For the rooster ppl, yet another odd question

[BigBlueHen53]

I have enough problems educating myself!

Lol, don't be so modest. I've learned a ton from you!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Also why do they ALL squeeze in the same dirt hole, when there is like a billion other holes to choose from??

Because it's the best, obviously!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Because it's the best, obviously!

Prime real estate...

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

The chest bump is a mature roosters method of asking a hen if she want's to mate. Cockerels usuall just try for the neck grab

Or Rhode Island Red. Those guys are crazy.

 

[z3lda3]

That's the closest.
Roosters herd their hens and from what I can gather from your post his actions are herding actions; unusual for a 20 week old cockerel in my experience. It has nothing to do with mating and it isn't really aggressive in any real sense of the word.
The hackle flash is your I'm getting mad option.
The chest bump is a mature roosters method of asking a hen if she want's to mate. Cockerels usuall just try for the neck grab and don't ask.

I wrote an article on rooster behaviour that may help you understand what may be going on.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

Yes! My roo does the grab and dash. Gomez matured early (I think). He started growing wattles, not little nubs but wattle wattles at 5 weeks and was crowing at 8 weeks. Chest bumping at 3-4 weeks. He went to sleep one night and testosterone hit him like a truck. For the past couple of weeks he was hot and bothered CONSTANTLY, and did the grab and go on his flock mate. But here lately he’s been Mr. Romeo. Digging holes for her, giving her the grapes instead of eating them, and doing this weird kind of wings out Macarena bobbing thing. His mate, even though she’s the exact same age has 0 interest. She’s not even laying yet. So the sideways shuffle to my big gals was new for me. I was like well maybe older gals like a different dance???
Well good for Gomez! Seems like he’s trying to keep order in his flock.

 

[z3lda3]

Because it's the best, obviously!

Seriously! “ I don’t want my dirt hole, yours looks better”

 

[z3lda3]

Seriously! “ I don’t want my dirt hole, yours looks better”

Or the I don’t like broccoli..until another chicken has it, then she HAS to have it.

 

[z3lda3]

Yes! My roo does the grab and dash. Gomez matured early (I think). He started growing wattles, not little nubs but wattle wattles at 5 weeks and was crowing at 8 weeks. Chest bumping at 3-4 weeks. He went to sleep one night and testosterone hit him like a truck. For the past couple of weeks he was hot and bothered CONSTANTLY, and did the grab and go on his flock mate. But here lately he’s been Mr. Romeo. Digging holes for her, giving her the grapes instead of eating them, and doing this weird kind of wings out Macarena bobbing thing. His mate, even though she’s the exact same age has 0 interest. She’s not even laying yet. So the sideways shuffle to my big gals was new for me. I was like well maybe older gals like a different dance???
Well good for Gomez! Seems like he’s trying to keep order in his flock.

@Shadrach wow an amazing article! It looks like I may have done something right. Mid morning I’ll go to the yard to give my chickens treats, mealworms and green beans. And Gomez is the first to reach me, I always feed him first. He’s my only boy so he gets some special attention. I feed him first then drop the rest around him, he’ll do his screamy hey here’s food thing for the girls. I do have a question: his favorite pullet Morticia is a complete cuddle bug. She follows me around meep meeping until I pick her up, and I’ll hold her in my lap for a bit. Will that make me “competitive” with me? He’s never shown any aggression with me before, but I definitely don’t want him to start.

 

[Love Donkeys]

Or why do they all lay eggs in one nesting box even though they have 5?!

(I know why, but it is so silly to see!)

We bought used nest boxes at a farm equipment auction. 6 nest boxes per unit, we bought 2 units and paid $10. You can't build nest boxes that cheap. That means they have 12 nest boxes to choose from, all with fake eggs or golf balls in them. Our 29 hens only use 5 of them! They actually stand in line and wait their turn! When someone tries to cut the line everyone gets upset. What a ruckus!!!

 

[z3lda3]

We bought used nest boxes at a farm equipment auction. 6 nest boxes per unit, we bought 2 units and paid $10. You can't build nest boxes that cheap. That means they have 12 nest boxes to choose from, all with fake eggs or golf balls in them. Our 29 hens only use 5 of them! They actually stand in line and wait their turn! When someone tries to cut the line everyone gets upset. What a ruckus!!!

That sounds right. They’re lunatics I tell ya. I’ve bought nesting boxes, made nesting boxes and they seem to prefer a 5 gallon buck they turned over. I’m like fine girls, do what you and your picking butts want.