The Genetics of Temperament - Anecdotal Notebook

[MysteryChicken]

What about RIR hens? I've found the hens to be pretty chill toward me, indifferent, but a good percentage hate chicks to the point of homicide and they fight a lot among themselves.

On the other hand, those I have interacted with have also been the best at flock cooperation.

Hens, I've never had issues with. They're abit bossy, similar in the way Plymouth Rock hens are.

 

[Guinea Math]

I cull roos that are aggressive to me or try mating with young pullets.

I love that you cull for Roos mating young pullets! I didn’t know that was an inheritable trait.
It sure bothers me when I see that and creates too much stress in the flock so I will pull the Roos when they start doing that and put them in the bachelor pad to hopefully grow up.

I had one roo who ignored all the pullets and only mated with laying hens, I thought that was a wonderful but random fluke. Bummer that I lost him.

Is that “normal” behavior for a young cockerel? Or is it always something you cull for? I have a 12 week old cockerel who is pestering his pullet hatch mates. And when they went out foraging with the whole flock he even jumped on my big Bielefelder hen, who squatted for him ; he was no where close to target but...still. I at least tagged him so I can keep an eye on him.

 

[LaurenRitz]

Is that “normal” behavior for a young cockerel? Or is it always something you cull for? I have a 12 week old cockerel who is pestering his pullet hatch mates. And when they went out foraging with the whole flock he even jumped on my big Bielefelder hen, who squatted for him ; he was no where close to target but...still. I at least tagged him so I can keep an eye on him.

When the boys first discover girls, there is often some testing of the boundaries. I'll see them try their sisters once or twice, sometimes their brothers, but if they get violent about it, exhibit forced mating or if it's an ongoing behavior I'll mark them for culling. Most of them go after the adult hens during this period, and get chased away.

The attraction to young pullets is a complicated issue because I can't see this behavior until they're large enough to mate easily, have adult pullets or hens around, and also have young pullets around that haven't reached sexual maturity.

Under those conditions, if one of the cockerels is going after the young pullets, yes I will cull him.

In the most recent generations I'm not seeing it much. I had one earlier this year that killed a 12 week pullet but I wasn't sure which one it was. The one I suspect is long gone because of other behavior problems.

 

[Guinea Math]

When the boys first discover girls, there is often some testing of the boundaries. I'll see them try their sisters once or twice, sometimes their brothers, but if they get violent about it, exhibit forced mating or if it's an ongoing behavior I'll mark them for culling. Most of them go after the adult hens during this period, and get chased away.

The attraction to young pullets is a complicated issue because I can't see this behavior until they're large enough to mate easily, have adult pullets or hens around, and also have young pullets around that haven't reached sexual maturity.

Under those conditions, if one of the cockerels is going after the young pullets, yes I will cull him.

In the most recent generations I'm not seeing it much. I had one earlier this year that killed a 12 week pullet but I wasn't sure which one it was. The one I suspect is long gone because of other behavior problems.

Gotcha, thank you for sharing! I’m definitely going to be watching out for this behavior.
I did have two 5-6 month cockerels that were starting to tag team chase their hatchmate pullets and forcibly mate with one helping hold the pullet for the other guy. The older hens would give them what for and fight back but these younger girls didn’t know what to do except try to run away. I pulled the cockerels out of the flock right away but I wondered if that was hormonal growing pains or if that was temperament related that I would want to cull for.
Then I had another young boy who would go from adult hen to adult hen and give it a go, only to get beat up by each of them. He didn’t bother the pullets but sheesh he wouldn’t stop, it was crazy.

 

[LaurenRitz]

If it were me I would cull the two bullies. I have seen cockerels as young as 10 weeks tit-bitting and wing dancing for the ladies, and the fact that they work as a team tells me that they know darn well that their behavior is unacceptable. Just like human bullies, they need support and won't try anything when they're outclassed.

The other is a randy teenager and either the hens will teach him manners or if the behavior is disturbing the flock I would put him away until he's older.

