My Hens Won't Let Him Mate?

[Frazzemrat1]

I recently purchased an araucana rooster from the same person I bought my last three chickens (Thank you! @julietta!!!). He has integrated very well into my flock of all hens. The three young pullets are still separated from the flock, integration will start soon.
Anyway, he's a smallish Araucana and so far its been hilarious when I happen to see him trying to mate with my brahmas... We'll see if he actually succeeds with a girl that size.
So here's my question... He hopped on my BR, at one point my BJG... When he did, almost all the other girls ran over and pecked and pulled him off. What's going on here?

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Your hens are putting him in his place and teaching him manners.

 

[ClucksAndCombs]

Would love to know this as well, my last flock had a cockerel "Danny" and he was hopping on the 4-year-olds, and all of the ladies pecked them on the head. When we were introducing, the big girls pecked him all of the time, as if, "Hey, girls only!" Obviously, pecking is expected with introducing them, but most seemed to target poor Danny, rather than the other three pullets.

I guessed it was the fact that Danny was a young 25 weeks old, and the ladies just weren't impressed with this teenage chick. Maybe the same case for you?

 

[Frazzemrat1]

That's where I'm confused. So far, he's 'allowed' to mate with the brahmas, who are the most senior in the flock. He's two years old, and really quite the gentleman. Very non-aggressive, to humans and his ladies.

 

[RWise]

Give him some time, the girls will teach him how to act and treat them. He has not earned their respect yet, he'll get there.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Ok, I thought it was a dominance/respect thing, but I wasn't sure.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Part of teaching manners and probably were not quite sure what’s going on.He is a new bird and they are probably thinking he may be trying to dominate them,and new birds typically are pushed at the bottom.

 

[alexa009]

Is your rooster young? Small? If he still has time to grow he is going to start retaliating the rest of your flock and moving up in the pecking order.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Is your rooster young? Small? If he still has time to grow he is going to start retaliating the rest of your flock and moving up in the pecking order.

he's 2 years old, older than his new hens, who are only just over a year.

 

[meetthebubus]

I still see my hens peck at their roo while mating from time to time when they feel he's passing the line and some who never like the mating he'll be fine and he may get more sneaky to get his job done