Making gentlemen our if my roos

[kesrchicky16]

Of course not every single time...

They act different to the hens that don't give it up for too long. They will start to peck her down, don't let her pass on roost, don't let her get the treat they called the ladies to. So they expect some residual, but don't act like sex starved teen age inmates on parole. Also, given enough hens (and I mean a lot) I don't think they care about mating some. So I think if they have a good size harem they may not go out of their way to find that one or two un-mating hens. (But what do I know? I see thing all the time that I wouldn't EXPECT.)

But boys KNOW how to work for it... a little serenade, wing shuffle, calling to the treats... and not TOO many pecks after he gets off! No bloody combs (after initial learning curve).

I didn't personally call it rape and nor do I equate it with that. Though it took some explaining for my teenage daughter. To me it would be more on par with assault. But even then... I get that it's mating.

And yes, pullets who have never been mounted before WILL often react with screaming and running, making it SEEM very dramatic. Once they realize this is what's expected of them then they are more apt to comply. I've seen hens squat while the boy is still 2 feet away and maybe not even looking her direction.

Birds are creatures of habit. I would flip my lid first time something ever jumped on my back to.

It's true nature is brutal! I mean rat moms eat their kids... who can blame them, right?! Kidding. Definitely not in line with what some consider moral...

Anyways, for me separation until they are a little older seems to help with the boys becoming gentlemen. They practice their dominant behaviors on the other boys. As well as having older hens than cockerels. Juveniles of the same age are more likely to have aggressive mating because the older hens can keep the boys in check a bit easier. But of course all thing ARE relative and EVERY situation is different.

And yes, the wing shuffle is also about dominance and not just mating. I see my hens do it to others at certain times. Most recently one of higher up hens did it to one in the broody breaker.

Wow! I should consider myself very lucky. They have never drawn blood from anyone. My worst problem is ruffled feathers and mild reluctance to come in for dinner.

Have you tried playing Michael Jackson music for them while they sleep?

LOL!!!
Maybe Barry White or Michel Bublé

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Wow! I should consider myself very lucky. They have never drawn blood from anyone. My worst problem is ruffled feathers and mild reluctance to come in for dinner.



LOL!!!
Maybe Barry White or Michel Bublé

It's true, missing chunks of comb don't grow back.

Interesting how a little perspective can change things some times.

Maybe Barry White to get the ladies in the mood and the MJ to get the boys dancin' .

Oh, and they are soooo handsome, cute, adorable, macho when they dance!

 

[bobbi-j]

Just want to nip the impolite cockerels behavior in the butt if possible. I will give them some timeouts and watch Roo-dolph when he's out alone and see if he is more polite. I am mostly worried about the girls never submitting if they are so rude now. Also if they learn rude of ok they will never be polite. I don't want my girls to get hurt from rough mating because of something I could have helped eliminate.

I'm guessing the "hens" that aren't submitting are actually this year's pullets? Not laying yet? Cockerels do reach sexual maturity sooner than pullets. Once they reach laying age, they will readily accept the cockerels' advances. They're not going to hold a grudge for current behavior. Those young males will eventually learn to woo the girls, but right now they're so full of hormones all they can think of is, BREED, BREED, BREED! It really would be less stressful for your pullets if you gave them a break from the cockerels for a few months until they matured a bit more. Especially with two of them trying to breed them.

 

[kesrchicky16]

I'm pleased to report my Roo-dolph is trying. He started to dance Tonight! He didn't make it far because a girl outside his circle squated about 3 steps into his show. But hey he tried can't blame the men for loose women! Lol. I still need to watch the submissive roo. Maybe I'll just have to chase the males out of the run while the girls have breakfast. Eliminate the "morning lovin" until the girls have had their "morning coffee"

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I got 2 roosters for 3rd string defence of my chickens. They have earned their keep that way and even make a couple little chicks.

My problem is they won't dance for their ladies and when they grab them unwillingly the girls scream and the roos fight to both rape them before letting go. The roos are not aggressive with me or my young kids, even when I sit on the ground to bone with my new chickens that I got to try and dilute the roo's randyness.

I know they know the dance because they start sometimes but when the chicken runs they bolt after her anyway. They irritated me this morning so they boys are locked up while the ladies free range for a bit.

Any advise on how to get them to dance more frequently then they attack? Yes I know chickens don't have morals but my girls are all submissive to me and I have seen a few time that they have squatted for the roos but I have never seen a full dance except when my broody hen danced for the roos.

Too many roosters often result in infertile eggs because the chicken sex act must be completed more hurriedly than normal, in otherwise before another rooster tries to get into the act himself. This can result in frustrated roosters which your roos seem to be.

BTW, how old are your male chickens? Young cockerels are notorious lovers, who are just coming into adult hood but are not yet there..

 

[Chickassan]

That's very nice! I figured he had it in him.

I'm pleased to report my Roo-dolph is trying. He started to dance Tonight! He didn't make it far because a girl outside his circle squated about 3 steps into his show. But hey he tried can't blame the men for loose women! Lol. I still need to watch the submissive roo. Maybe I'll just have to chase the males out of the run while the girls have breakfast. Eliminate the "morning lovin" until the girls have had their "morning coffee"

 

[kesrchicky16]

That's very nice! I figured he had it in him.

He kept it up this morning. He's doing the dance wrong but he's letting the girls run off without chasing them down.

He stretches his outer wing and looks like he's doing a rain dance rather then trying to circle the hen. Oh well romance comes with age. He's still young I was just concerned with his lack of trying.

His brother, Shell-don, on the other hand is still questionable. Although I did see Roo-dolph push him off a non submissive hen and he let her run off rather then taking his turn with her. Maybe there is hope for a gentlemanly roo here after all. Just had to tell them they were replaceable!

I'll keep an eye on Shell-don and of he doesn't start to mature with age I have to find a new submissive before spring. That will give him until almost a year old. If his brother can improve now that should be a fair shake.