We have 12 roosters total, 9 in a run by themselves (the Stinky Boyz Club, destined for the freezer) and 3 with 26 hens. One of the 3 was not being nice enough to the hens - kept pecking them - so we traded him out for one of the Stinky Boyz. (Both roos are Delawares, the new one is better-marked and the one we wanted to keep anyway.) The new roo immediately went over to the other two roos and emphatically declared that he is now #1; this was accomplished with drama but not much actual fighting. Then he began going up to each hen and dropping one wing and doing a sort of pirouette around the hen - without pecking her or otherwise being aggressive. It looked like a formal dance! The hens looked either baffled or bemused, sometimes a little frightened. One or two tried to push back but that didn't last long.
So is this a good sign, normal roo behavior with a new flock? He seems to be of a good disposition, at least so far. Didn't even have a big spazz when we caught him and carried him over to his new domain.
So is this a good sign, normal roo behavior with a new flock? He seems to be of a good disposition, at least so far. Didn't even have a big spazz when we caught him and carried him over to his new domain.