Mating or seizures?

[Chuckkeeper]

Stray cats, hawks, and coyotes.
I'm not too concerned with coyotes right now but hawks and cats are an issue. In the past I lost chicks to cats and a large roo to a hawk.

Ouch. Sounds awful. My concern here (UK) is foxes. During lockdown I managed to build a 10,000V 2-foot deep & cemented + roofed prison style structure! We've caught the foxes on camera but they didn't hang around for long. Some of the family are even scared of it...

Do you fully free range? I have no experience with many of the preds you quote.

 

[janiedoe]

You are essentially his mother. I've noticed in the past that a few of the little cockrels here would do that after jumping up on the mama hen. It almost always starts at 4 or 5 weeks and is pretty funny. I've also notice the hens "ween" them quickly when that behavior starts. She always shakes them off and pecks them when they do that.
Good luck with your cute little guy. I hope he turns out to be a gentleman.

 

[Chuckkeeper]

You are essentially his mother. I've noticed in the past that a few of the little cockrels here would do that after jumping up on the mama hen. It almost always starts at 4 or 5 weeks and is pretty funny. I've also notice the hens "ween" them quickly when that behavior starts. She always shakes them off and pecks them when they do that.
Good luck with your cute little guy. I hope he turns out to be a gentleman.

Thanks for sharing. Sort of resonates with a 9 week cock I've got who did try to overcome a 1yr light sussex. She sorted him out fairly quickly... I wonder whether the 'hand' needs to give this roo the same treatment!

 

[WallyBirdie]

You are essentially his mother. I've noticed in the past that a few of the little cockrels here would do that after jumping up on the mama hen. It almost always starts at 4 or 5 weeks and is pretty funny. I've also notice the hens "ween" them quickly when that behavior starts. She always shakes them off and pecks them when they do that.
Good luck with your cute little guy. I hope he turns out to be a gentleman.

Thank you for this information! Very helpful!