Such cuties![rule]OKay...lol 2/3 eggs the eggs hatched!!! They were under a broody for the first 18 days but then she quit so I put them in my bator!!!
Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread
- Thread starter michaelinnc84
- Start date
@vpatt
The chest bumping is power play. The calling over for tit bits that he's found and dancing is courtship. As a young rooster it is good that he is doing the dance first. Often it takes time for them to learn the finness of courtship and adolescents with raging hormones often just grab a hen and try to mount, without showing any attempt to seduce or waiting for the hen to acquiesce. The hens flaring up their hackle feathers and chest bumping him are saying they don't accept his advances. It's a bit of a put down for him poor lad!
At the moment he will still be gaining confidence and will stay within his peer group, but if he is your only cockerel, then eventually he should win over most if not all of the other ladies.
Don't worry too much about him mating with his siblings as they will mostly be half sisters anyway(probably same father but different mothers). It is only an issue if you decide to hatch some of their chicks and even then, it is not so much of a concern as with other species although mother to son or father to daughter is safer line breeding from what I have read, than between siblings.
So pleased you are enjoying the different behaviour that a cockerel exhibits. I do love having cockerels both for the eye candy and their role within the flock. Do be aware that they can change and become violent and aggressive both towards the hens and you. When dynamics within the flock change, it can trigger a change in their behaviour, sometimes for the worse. Just wanted you to be aware, especially if you have children around the chickens. It's worth while, 2 or 3 times a week, walking straight at him so that he has to get out of your way. Make strong eye contact and be clear that you are the boss. This reinforces who is top dog and discourages him from challenging you. I had an issue with one of mine and he drew blood from my leg a couple of times before we got it sorted out. Now I am much more conscious of his body language and if I think he has looked at me askance, I walk straight at him and make sure he walks away from me. Once he does that, I ignore him and can turn my back on him and get on with whatever I was doing.
Anyway, good luck and I hope you have plain sailing with your flock.
Regards
Barbara
PS. Re reading my post, it sounds like my cockerel is mean and that's so not the case. He was lovely when I first got him but I tried to introduce another rooster into my flock and they fought at every opportunity. I eventually had to remove the other cockerel as he was being hammered and it wasn't settling down. The day I took the other rooster away, Handsome Harry decided he would have a go at me instead. It was a bit of a shock as he had never shown any bad behaviour towards me before and it took a few weeks before we got it sorted out, during which time I couldn't afford to get caught in the yard empty handed and had strategically placed brooms and shavings forks to fend him off and pin him down if I needed them. We have mutual respect now but I am aware of the need to monitor and reinforce my position with body language every now and then.
The chest bumping is power play. The calling over for tit bits that he's found and dancing is courtship. As a young rooster it is good that he is doing the dance first. Often it takes time for them to learn the finness of courtship and adolescents with raging hormones often just grab a hen and try to mount, without showing any attempt to seduce or waiting for the hen to acquiesce. The hens flaring up their hackle feathers and chest bumping him are saying they don't accept his advances. It's a bit of a put down for him poor lad!
At the moment he will still be gaining confidence and will stay within his peer group, but if he is your only cockerel, then eventually he should win over most if not all of the other ladies.
Don't worry too much about him mating with his siblings as they will mostly be half sisters anyway(probably same father but different mothers). It is only an issue if you decide to hatch some of their chicks and even then, it is not so much of a concern as with other species although mother to son or father to daughter is safer line breeding from what I have read, than between siblings.
So pleased you are enjoying the different behaviour that a cockerel exhibits. I do love having cockerels both for the eye candy and their role within the flock. Do be aware that they can change and become violent and aggressive both towards the hens and you. When dynamics within the flock change, it can trigger a change in their behaviour, sometimes for the worse. Just wanted you to be aware, especially if you have children around the chickens. It's worth while, 2 or 3 times a week, walking straight at him so that he has to get out of your way. Make strong eye contact and be clear that you are the boss. This reinforces who is top dog and discourages him from challenging you. I had an issue with one of mine and he drew blood from my leg a couple of times before we got it sorted out. Now I am much more conscious of his body language and if I think he has looked at me askance, I walk straight at him and make sure he walks away from me. Once he does that, I ignore him and can turn my back on him and get on with whatever I was doing.
Anyway, good luck and I hope you have plain sailing with your flock.
Regards
Barbara
PS. Re reading my post, it sounds like my cockerel is mean and that's so not the case. He was lovely when I first got him but I tried to introduce another rooster into my flock and they fought at every opportunity. I eventually had to remove the other cockerel as he was being hammered and it wasn't settling down. The day I took the other rooster away, Handsome Harry decided he would have a go at me instead. It was a bit of a shock as he had never shown any bad behaviour towards me before and it took a few weeks before we got it sorted out, during which time I couldn't afford to get caught in the yard empty handed and had strategically placed brooms and shavings forks to fend him off and pin him down if I needed them. We have mutual respect now but I am aware of the need to monitor and reinforce my position with body language every now and then.
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LOL...thanks!!
Everything Rebrascora said is spot on. He is trying his moves with the younger pullets first since they are smaller and not dominant like some of the other hens are. He is more likely to be "successful" with them since they probably will not chase him off or peck at him. As he increases in size, gains experience, and moves up the pecking order he'll soon be getting cozy with the older hens as well. It took my little Roo until he was about 6 or 7 months to win the affections of the older girls. He was always gentle with them though...a very nice roo.
I, too, love having the roosters around. They take great care of my flock. My very nice rooster fought off a coyote a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, he got a leg infection and we had to put him down later. The second rooster became aggressive after the first one left the coop. We have to watch him all the time. When we touch any of the hens he feels threatened and will come after us. We currently have another younger rooster that is larger than the mean one. Either he will take over the dominant role (soon I hope) or the mean one will have to go.
I, too, love having the roosters around. They take great care of my flock. My very nice rooster fought off a coyote a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, he got a leg infection and we had to put him down later. The second rooster became aggressive after the first one left the coop. We have to watch him all the time. When we touch any of the hens he feels threatened and will come after us. We currently have another younger rooster that is larger than the mean one. Either he will take over the dominant role (soon I hope) or the mean one will have to go.
Thanks for the rooster info y'all. I will definitely try to be aware of him and his attitude toward me.
Okay so my first egg is due to hatch today! Two more tomorrow, then the last on Sunday. Without an incubator, what shall i do if my broody gives up on the last egg?
Also I can't help but think.. How to the baby chicks breathe under momma? I am dying to know if they have piped.. I'm dying to peek! Lol
Also I can't help but think.. How to the baby chicks breathe under momma? I am dying to know if they have piped.. I'm dying to peek! Lol
The broody isn't laying flat out on the eggs. She is actually standing on her feet and holds her wings out a bit to make more of a tent for the eggs. The chicks are not going to get smothered. She is close enough to them with her body to keep them warm, but she's not squishing them. 
Congratulations![rule]OKay...lol 2/3 eggs the eggs hatched!!! They were under a broody for the first 18 days but then she quit so I put them in my bator!!!
Good question! I don't have an incubator, so if she's doesn't take care of them, I don't know what the heck to do!
Day 6 and counting for me... This is my first hatch!
Congratulations!
Good question! I don't have an incubator, so if she's doesn't take care of them, I don't know what the heck to do!
Day 6 and counting for me... This is my first hatch!
My first hatch as well! And my broodys first hatch too.. Big learning curve... The anticipation is just insane !!
Lol I worried about all that too....how on earth can there be enough room under there?? But it all worked out....BROODY MAGIC.....I am amazed at how God put all this world in action.
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