What is he trying to do?

[ajplmama]

The background is that I have 17 hens and 4 roosters. 2 roosters are supposed to be phoenixes and they stick pretty much with their 4 hens. The other 2 roosters get along if they remember to stay out of each other's territory during the day. One (RIR) is inside and one (Wyandotte) is out. At night everyone comes in to roost. The all seem to have worked out permanent sleeping arrangements and are always in the same place when I close the door for the night. 4 phoenix hens in the rafters, 3 RIR hens and one sussex on the top of the half wall of the goat pen, 2 phoenix roos, RIR roo, 3 sussex hens, 1 RIR and 2 wyandotte hens on the 3 level roost.

That leaves the outside rooster and 2 wyandotte hens. He keeps them on the floor in the corner. Sometimes they are almost on top of each other he has them pushed so far into the corner. If they try to get up he pecks them back down and he sits on the floor in front of them all night long as far as I can tell.

Any ideas what he's doing? Why? What if I put a low roost across that corner. Maybe he'd let them up on it?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Awwwww, he wants to cuddle.

 

[gritsar]

Try putting a roost down there for them if you want to roost. My guess is he considers those two HIS hens and wants to keep them under his control.

 

[GreenGoddess]

Quote:

That's ok.. Not to hijack your thread or anything but I've got 1 5 month old roo, a 3 month old roo and three 3 month old pullets.. I've noticed that just like yours, they are always in the same spot on the roost and in the same order every single night... But the funny thing is, while the pullets are getting nice and comfy cozy and getting some shuteye, the two roos are standing on the roost between them and the fencing.. STANDING!! It's like they are always watching out for the girls.. Even when the dogs wake me up at 3:30 am.. They are both still standing!! Do we just have a bunch of overprotective controlling roos?


Goddess

 

[ajplmama]

Just what I need! Mr. Overcontrolling!