What is "Normal" Rooster behaviour?

[Daisy8s]

How big is your new rooster in relation to the hens? Is the problem that he is mating too often or is the problem that he's doing it so awkwardly he's tearing them up because he can't keep his balance very well?

l ask this because my rooster is as much as 6 pounds bigger than some of my hens and he's quite awkward while trying to mate. He seems to rely on holding their neck feathers in his beak to help him balance and this is hard on them. However, I have one large hen whom he can balance upon much more easily and he is gentler with her.

It's something to think about and I'd like to hear from others with experience with roosters. My rooster is less than a year old and I hope he'll become more adept at his technique as he ages and become gentler. If not then I'll think about selling him although that'll be hard because he is a perfectly wonderful rooster. Extremely friendly and wonderful around kids, yet protective of the hens...everything you could ask for.

Regarding the issue of whether roosters do protect the hens...when he was barely 4 months old and not even sexually mature yet the flock was attacked. My husband got home first and saw one dead hen in the lawn and all the others missing. He began searching but couldn't find them. Then, I got home and began searching. At my call my rooster appeared leading the rest of the flock from their hiding space. He brought them right to me, and then he took up the rear guard position as I led them all home. Sure he didn't attack the predator but I'd say this is about as clear an example of protection as you could ask for.

I'd recommend patience for another week or two. A new pecking order takes awhile to get re-established. In my experience, roosters use mating as a tool to establish dominance so that could be the reason for his frequency. Once he's established himself as the head of the flock that may resolve the issue. Good luck.

P.S. The tip to feed treats to the new shy ones was a good idea. Food is the way to the fowl's heart!

 

[speckledhen]

That one is a keeper, Daisy8! That was exactly what he should have done. A good rooster is a wonderful thing.

 

[Cetawin]

Normal rooster behavior, like normal human behavior is a range not a point.The behavior in the OP is on the curve of normal behavior. However, if you don't plan to hatch chicks there's no reason to keep a male with your flock. The notion that a rooster will protect the flock from preditors is romantic nonsense.

NYREDS, you are so far off base. It is NOT romantic nonsense. Obviously you have only ever had sissy roosters. A.GOOD rooster will try to protect his flock by warning, ushering the girls to safety and sacrificing himself if necessary. I have seen it with my own eyes.

It is not normal whatsoever for a rooster to put gaping wounds on the heads of hens. Feather loss and the occasional injury is.

 

[jak2002003]

Normal rooster behavior, like normal human behavior is a range not a point.The behavior in the OP is on the curve of normal behavior. However, if you don't plan to hatch chicks there's no reason to keep a male with your flock. The notion that a rooster will protect the flock from preditors is romantic nonsense.

Have you ever kept a rooster with your hens? They are very good at protecting the flock from danger! I have seem mine charge and fly at cats, dogs and large birds. They will also alert the flock to any danger and my rooster herded my hens into my porch and put himself between them and a fox.

So its not 'romantic nonsense' all the time.

 

[adgcountrygirl]

His beak being clipped could be part of the problem too. Their beaks are what they use to "hold" the hen, and being different from the way it was designed could be part of the issue. Also, introducing new peeps no matter the age IS stressful. (How would you like two strangers to move into your house without your say so?) The will put the newcomers in their place... literally! If you put them in a crate of some sort where they can see and smell eachother... if chickens can smell eachother (I hear their sense of smell isn't so great.) for a few days that will help. The newbies are protected, but can still socialize, and the others aren't as threatened because lover boy is contained. Some people will suggest putting them together at night and then the next day is usually better than just throwing them together day one. This is not an option for me because I go to work at 4:30 am and cannot check on them till I get home around 2pm. What I do instead is... I let my regulars "freerange" when I get home. This is a time when they are allowed out of the coop and into a bigger fenced in yard or sometimes even the rest of our large backyard. I'm there to keep an eye on things. I let the other birds out of the hutch or crate, and watch how they handle being with the others. IF things go well, they go back to the coop that evening as bunk mates. However, if the bird or birds get picked on too much or are too agressive with the other birds, they go back to the crate for that night. I did this with my new chicks when they were a few days away from being 2 months old. It only took them 2-3 days to figure out which hens to avoid and which ones leave them be. Once you've been doing this awhile, you will figure out what works for you AND your chickens.

Also, I agree with Daisy8 on the rooster thing. Especially if they freerange with or without your supervision.

 

[Fancy Chiq]

is clipping the beak effective?