I have a 21 week old mixed breed cockerel (dad was an EE, mom was a barred rock) who was one of only two chicks born to my Christmas season broody.
He lived with his pullet half-sister all his life, but at age 16 weeks, we merged the youngsters in with our nine older chickens: 8 hens and 1 rooster (his father).
The EE rooster and this new cockerel have managed to get along without fighting thus far, but until yesterday I never saw the young cockerel go after any of his father's girls. He did try to mount the pullet he grew up with a few times, but she successfully rebuffs him every time.
Finally today, I saw him try to mount the most docile of the older hens, a 2 year old buff orpington. She fought back, and they ended up jumping and flailing at each other -- face to face. It was quite a site!
He never succeeded at mounting Buffy, though. Just as he has not succeeded in mounting Drew, his clutch-mate and lifelong companion. Best I can tell, he's still a "virgin," though not from lack of trying.
But it's only a matter of time now until he scores, cuz Pierre's just discovered: he's a man.
I am hoping that he and his dad can work this thing out without fighting. Both of them are pretty docile when it comes to roosters.
I guess we'll find out pretty soon how this is going to progress....
He lived with his pullet half-sister all his life, but at age 16 weeks, we merged the youngsters in with our nine older chickens: 8 hens and 1 rooster (his father).
The EE rooster and this new cockerel have managed to get along without fighting thus far, but until yesterday I never saw the young cockerel go after any of his father's girls. He did try to mount the pullet he grew up with a few times, but she successfully rebuffs him every time.
Finally today, I saw him try to mount the most docile of the older hens, a 2 year old buff orpington. She fought back, and they ended up jumping and flailing at each other -- face to face. It was quite a site!
He never succeeded at mounting Buffy, though. Just as he has not succeeded in mounting Drew, his clutch-mate and lifelong companion. Best I can tell, he's still a "virgin," though not from lack of trying.
But it's only a matter of time now until he scores, cuz Pierre's just discovered: he's a man.
I am hoping that he and his dad can work this thing out without fighting. Both of them are pretty docile when it comes to roosters.
I guess we'll find out pretty soon how this is going to progress....
