When will my cockerel protect the flock?

[Kessel23]

He is a Rhode Island Red and he does crow but maybe I’m not understanding what he “should be doing”. I assumed he would set off a warning and I’d see them all run to the coop. But I haven’t seen that. They do walk around as a flock so I’d imagine he must be in some sort of control. Is it possible they might hide under my trees instead of going to their coop? I just never see them actually do anything when the hawks are out, it seems strange but maybe I’m not giving him the opportunity if I run out too soon. Thanks for the info

The top 3 species of chicken hawk in America don't hunt from the skies, they hunt from the trees. Wild red jungle fowl live in pretty heavily wooded areas, the raptors around there also hunt from the trees. When the rooster makes that call it gets the hens to look up, they will decide whether or not to run. Hens won't run if the bird is soaring up in the sky because that is usually not a hunting bird and they feel there is a safe distance between them. I have only ever seen the hens run 3 times, once was the first time my rooster made the call. Second time, a low flying red tailed hawk came around the corner of the woods and was around 10 feet off the ground, the hens thought he was hunting and they ran. Other times I have actually seen sharp shinned and cooper's hawks hunting. I had one cockerel attack a sharp shinned hawk once, early this winter, he spooked him off. That cockerel was only a 6 month old. Not all roosters will become protective, I also had a sharp shinned hawk attack this summer and I had 21 cockerels/roosters 6 of them were mature roosters, well over a year, oldest was 4 at the time, not one stepped in, they all sat around making alarm calls and coming close but then backing off.

 

[Kelliejanine]

The top 3 species of chicken hawk in America don't hunt from the skies, they hunt from the trees. Wild red jungle fowl live in pretty heavily wooded areas, the raptors around there also hunt from the trees. When the rooster makes that call it gets the hens to look up, they will decide whether or not to run. Hens won't run if the bird is soaring up in the sky because that is usually not a hunting bird and they feel there is a safe distance between them. I have only ever seen the hens run 3 times, once was the first time my rooster made the call. Second time, a low flying red tailed hawk came around the corner of the woods and was around 10 feet off the ground, the hens thought he was hunting and they ran. Other times I have actually seen sharp shinned and cooper's hawks hunting. I had one cockerel attack a sharp shinned hawk once, early this winter, he spooked him off. That cockerel was only a 6 month old. Not all roosters will become protective, I also had a sharp shinned hawk attack this summer and I had 21 cockerels/roosters 6 of them were mature roosters, well over a year, oldest was 4 at the time, not one stepped in, they all sat around making alarm calls and coming close but then backing off.

Good to know. Yeah none have come too close other than a flacon in the yard but the hawks are always circling from high above. Thanks for the info

 

[Alexandra33]

Not to be a downer here, but he may never protect the flock. Not once have my roosters stepped in to save their hens' lives.....they watch hawks decimate one at a time from the safety of the coop or barn. Most I've noticed is an alarm call to warn everyone of impending danger.

5 months deems your cockerel a youngster. He may not have hit maturity yet, in which case, I'd allow a few more months.

~Alex

 

[Kelliejanine]

Not to be a downer here, but he may never protect the flock. Not once have my roosters stepped in to save their hens' lives.....they watch hawks decimate one at a time from the safety of the coop or barn. Most I've noticed is an alarm call to warn everyone of impending danger.

5 months deems your cockerel a youngster. He may not have hit maturity yet, in which case, I'd allow a few more months.

~Alex

Good to know. Since this is my first time having chickens this information is helpful. Thank you, at least knowing that he might not do anything to protect the flock helps me be alert lol.