Hen won't let rooster mount OTHER hens

[PippinChicken]

One of my hens has decided that celibacy is the way to go and that it's her responsibility to enforce it for the rest of the flock. Any time she sees the rooster try to mount anyone, she runs over and starts pecking him until he runs away. The rooster is young (9 months) and only started this business a few weeks ago. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this likely to be an ongoing problem, or something that resolves when everyone is used to the new order of things?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

At some point your young rooster will stand up and dominate her. Until than she's just being bossy to a young one.

 

[ShannonR]

This is so funny!! I've never heard of such a thing in chickens, honestly.

 

[PippinChicken]

Yeah it's absurd, he's a big brahma and gets chased by even the smallest hen Hope you're right that he'll stop letting her boss him eventually!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yeah it's absurd, he's a big brahma and gets chased by even the smallest hen Hope you're right that he'll stop letting her boss him eventually!!

Brahma are slower to mature and can be a bit less active than other breeds. Eventually she will see him as a mature male. He will probably have to earn it. Being corrected by a dominant hen does teach roosters a bit of respect towards the hens.

 

[Rusticwool]

I have a hen that does this too!! It’s hilarious to watch.

 

[Shadrach]

It's normal and will probably be ongoing.
This hen that pecks the other hens only wants the rooster to mate with her. It's one of the ways hens try to ensure that their genes get passed on rather than another hens.
The senior hens here do this to the junior hens the roosters try to mate with. The more aggressive hens will even attack the rooster as well.
It rarely stops the rooster and junior hens from mating successfully, mainly because the mating is over so quickly.
Let them get on with it.

 

[PippinChicken]

Brahma are slower to mature and can be a bit less active than other breeds. Eventually she will see him as a mature male. He will probably have to earn it. Being corrected by a dominant hen does teach roosters a bit of respect towards the hens.

Interesting, I hadn't thought of the potential benefit of it teaching him some good rooster manners right from the start!

 

[Shadrach]

Interesting, I hadn't thought of the potential benefit of it teaching him some good rooster manners right from the start!

I promise you it has absolutely nothing to do with teaching a rooster manners.

 

[PippinChicken]

It's normal and will probably be ongoing.
This hen that pecks the other hens only wants the rooster to mate with her. It's one of the ways hens try to ensure that their genes get passed on rather than another hens.
The senior hens here do this to the junior hens the roosters try to mate with. The more aggressive hens will even attack the rooster as well.
It rarely stops the rooster and junior hens from mating successfully, mainly because the mating is over so quickly.
Let them get on with it.

She's pecking the rooster, not the hens, and doesn't cooperate when he attempts to mate her either! She's just decided it's a no-mating zone. PG rated interactions only.