Do pullets have any say in which rooster they end up with?

[costello]

I have four roosters. One is about 14 months old. The other three are his sons - about 6 months old. I have 11 laying pullets/hens. The oldest rooster pretty much claims all the females, but the younger ones have been increasingly bold in making moves on some of the pullets, especially the younger ones.

I don't really understand all the dynamics, but I've noticed that they don't even try with several of the hens. I don't know if those hens are better at putting them in their place or if the older rooster defends them more enthusiastically. A couple of the pullets are more frequent targets of the young roosters.

The young roosters don't do the courtship dance like their dad does, and none of the pullets willingly squat down for them. Their attempts at seduction always involve shrieking, squawking, chasing, grabbing, etc.

Just curious: does the pullet have any say in which rooster she ends up with?

Also, will these young roosters ever develop the courtship dance? I didn't get their dad until he was already 6 months old, and he knew how to do it by that time.

 

[centrarchid]

Yes on all accounts. Choice most easily realized when roosters are able to have their own territories.

 

[donrae]

Your young roosters are much less likely to court the ladies while there's so much competition. If mating is that traumatic, it pretty much means you have too many roosters. 4 roosters to 11 hens means each hen is getting a lot of rooster attention. Plus, the younger roosters have to do almost ambush mating to have any chance of getting to mate before the dominant rooster knocks them off. This catches the hen off guard and causes the fighting. I'd say pull all the young roosters out and either sell them, butcher them or just make them a bachelor pad. Give your hens a break and you'll have a much happier flock.

 

[costello]

Thanks. I'll be moving soon to a place where I have both more space and pens where the roosters can be held separately from the rest of the flock. I also have six two month old pullets who'll need their own rooster in a few months. I have no preference as to which rooster it would be, but I suppose it would be best if I choose one?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

No, not really, the youngest pullets are at the bottom of the pecking order especially when it comes to choosing a mate.. This does not mean that they will never advance in chicken society because they can. But always remember for every chicken that moves up, another chicken usually has to suffer a fall.

Your young roosters behavior is why I recommend that people give young roosters time to mature before putting them in the pot. At this point they are still below the older hens when it comes status.

No, your young roos will not be doing the courting dance thing, at least not as long as their papa is around to knock the ever loving bejisous out of them anytime they try that foolishness within his sight or hearing. Think of it as RHIP "Rank Has Its Privileges.

In a wide free range environment some minor fraction of your pullets or hen may "take up" with a subordinate rooster and form a mini flock especially if they like this subordinate roosters "style" better than the dominant roo's. This group will forage or range separately from the main flock. Since I am unable to speak chicken perhaps these pullets are only building their young rooster's confidence so that someday he can take on his old man.

 

[centrarchid]

I should have made my answer conditional. Yes for choice is possible given proper conditions. IN setting where flock is confined or females otherwise cannot control the distance with a given rooster which is likely the norm with most backyard flocks, the female has limited mate choice. In my settings full adult females exercise considerable choice where they take advantage of territory boundaries marked off by dominant males and use the dominant male within a given territory to suppress actions of immature males. This all takes space an a habitat that is complex with lots of cover patches.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

centrarchid is correct.