Is it normal for roosters to feed the hens?

[jackcreek]

I am new to chickens. Had them a little over a week now. They are not pets so I have been spending time trying to get them more used to me so catching one won't be a hassle. Today when I offered them a treat in my hand one hen ate and the rooster would take a bite then turn and give it to the other hens that wouldn't take food from me hand. After each of them had a bite he ate then repeated the process. If there is info already on this please point me to it. Thanks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

A good rooster will always check out unfamiliar foods than feed them to his hens, chicking and calling them over, many times my hens won't eat things unfamiliar until the rooster checks it out first. You have a good rooster.

 

[jackcreek]

Oh ok. Thank you! He does seem to be really good. He is always very curious and underfoot now. I have even noticed that if I don't visit the coop for awhile during the day he starts crowing at like half volume and won't stop till I go spend some time where he can at least see me. I'm already starting to think they are training me instead of me taming them! LOL

 

[Pork Pie]

I'm already starting to think they are training me instead of me taming them! LOL

Oh yeah, you got that one right!

CT

 

[aart]

I am new to chickens. Had them a little over a week now. They are not pets so I have been spending time trying to get them more used to me so catching one won't be a hassle. Today when I offered them a treat in my hand one hen ate and the rooster would take a bite then turn and give it to the other hens that wouldn't take food from me hand. After each of them had a bite he ate then repeated the process. If there is info already on this please point me to it. Thanks.

Totally normal....signs of a good cockbird.
How old are they?

Oh ok. Thank you! He does seem to be really good. He is always very curious and underfoot now. I have even noticed that if I don't visit the coop for awhile during the day he starts crowing at like half volume and won't stop till I go spend some time where he can at least see me. I'm already starting to think they are training me instead of me taming them! LOL

Yeah, you probably don't want to respond every time he 'calls you'....could turn into a highly unpleasant habit.

 

[DanEP]

I would stop feeding the rooster from your hand. Throw the food out and let him go get it. Roosters that get too comfortable around you can get they idea that they can dominate you like he does the girls.Spoil the girls but not the rooster.

 

[jackcreek]

They are approximately 1 yr old. Once I figured out that was the cause of his crowing I have quit going over to where he can see me. I still go to check for the possibility of a predator around. Hopefully I will learn the difference in sounds eventually!

 

[jackcreek]

Thank you Danep! I definitely don't want an aggressive rooster!

 

[aart]

I haven't found hand feeding cockbirds will lead to aggression from them....much more to aggression than that.

My first adult cockbird, he was a good mellow fellow acquired with my first flock, would feed from my hand and either drop it for the hens of eat it himself.
He didn't always feed when I offered, neither did all the females.

Interesting progression with the cockbird I have now, raised from a chick...he would gobble it up for himself as a cockerel, then share with the girls as he got older now he rarely partakes.

No telling what a live animal will do, especially a male, just got to live and learn as you go along and observe.
They are fairly malleable if you watch closely and adjust your own behaviors.

 

[DanEP]

Hand feeding roosters doesn't mean they will become aggressive I just prefer they maintain a view of me as the big dog and keep their distance .I've had roosters take over a year to get aggressive that fed from my hand all along.I agree that their are many factors to making an aggressive roosters but believe that letting a rooster letting him loose respect for you can be one of those factors.