GreatLakesFungi
Chirping
Hello all,
I am seeking help and advice on how and when to properly introduce my mature, free range rooster (more info in this thread on how we "accidentally" acquired him) to young hens (currently pullets), currently housed in an enclosure/coop.
Please bear with me, as I know this is a long post. I've tried to include as many specific details as possible in this post regarding the exact situation, the measures I've already taken, and the behaviors of the rooster involved.
To make reading more enjoyable, I've attached a great deal of pictures I've taken of our flock and set-up.
THE ROOSTER
I've got a mature, 1.5-2yr old Black Copper Marans rooster ("Trevor"), who has been without the company of other birds since last fall.
He's extremely docile with humans, friendly even, quite healthy, crows regularly, and performs all the usual gestures you'd expect from a gentleman rooster (dancing at them, protective warning screeches, and attempts to share food through the chainlink fence).
THE GIRLS
The girls are: 2 Laced Wyandottes, 5 Rhode Island Reds, and 1 Buff Orphington.
They've established a pecking order of sorts (which I'm sure will go out the window once Trevor is introduced), with the Wyandottes easily being the most assertive of the bunch, a healthy mixture of pushover/assertive Reds, and the Orphington being the cleverest, yet most commonly quarreled with.
Note: When I describe these interactions as 'quarrels,' I am referring to incidents ranging from both birds raising their neck feathers and confronting one another, up to briefly launching themselves at another bird. There has been no hen-pecking or overt aggression where blood was drawn, or feathers plucked.
Through observations, I've slowly come to understanding some of their personalities:
EXPOSURE PROCESS (THUS FAR)
We got our 8 chicks earlier this spring, about 3 months ago, and due to us not having mature hens to mitigate any unwanted behaviors toward the girls, we've taken great measures to both them and the rooster separate.
It's been a very slow process of exposing them to him:
- ~3 WEEKS OLD - We would bring them out into the yard for short stints, in a plastic, see-through tote, to which he would dance for them.
- 4-8 WEEKS OLD - We would place 2-4 of them in dog kennels, within the yard on sunny days. Trevor would dance and share mealworms with them.
- 8-12 WEEKS OLD - We moved them into a shed we converted into a chicken coop, and continued to rotate 2 at a time into a dog kennel within the yard. At this point we began occasionally introducing new foods to them and Trevor (cucumber, watermelon, etc).
- 12-15 WEEKS OLD - We built an enclosed outdoor space for them, attached to the coop. We specifically reinforced it to ensure a horny rooster couldn't get in. This allowed all the girls to be outside with him for the entire day, albeit separated by fencing.
ROOSTER'S BEHAVIORS
At one point, when the girls were 8-12 weeks old, he did manage to slip into the cage. Trevor hastily assumed a position atop one of the chicks, whilst attempting to grab her neck feathers. My husband quickly pushed him off and was able to extricate him from the cage.
At the time we assumed this was mating behavior, but now we aren't sure if this was just him trying to dominate her into his flock.
She was quite young, and I've read that it's unusual for a mature rooster to try to mate what is clearly just a pullet.
Note: Keep in mind that Trevor has not had access to hens in 6+ months, so I'm not sure if horny just overrode common sense.
Question: based on your experience, what do you believe this behavior was?
I've been trying to help promote flock behaviors by providing both him and the girls with new foods to try. I make it so that they're close enough that Trevor feels like he is eating with them.
Occasionally he will even bite a chunk of his food off, and place it on the ground just outside the fence. He'll eagerly cluck encouragement until one sticks her head out and grabs the piece.
Question: are there any other flock bonding behaviors like this that I can encourage while the two parties are separated?
Each morning when we let the girls out into the enclosed run, he excitedly dances at them in greeting. He will do this occasionally throughout the day when one gets close enough to the fence to acknowledge him.
Sometimes he lowers just one wing, while other times he lowers both. This is particularly funny when he does it while running toward them, as he looks a bit like a TIE Fighter from Star Wars.
He will often get so caught up in his display that he runs up into the chainlink fence itself.
Another thing he does consists of occasionally walking off into the yard, doing a 360° turn in place, flapping his wings loudly, and crowing.
Question: am I right to assume this little song and dance is a behavior showing dominance and willing to take on any challengers for his flock? I get the flapping and crowing, but what is the point of doing the silly 360 bit?
Trevor does this thing where he freezes, and goes off into a trance-like state. I can dangle cucumbers and mealworms in front of him, and he doesn't break out of it.
Sometimes, it'll be in a position where he bows his head low to the ground, right next to the chainlink fence. During these moments, he is surprisingly tolerant of the girls' curiosity, as they will sometimes try to peck at his waddle, eyebrows, or even tail feathers.
Other times, he'll lock into a tall, upright position (above pic), as though he is posing and flexing for them. "Oh, what a fine specimen I am!"
Question: Am I right to assume this posture is a combination of both protective vigilance (discouraging predators, other birds, via his size) and a bit of boastfulness? Or is there something else at play when he goes into this 'trance'.
SEEKING CLARIFICATION
I've been reading a lot of conflicting information about introducing pullets to a mature rooster who doesn't yet have a flock.
It's not exactly a common scenario, so I figured a thread worth details of our specific scenario was warranted.
Aside from my inquires written throughout this post's other sections, I have some remaining general questions which I'd be very grateful if those in this community could answer/give their 2c on:
1. How old should our pullets be before we allow the rooster direct, uninhibited contact with them?
2. Are we right to assume that we should be allowing him into the coop/enclosure, vs them outside into the yard?
3. Should we be in the coop during this initial contact?
4. How long should we stay directly supervising this interaction?
5. What level of struggle/distress should i expect in initial direct contact between Trevor and the girls?
6. Are there any behaviors where intervention or separation is necessary?
7. What, if any, measures should be taken to ensure the safety of the girls during this event?
8. During the first days/weeks in which Trevor is claiming them as his, are there certain things we should do/not do? We understand that Trevor will likely be at a heightened state of assertive and protectiveness.
9. Are there any behaviors or clear signs to indicate that integration was successful?
I'm happy to answer any follow up questions that may help us reach some answers.
For more pics and updates on our chicken adventure, check out my Twitter/X: GreatLakesFungi, to which I post pictures daily.
Cheers
GLF
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