 

[Guinea Math]

If it were me I would cull the two bullies. I have seen cockerels as young as 10 weeks tit-bitting and wing dancing for the ladies, and the fact that they work as a team tells me that they know darn well that their behavior is unacceptable. Just like human bullies, they need support and won't try anything when they're outclassed.

The other is a randy teenager and either the hens will teach him manners or if the behavior is disturbing the flock I would put him away until he's older.

Thanks, I appreciate your thoughts. Makes sense on the team bullying.
I just brought back a rooster from the bachelor pad and he’s a dream boat of a roo. Has a harem of hens following him everywhere, he tidbits constantly and slowly struts around with his chest as puffed out as possible. What a welcome relief! He doesn’t love me haha but I think he knows I’m top roo so keeps his distance but he’s not aggressive at all and will still eat from my hand if I am giving out treats. *Photo is of him before I let him out with the girls and before he started puffing up his chest. Lol.

The other randy teenager I did pull out as he was totally disturbing the flock, and he kinda flipped out a bit and escaped from the transition pen I had moved him to. He ran off and I heard him in neighbors yard but he wouldn’t let me catch him. I put food out to keep him close and then 2 days later the neighbors little dog chased him back into our yard and he was too worked up over the dog to go that way again LOL so I could finally catch him. Sheesh. He’s starting to settle down a bit in the bachelor pad. I’ll see how he grows up.

 

[LaurenRitz]

The other randy teenager I did pull out as he was totally disturbing the flock, and he kinda flipped out a bit and escaped from the transition pen I had moved him to. He ran off and I heard him in neighbors yard but he wouldn’t let me catch him. I put food out to keep him close and then 2 days later the neighbors little dog chased him back into our yard and he was too worked up over the dog to go that way again LOL so I could finally catch him. Sheesh. He’s starting to settle down a bit in the bachelor pad. I’ll see how he grows up.

Keep him to about week 24 to 30, then let him out and see. If he hasn't settled to the point of being reasonable by that point, in my experience he won't.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

Interesting thread. I've been keeping chickens now for a little over three years and I've been doing it more or less identically since the very beginning-
When my original flock came of suitable age (maybe three months) I simply set them outside and there my flock remains to this day. They're hands off, completely free-range, sleeping in trees

In this time I've introduced many different breeds and it's abundantly obvious that behavior is genetic in origin. Human aggressive fathers have human aggressive sons. Peaceful fathers have peaceful sons. The genetic nature of behavioral traits is obvious in a large mixed flock where all members are treated identically

Behavior is the number one trait I select for now. Peace is my main goal. Rapists, bullies, and the human aggressive get put down immediately and humanely

What about RIR hens? I've found the hens to be pretty chill toward me, indifferent, but a good percentage hate chicks to the point of homicide and they fight a lot among themselves.

On the other hand, those I have interacted with have also been the best at flock cooperation.

My RIR hens are nice to everything, including chicks. At most they may lightly peck a chick that gets too close during feeding time. I suspect if anyone has issues with RIR hens it may be due to lack of space or confinement

RIR males on the other hand I can't speak for. None have made it past 6 months here before turning into monsters. Don't plan on trying again with a RIR male

 

[LaurenRitz]

I suspect if anyone has issues with RIR hens it may be due to lack of space or confinement

All my girls have been free range from 4 weeks on. I rehomed several RIR hens because they would chase the chicks into a corner (often chasing them into the coop for the purpose) and proceed to viciously attack them. When one got past, they would turn on the escapee.

This happened more than once, until I just got rid of the problem hens.

 

[LaurenRitz]

One of the older girls (a Buckeye) seems to be taunting the young boys. I've seen her get in three fights in the last two days.

She'll shove them away from whatever they're eating, or position herself right in front of them, then spin and attack when they try to mount. Looks like two roosters fighting. She'll fight them until they run, then walk away as if nothing happened.

Curiously, this seems to increase their interest. The older cockerels seem intent on sneaking up on her.