to the head that he sustained while protecting his hens from a hawk attack some weeks ago.

 

[CheerioTheBuffRooster]

My rooster is an interesting lil dude.
He's a 7-month-old Buff Orpington cockerel named Cheerio. I've never once seen him peck anyone, but that's probably because I'm pretty sure he hasn't matured yet. Though he never gets pecked or pushed around by the hens, which means they respect him.
There is one Rhode Island Red who is a real bully in our flock. She likes to strut around pecking the other hens hard on the face. We just ordered some blinders which help with that.
Anyway, Cheerio doesn't like the "squabbles" that break out between the hens, so he will just push his way into the middle and they calm down. I laugh every time I see that happen because the hens will stop picking on each other when he intervenes, but they always seem so annoyed when he does it.
Cheerio is great around people and even little kids. I know some roosters can be really aggressive towards small children because of their size, but he's really good about it. He doesn't like being caught but allows you to hold him once you have him.