Odd mating going on

[Alicat4244]

So recently when my rooster is mating with a hen ,my dominant hen goes and starts pecking the hen on the head that he is mating with . What's up with that ? I feel bad for the poor girl . thoughts??

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have seen that on occasion. I swear it's jealousy, but who knows for sure why it happens.

 

[Alicat4244]

That's what my husband said. She stays at his side constantly. Guess she don't like being a sister wife

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Power and status is everything in a chicken's world. Playing nice with others means nothing.
Call it what you will but I think that jealousy is the wrong term when discussing the pecking order.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

My most dominant hen does this,she does is almost everytime the dominant rooster mates a hen,would really like to know what it is.

 

[snow5164]

Call it what you will but I think that jealousy is the wrong term when discussing the pecking order.

Agreed , they are animals . Pecking order is part of their make up

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Chickens have emotions as well as any animal does, so don't say it's all pecking order. If that was the case all top birds would do it. There is more to it than just pecking order.

 

[RWise]

Whatever it is it sure looks like jealousy,,,

 

[Alicat4244]

Just an update to my thread. Now my top hen isn't letting my roo mate at all

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How big is your set up? Coop and run size? Curious if space has anything to do with it. Also how old are these birds?