Igor, the Sussex rooster – about the life of roosters

Roosters and their harem – a complex world

The life of roosters is pretty exhausting.

Roosters sometimes display strange behavior patterns. Anyone who thinks that their poultry are simple-minded is mistaken. If you observe your flock of hens and your cockerel closely, you will soon notice some interesting correlations.

Find out more about Igor, the Sussex cockerel we kept from last year. He has now grown into a proud cock and proudly leads his colorful flock through the garden at home. He is a true gentleman and always watches over his hens in a well-behaved and caring manner. But he can also be annoyed by so much bitch terror and then shows his harem exactly what’s what.

How roosters ask to the table

When he has found something tasty to eat, he calls his ladies, who usually come running straight away. He has a special sound for this, which sounds a bit like putt putt putt. Perhaps this is where the typical call comes from, which many chicken owners imitate to attract their chickens.

Exemplary roosters often give their ladies priority when it comes to food. A rooster does this partly out of care but also to ingratiate himself with the fact that he is allowed to mate with the hens.