Two explicit rooster/hen questions

[jonezjollyfarm]

There seems to be two kind of roosters in my opinion, one likes to shag and nothing else, he spends his days trying to sneak up on as many hens as he can, he's there for himself, I don't care for these roosters. The other kind will be loved and adored by the hens, he dances and asks if he can mate, he looks out for the girls, giving them bits of stuff he's found, testing any new foods, mine won't eat anything not familiar until a rooster tries it first. I really like this kind of rooster. Now you want to know what he contributes, he contributes stability, he will intervene in any squabbles, he gets them all in at night, my head rooster will not go in the shed until all the hens are in, I have seen him come out and round up stragglers. A Rooster will also help with the introduction of new hens to the flock. I think it makes a calmer flock, and when I walk into the shed my roosters scatter and my hens come forward, I am head of the flock. When there is no rooster a head hen will take over sometimes to the point of mounting other hens, but I have seen such hens as stressed and mean, and are happy when a rooster finally takes over again. My opinion is wait and see what you have, my advice, don't be his friend, you will be the competition. Chickens have a breeding season, peaks in early spring and fall to almost nothing in the winter, and a rooster will breed almost anyone available, but they seem to develop favorites most of them are lower on the pecking order, as he provides protection from other hens. I think that's all, anyways I like roosters.

that was very well said. I fount it very interesting.

 

[cate1124]

Hey, Old Hen

How long does it take you to know what kind of rooster you have? Mine is 4. 5 months old, and there is no courtship going on; he just chases down and gets on a hen, and I have not seen anything indicating they like it. I've seen him grab a hen by the head feathers, too, and pull, though all of this is behavior - including mating -- is episodic rather than continual.

Is this kind of behavior due to youth and hormones? Is it something he might outgrow in becoming the other kind of rooster? I would not mind having a rooster who did the wing dance and "asked" about mating. I have seen turkeys do this, and wild birds, but never a chicken. The hens squat for me, but not for him.

He is easy for me to handle and I would say, generally sweet-tempered. He does not seem to view me as the competition, even though we are friendly with each other.

 

[cate1124]

Thanks for the observation on fertile eggs; of course, you are right. I would prefer to not eat fertile eggs; it's hard not to think of their potential. But my greater concern is that the act of being breeded might increase my hens' tendency to go broody, and that it would be exceptionally stressful to "break" them when they are setting on eggs that are actually viable. It always feels a little harsh to me to break a broody hen, even knowing her eggs aren't fertile; she so wants to incubate them. So I do not like the prospect of forcing a hen off viable eggs she is even more powerfully inclined to set.

And, I realize: If ever I want to go on vacation for even a few days, a hen may start setting, and chicks may start developing. That's not something I can expect a chicken-sitter to catch. I really don't want to be faced with that.

 

[donrae]

I agree with you on not wanting to break a broody. I very rarely do it, but then I'm set up for raising chicks and treasure my broodies, they're my queen mommas

. I did have to break my little bantam hen one fall, it was November (just not a great time of year, right?) and my health was not good for having more birds. She was so determined she tried to brood in the feeder....



bout killed me to not let her be a momma.....



but she got to have babies the following spring and was happy as a lark....

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Fertilized eggs taste the same as nonfertilized, development of any kind does not start until incubation, all my eggs have potential, only so many chickens one can have, and I think it's hard for a hen to be broody, it seems to be a compulsion, when I first notice it into the broody breaking box she goes, 3-5 days later out she comes, back to normal. Most of my chickens will sit on nothing, they just want to sit, they get crazy, it doesn't look pleasant to them unless they actually have eggs, don't feel bad, and you really don't need to be there while they set or hatch, chickens know what they're doing, you just provide food and water

 

[cate1124]

Yes, it certainly does appear to be a compulsion! The vacation/necessary absence thing is a real concern. I'm a solo chicken-keeper, and I would feel terrible if I were gone a few days, during which a hen began setting viable eggs, and the chicks began developing. I could not allow them to hatch -- I'm not set up for more chickens, especially more potential roos! -- and pulling her off the nest at that point would be heart-rending for both of us. Absent fertile eggs, I'm otherwise ambivalent about broodiness; it gives a hen a little production rest without the risk of chicks developing. So I will sometimes let a broody hen set for a few days before caging her.

 

[cate1124]

Great story and photos of your little hen! Thank you for sharing. I hope that your health has improved and that, in any case, you are still taking joy in your flock.

 

[aart]

Sounds like you don't need a rooster, so get rid of him - the sooner the better as he's just an adolescent harassing the girls.
An adult rooster usually won't attempt to breed a sexually immature pullet.

It won't keep a hen from going broody tho, that's just hormones and the inclination to brood will vary depending on individual hens.

 

[cate1124]

Thanks for chiming in!