Hen preening a cockerel?!

[lemoniee]

Hi all,

Ive just seen the oddest thing whilst round with my chickens, my cockerel who is very teratorial and doesnt like the hens been around him unless he is doing the business with them was stood totally still with one of my lavender hens doing what looked to be preening the cockerel, she was pulling out feathers and looking at the cockerel and he was letting her do it and would move around so she could reach other areas, when she had finished he wandered off and so did she.....is this odd or a ritual or something?

 

[jerseygirl1]

Nah, maybe he thinks he's Simon Cowell!!!

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

I once had a pair of Blue Laced Red Wyandottes; he was the only Roo amongst 13 hens. He fertilized ALL the hens, but his "wife", the BLRW, was allowed to groom him. Seemed to be like a daily ritual; other hens tried, but he wouldn't let them---just his wife. Pretty odd.

 

[chicmom]

Maybe they're in love.........

Roos do have their favorites........I think that is so cute!

 

[gritsar]

My Lil' Bit follows my roo everywhere and will preen his saddle feathers every chance she gets. She seems to get some kind of enjoyment out of doing it and he doesn't mind.

 

[Mandalina]

my roo only lets my largest BO preen him, i think if he didnt she would slap him around lol.

 

[lemoniee]

phew glad im not the only one thou, i too thought it was cute when she was doing it but he's looking a bit bald where she preened him! gonna keep an eye on it as i dont think he is mating with her just the others...

 

[SmartyChick]

I thought I was the only one who had romantic chickens!! Sunny Boy lets his girls preen him, they mostly just clean all the food goop off his face.
You know how messy boys can be...

 

[rainnotebook]

I was watching my laying hen do this with my Roo this weekend. It's so adorable to see them interact. He takes care of her by moving the other chickens away from the feed for her, and she cleans him and does other things for him.

(guess I should say allows him to do other things with her) They are an adorable couple and I love watching them!

I decided the next couple eggs I'm getting I'm giving to my mother in law to put in her incubator and we're going to see if babies are made.