Cockrel - Trouble or Normal?

[PattyNH]

What you are seeing is normal and usual chicken behavior. Chicken sex is brief but confusing to the human eye. Because during chicken sex there is no penetration the male needs some way to keep his seat. He accomplishes this by holding on to the small feathers at the back of the hens head.

Interesting, because he hasn't pulled the feathers out. Maybe he is better at it then I thought...

 

[ShannonR]

Interesting, because he hasn't pulled the feathers out. Maybe he is better at it then I thought...

If the hen is throwing a fit about it every time, the rooster could definitely use some improvement. Or a dinner invitation...

 

[aart]

We live with my 81y old father who thinks we should have a rooster

That's a good reason to keep a cockerel, they are a beautiful and interesting addition to a flock, if they behave and your expectations of his functions are realistic. Their 'behaving' has as much to do with the keepers behaviors as it does the birds behaviors, that can be risky with a small kid around.

Interesting, because he hasn't pulled the feathers out. Maybe he is better at it then I thought...

It may just look rougher than it really is.

If the hen is throwing a fit about it every time, the rooster could definitely use some improvement. Or a dinner invitation...

Most pullets aren't crazy about being mounted, especially ones that aren't laying yet.

As long as the cockerel isn't relentlessly and continuously chasing and grabbing and mounting, it's all good.
Getting rid of the 'extra' males may well calm the remaining male. I've found this to be the case and the difference is almost immediate.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

That's a good reason to keep a cockerel, they are a beautiful and interesting addition to a flock, if they behave and your expectations of his functions are realistic. Their 'behaving' has as much to do with the keepers behaviors as it does the birds... Getting rid of the 'extra' males may well calm the remaining male. I've found this to be the case and the difference is almost immediate.

A gaggle of cockerels is trouble. One will catch a hen/pullet and try to top her. Every other cockerel will rush in and try to supposedly RESCUE this fair maiden in distress only to be confronted by all of the other young roosters on your place.

Next every cockerel will try to have his way with the hen/pullet to maybe displace some of the spermatozoa that the cockerels before him deposited.

The real and enduring problem is that most chicken keepers have unrealistic expectations about the morals of their animals. The sad fact is that Chickens have absolutely NO qualms and ZERO morals about how they treat their fellow chickens, it is easy then when viewed through human eyes to think that chicken society has gone to Hades in a hand basket.

 

[Shadrach]

Pheww, hard work being a male around here...
If you don't want your girls to have sex, then sure, get rid of the cockerels. I bet he's better looking than the hens.

 

[dalasgalas]

Into the pot.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Pheww, hard work being a male around here... If you don't want your girls to have sex, then sure, get rid of the cockerels. I bet he's better looking than the hens.

There was once a young pullet named Rapunzel who lived in a tall pen with one little window at the top. This pullet was the most beautiful chick in the kingdom but her mother keep her cooped up. One day a young cockerel spied this princess pullet staring down from her prison and because he was so taken with this pullet's beauty he crowed "Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down let down your long feathers that I may climb the golden stairs" Well so much for the good intentions of humans and the honor of pullets.

 

[Mrs. K]

Cockerels can also become aggressive to people, and they tend to attack children first. Often times it is the darling that becomes the nightmare. With a dozen hens, one is enough. Do beware of their behavior around your son.