Weird rooster is a coward with the ladies?

[ThatParrotLady]

I have a Cochin roo names Penny whom was sold as a female (hah he wasn’t) and since I already had another roo I was bracing to have to get rid of him if the two tried to kill each other. Turns out that’s not so much a problem, he runs from my half silkie roo, he runs from the hens, he runs from everything and danger calls for me when predators are out. He tucks his head down and cowers in corners. But when he’s with his two clutch mates (a d’uccle and another Cochin) he is pretty confident with guarding them. I’m trying to merge their flocks together (buckeye, buff orphs and silkies) at least to the point that the Roos are sharing responsibility for looking over the girls with a giant yard for them to back off in, but I have never met a rooster who is so openly cowardly when it comes to females of his own size. Has anyone else ever come across this?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Bantam Cochin roosters are not aggressive birds, so I am not surprised.

Plus, he is a junior rooster. Your Silkie mixed rooster, being older, and having been established already, is the alpha. Silkies can be assertive birds, and whatever mix, hasn't toned that down.

Thus your Cochin is exhibiting insecurity of a junior status and of trying to fit into the flock. Your Buckeyes are probably pretty mellow, but I've had some pretty snotty Buff Orps, which may be giving him some real hassles.

I would not expect the roos to share duties any time soon. Often junior roos are terrified if they are not really assertive, or aggressive types. Even in good circumstances, the junior roo is always careful to show deference to the senior roo and even senior ladies.

You need to keep an eye out for this little sweetie. It will take some time for him to settle, and you want to be sure he is getting enough food and water.

Personally, I would consider keeping him and his flockmates in a separate pen. It is not always wise to integrate bantams with larger birds as they can get picked on...and I am thinking about your Buff Orps predominately.

My experiences.
LofMc

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[aart]

I have a Cochin roo names Penny whom was sold as a female (hah he wasn’t) and since I already had another roo I was bracing to have to get rid of him if the two tried to kill each other. Turns out that’s not so much a problem, he runs from my half silkie roo, he runs from the hens, he runs from everything and danger calls for me when predators are out. He tucks his head down and cowers in corners. But when he’s with his two clutch mates (a d’uccle and another Cochin) he is pretty confident with guarding them. I’m trying to merge their flocks together (buckeye, buff orphs and silkies) at least to the point that the Roos are sharing responsibility for looking over the girls with a giant yard for them to back off in, but I have never met a rooster who is so openly cowardly when it comes to females of his own size. Has anyone else ever come across this?

How old is he and how long have you had him?

 

[ThatParrotLady]

How old is he and how long have you had him?

He’s 18 weeks and to the other gal he is not a bantam by any stretch he is MAAAASSIVE. He is 8 pounds already and almost dwarfs my orphingtons. They are only together at night and have the option to be together when free ranging, but when unsupervised he is in a separate pen with his two girls. *nods appreciatively*

So I’m not too off by trying and I don’t mind if it never works, I’m buying 5 more females next spring from backyard chickens because I can’t take the heart ache of more Roos and don’t have space for a third coop so hopefully they can both add to their lady groups with the final pack of chickens.

And only one orphingtons is a beat to him. Broody mcBrood Butt (her real name is peaches) will allow him to sit next to her without hen pecking him. Here’s a pic of the son. (He’s the gray boy and the white boy is Houdini he’s a silkie barnvelder mix)

 

[Chickassan]

Enjoy your coward! The other end of the spectrum is craptastic.

 

[aart]

He's young...and subordinate to the other male...and all birds older than him,
especially if he's only been at your place for a short time.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Agree,he is young,most of my young boys do that until about five or six months,they have to gain confidence to fight the hens.

 

[ThatParrotLady]

Thank you guys I appreciate the responses I will stop worrying so much about him then and let him do his thing growing up. And yeah I do not want him to grow up to be a butt mom did not want a second rooster at all and I know how hard they are to rehome. It’d be a shame if that happened considering he’s pretty easy to catch and pick up without fuss and will come and sit on your lap for pets. I would worry about him ending up in a stew pot instead of someone’s dorky child. Thank you for the help!!

 

[aart]

And yeah I do not want him to grow up to be a butt mom did not want a second rooster at all and I know how hard they are to rehome.

Why punctuation is important.

Thank you guys I appreciate the responses I will stop worrying so much about him then and let him do his thing growing up. .....It’d be a shame if that happened considering he’s pretty easy to catch and pick up without fuss and will come and sit on your lap for pets. I would worry about him ending up in a stew pot instead of someone’s dorky child. Thank you for the help!!

Stop cuddling him, can make for aggressive dominance behavior later....
...just "let him do his thing growing up."