What is "Normal" Rooster behaviour?

[OneHeart]

Hi, I am new to this form of communicating & find it very helpful so thank you all. We have 16 hens that were healthy & happy & great egg layers. We recently introduced a 1 year old rooster to the flock (who have never had a rooster) The girls are also 1 year now. Along with introducing the new rooster, we introduced his sibling a hen. They lived with a previous owner of 4 hens & 3 roosters. They separated the rooster we now have along with the hen we now have. Then hen was not welcomed by the other hens & she was picked on & so was the rooster. He was the underdog. So both lived together alone. They both have unclipped beaks. We cannot pick them up at all. They are not used to being around people it seems. Our 16 girls are very friendly and always happy to see us. Since the introduction of the rooster & hen. All #&#*#$&%# has broken loose. Our girls are getting badly hurt and they are no longer happy. We have had to remove one girl because her head has a big gaping open wound, (which thanks to this website we knew what to do) she is removed from the flock for now. 2 other girls heads are featherless & are looking like their skin is going to split open as well. We thought having a rooster would be a good thing, and now we are not sure what to do. Is is normal rooster behaviour to be on the girls so much, he is at them constantly and they are so stressed out. Please can you tell me what having a good rooster for the flock would be llike???Sorry for this long write up, I just wanted to get all information out there. We need help???

 

[sourland]

Some roosters are just extremely sexually aggressive and this results in wear and tear on the hens. Having roosters in the flock is just not for some people.

 

[SouthernBYChickens]

Okay. We ordered 18 chicks back in November from a hatchery. We raised them up and then it turned out that one was a rooster. We thought that it would be kind of neat to hear him and watch him because he turned out to be a real beautiful bird. Anyway, when his "manhood" finally kicked in, it was like someone just flipped his switch and then set it on turbo. He would strut around all day and "date" as many as he could fit in during that day. It got to where it was getting on our nerves, until one day it kind of was too much. I went down there and noticed that one of my favorite Delaware's head was bleeding from the comb. That was enough for me. I since removed him from the flock and traded him to the local feed store for a 50lb. of feed. I still got something for him and I know the girls are a little less stressed now. Unless you are just wanting to hatch out your own chicks from one of your own hens who is broody, there is really no reason to have a rooster in there if you don't enjoy the natural "birds and bees" theme. Just my two cents...

 

[Mrs. K]

if you can get through the teen age months. It will get much better. And then you will understand the positive rooster posts. The teens are hard on the girls, but unless they are bleeding, just let it go, if you can let them out to free range a bit, seems to help, a small space will make it worse.

but they do get over the jumping on all the time. Then you see the pretty dance, the calling the hens, and the protection. But really until they are about 14 months, it can be a bit rough.

I have a dandy, called Captain, but now I am starting to worry, if something happens to him, I will be back at the raising another teen. ugh.

MrsK

 

[NYREDS]

Normal rooster behavior, like normal human behavior is a range not a point.The behavior in the OP is on the curve of normal behavior. However, if you don't plan to hatch chicks there's no reason to keep a male with your flock. The notion that a rooster will protect the flock from preditors is romantic nonsense.

 

[duckinnut]

Normal rooster behavior, like normal human behavior is a range not a point.The behavior in the OP is on the curve of normal behavior. However, if you don't plan to hatch chicks there's no reason to keep a male with your flock. The notion that a rooster will protect the flock from preditors is romantic nonsense.

Totally agree with the first part of your paragraph and partially agree with the last. While a rooster may not necessarily protect the hens from a predator they will keep tabs on what they perceive as a threat to the flock and warn them accordingly. But only speaking for my rooster as I have seen him in action warning the girls,sometimes warranted sometimes not. But it is good to know that he looks over them while they feed. I can only assume that most roosters would do the same much as their romantic tendencies are a range, their oversight of the flock would range as well. As they are all different and react to their own will.

 

[deek]

if you can get through the teen age months. It will get much better. And then you will understand the positive rooster posts. The teens are hard on the girls, but unless they are bleeding, just let it go, if you can let them out to free range a bit, seems to help, a small space will make it worse.

but they do get over the jumping on all the time. Then you see the pretty dance, the calling the hens, and the protection. But really until they are about 14 months, it can be a bit rough.

I have a dandy, called Captain, but now I am starting to worry, if something happens to him, I will be back at the raising another teen. ugh.

MrsK

If you removed them as soon as you know they're a cockerel, and then reintroduce at 14 mths, would they act like teenagers or would they be more settled? Just hoping...

 

[ChicKat]

Hi Oneheart -

Welcome to the BYC forum.

My experience is only with two roosters. The young one I have now is really non-harmful to the hens. He is pretty amazing.

The one that is a bit older was good--but not as great as the little guy I have now. There was one hen that the old(er) rooster was tearing into pretty badly.

My original intention was not to put up with a rooster at all because of the disruption that you cite in the original post.


Just as a FYI for us---I saw a video of an amazing rooster from an amazing BYC member.

Check this post on an amazing rooster--- the first video in post #3 of this thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/666149/first-rooster-attack#post_8993752

That being said---until you get a superb rooster, then remove the rooster from the flock IMO. Best luck with your situation.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Introducing new birds is always stressful. Pecking order WILL be disturbed. In my opinion, you can't fully or necessarily blame the roo in this case. Hens can be nasty too. If it were me, I'd introduce the new pair in a cage or crate, so everybody can get to know each other without being able to do a whole lot of damage. It also sounds like your new pair are not used to humans and need some time to socialize and build trust. I'm not sure what options you have but bribery is my advice. LOADS of hand fed treats and patience. Your new pair needs to learn that you are a friend. But they need to be captive and isolated or they will just run away.

 

[speckledhen]

Any rooster who is too hard on the hens is not the one you want, IMO. Some are just too "motivated" to breed.


Now as to this statement:


Quote: If you actually free range your birds, which NYReds does not, to my knowledge, that statement may be only partially correct. Can a rooster protect the flock? Well, most will certainly try, though they will lose their lives in the process.

The main benefit to a rooster in that regard is they spend 80-90% of their time just watching the skies and surroundings while the hens stuff their faces, so they see danger before their hens do, usually, and sound the alarm. Most will try to get the hens (and themselves) to safety, but if the danger is upon them, many will hit it head on, allowing the hens more time to save themselves, but losing their own lives; however sad that may be, that is their function, other than fertilizing eggs.

Case in point, from a friend whose rooster has battled canine predators on more than one occasion and lived to tell the tale, though this rooster is a rare fellow, indeed:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/521876/why-have-a-rooster-new-pg-10-video-pg-13
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/525626/fox-football-anyone