Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us! - Page 447  

After Rooster C culled himself by jumping into the dog yard, I decided to go roo-less.  Of course, when I ordered my replacement chickens I still got 3 roos.  I forget what happened to the first one, 2nd one culled himself in the dog yard and now I still have #3.  So, Sunday (as in Sunday Dinner) is now 6 months old and thinks he's all that and a bag of Layena.  He's not agressive to humans (yet), he's not handled and for the most part we're both just live and let live with each other.  However!  Yesterday, he was doing his practice mounts and the hens were showing him how to practice his dismounts and I guess he got frustrated.  He grabbed on of my girls by her hackles and was trying to mount but she was yelling and wouldn't stand still.  I was just about to apply the Board of Education to the Seat of Knowlege when the other hens came running and kicked his AZZ!  it was the funniest thing I've ever seen.  I never knew they'd do that. 

 

So, I know he's a 'teenager' learning the ropes but to me that grabbing the hen be her neck feathers is just waaaaaay over the top.  Is that normal and he'll get the hang of the mating thing eventually or is this something that needs to be nipped in the bud (culled) right now?  I don't mind being roo-less, but since this one hasn't been aggressive in the least toward me, I have been inclined to allow him to live.

A roosters instincts are to mate with hens. The mating ritual is not just about mating but is also a dominance thing. He is not mature enough yet for the hens to willingly submit to him. He can't dominate them yet. That will probably come with time.

To me, him grabbing the hackle feathers is nowhere over the top. It is just chickens being chickens.

It's your flock and you can do what you want with them, but if you consider that behavior over the top, you need to get rid of him. Not for his sake, not for your hen's sake, but for yours. You don't need any roosters in your flock.

By the way, a dominant hen will sometimes go through the mating ritual with a subordinate hen, just to show she is dominant, especially when there is no dominat rooster in the flock. That includes going so far as to touch vents. It does not mean she is homosexual or warped in any way. It just means she is dominant so don't freak out if you see it.

Not an OT but posted this for my Okie friends a while back when they were discussing roosters. 

 

 

Speaking of Roosters, I'm still chuckling over this passage from HIT BY A FARM by Catherine Friend.

 

"But one day as the chickens roamed the yard I noticed that the boys had different styles. Serge brought flowers, lit golden tapers, poured goblets of champagne. There was a quiet mounting, brief fluttering of wings. Thank you, ma'am. Much obliged. May I call on you again?

 

Romeo on the other hand, hid, waiting. Then, screaming,he chased the hen around the barn. Come back here, you stupid b&^%$. He grabbed the back of her head with his beak, flung her down, jumped her bones while she shrieked in distress. Wham. Bam. Feathers flew. He let her go, shook out his fine self. It was consensual, babe. Beside, you were asking for it."

 

"We ate Romeo."

 

STOP! you're killing me. I can't stop laughing and i'm getting really funny looks. I told me sweet man i was on my chicken chat room and he has no idea how much fun it can be. BWA-HA-HA.

I would have kept Romeo.............. he was the better rooster. The nice one was a wimp and not deserving of reproducing. When I am in my breeder barn doing chores and I hear the noise and clatter of a successful topping you can rest assured the job is getting done, quick, deliberate and to the point, that is the way it needs to be.

  if I ate every roo that acted like romeo, I'd have a freezer full right now . 

I just want to thank all the "OT"'ers on this forum for giving advice, guidance, and wisdom on how to raise chickens.

 

I've had chickens now for three years, I got my first few in 2010 - and it's because of the people on this board!

 

Thanks! :)
 

 

 

 

I think you missed the part where the last page or so was a Parody, I had feared that some would take it seriously, it was meant to emphise the difference between real flock care and the Obsurd way others percieve a good rooster vs wimpy ones.