Rooster sitting on my hens nest?

[Hinky429]

How common is it for a rooster to sit on the hens nest?? Silly guy.. He has been doing this off and on for months. He does this especially when our hen is broody and when she moulting. Has anyone else had this happen with their rooster? My husband thinks that the rooster is getting frusterated with the hen because shes not laying at these times and the rooster wants to show the hen what she's supposed to be doing... I think that's funny but am wonderring if in fact he may have a point? Any insight from others out there?
Thanks Hinky429

 

[S&N Livestock]

from Ohio

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

It natural and normal for a rooster to check out a nesting area.


It is his JOB to be sure that the nest is safe and the hen is safe when laying her eggs. He will get in the nest and be sure it is comfortable. Generally they often cluck and encourage the hens to join them in the box. Roosters will even sing the egg song with the ladies.


A good rooster will also help care for chicks.


Sounds like your guy is on his way to being a great Rooster.

 

[TroutsChicks]

Sounds like he's a good boy! My boys do silly things, but they couldn't fit in the nest boxes...lol

 

[Hinky429]

Thank You for that info HorseFeatherz! I guess my husband wasn't to far off on his assesment... I'll have to give the old boy credit! Old boy being the Rooster of course....LOL

 

[Ariel301]

I have only ever had one rooster that took any interest in the nesting process. It was a black bantam Cochin, and he would actually build nests, dragging bits of hay and sticks and whatever into a nice location and making a pile, then he'd call the hens to come check it out. When they would get off the egg after laying in the nest, he would often sit on it for an hour or two! He would sing the egg song with the hens too.He was a real gentleman, if he found food he would always let the girls have the best things and not eat a bite until they were done. He would carry food to them in his mouth, or cluck at them to come and get what he found. He would even take turns sharing the nest with a broody. I found his behavior really interesting, I guess with how sweet he was it was no wonder that when I hatched mixed chicks from my flock, most of them were black and feather-legged, so obviously his! The other roosters were blue and wheaten Old English and maybe one chick in a dozen would not look like a Cochin! Unfortunately I had to get rid of him because my other roosters were constantly trying to kill him.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
I am sorry you had to get rid of him, and I am sure your hens miss him. Your cochin Rooster is/was exactly what a good rooster should be.

 

[PatS]

We had three broodies this summer. When there was an empty "nursery," the rooster would walk the hens in and then he would sit in the nest box, in front of them, and make noises. I thought perhaps he was encouraging them to go broody! "Hey Girls! This is what I want you to do. Get on a nest and stay on it, like this!" He was very nice to the chicks when the mamas took them around the yard, too.

 

[Peaches Lee]

My Silkie rooster, Tony, after I had put in a freshly lined with hay nest bucket, jumped in and was cooing! It was so cute, it was like he was saying "Yup, just right!"

I also have an EE roo that isn't as good at picking out spots to lay an egg. Behind a basket in the hallway, under a wheelbarrow, and when he tidbits to them to come check out his "stellar" location for egglaying, the hens are usually like, "What?! This is an awful place to lay an egg!" LOL! At least he tries and he looks so cute scouting for locations.

 

[Hinky429]

Oh how I've enjoyed reding all these posts! I told my husband what HorseFesthers said..And of course he was crowing like a rooster when he heard that his assesment was very close to right.. Yes our Rooster also hunts food for the hen and gives her all he finds to eat.. We sometimes worry that he isn't getting enough. We of course feed them everyday and I'm sure he gets his fair share but every time I see him he's scratching, he's scratching something up for Henny Penny. When Henny Penny is on the nest to lay Chicken Little stands guard and will cackel and gobble till you go away. What a fine gentleman he is, to take such good careof his lady... I love our Chicken & Rooster..
When we got our Hen for Chicken Little our Grandson married them that day in the yard. He stood there and hummed the Wedding song and then said "I now pronounce you Mr. & Mrs. Little" My husband and I cracked up!! Very shortly after that our Rooster attacked the Hen so she would know that he was the first one here and she was to follow him.. When my grandson saw him attack her he was horrified.. Crying thinking the Rooster was going to kill the hen.. My husband had to explain to him the Rooster was doing what he needed to do to make sure his new wife undestood that he was the "Boss"...I love farm life... It has a way of allowing our children to see nature take it's course and how animals all have a "pecking order" to follow!