Cockerel Biting Pullets

[dogdollar]

All of my flock is young. The cockerel (Dominick) just got his crow together, and the girls (four barred rocks, five beautiful Production Reds) aren't laying yet. I notice here lately that Dominick is giving some of the girls a sharp bite on the back of their necks...and they in turn scream in pain (or just alarm; or BOTH). That is as far as it goes, so far, but I am wondering if this is a precursor to actual mating, and what to expect as they mature.
Thanks very much !!
DD

 

[Tala]

Oh yes, the cockerels get in the mood way before the pullets do --- and the girls hate it. Not much you can do about it except separate them (if you want to).

A mature rooster who knows what he's doing won't mess with the pullets until they are just about to lay, but the young boys will attempt to mate with anything in sight. I remember someone on BYC who's cockerel had a "thing" for Dawn dish detergent bottles

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
It was a Palmolive bottle, but still hilarious.

If they aren't drawing blood, let them work it out.

 

[sourland]

Dominick got his crow on, now he's working towards getting his love life on. Remember the possible progression I threatened in your last post. Dominick the Dominant takes on the flock master: Saga of aCockerel's Maturation. Stay tuned for further developments.

 

[michickenwrangler]

He's just being a macho man.

Our cochin rooster will sometimes creep up behind a hen, grab her by the neck, lift her, shake her, set her back down and walk away like nothing happened, meanwhile the poor hen just has a look on her face like "What was THAT?!" It's mainly a dominance thing. Our EE cockerel Twinkie is starting to peck on our Black Star pullets.