Puberty/Mating Management?

[AmyJane725]

Perhaps your boy targets the bantie as she is small and easily overpowered. And as you said, likely has done so while you are away so he may over-mate her or hurt her by this repeated mating. (My opinions from reading other threads as I am new to this also).

Do you have other bantams? Can the bantams be housed away from the full-size flock?

I do have other bantams, and no, separate housing really isn't an option. I'm prepared to remove all the boys if this becomes a problem. Nobody is getting mated to death on my watch.

D/S might leave the female(or another male) down and still until he goes away.

Hm, maybe that's what it was then? But since she's not of breeding age yet maybe she wouldn't have known to shake anyway (even if I hadn't picked her up).

You don't mention the ages(in weeks) of these birds.
Males will start dominating and trying to mate at about 3-4 months,
females are unable to accept mating until they are laying or close to it.

These two in question are 12 weeks, 3 days old.

that 'friendly' cockerel is likely 'bold' and sizing you up! I prefer the boys who respect my space and move away as I walk through the flock, to any who want to be right there. See how things develop, and do keep one of the 'fearful' ones too, because that's more likely respect.

I am holding onto the two fearful ones as well as my snuggler for now. I need to see how they turn out as far as treating the girls goes. Gotta make sure I don't wind up with a jerk.

I've been told that the skittish are safer for humans. They should technically fear you...see you as dominant. Friendly can be just that, depending on several factors including how he was raised and environment and breed. Just like there is always a bad seed there is always a good one. But more likely than not, he will catch you off guard and is gaining authority over you...quietly. Lil passive agressive turds!

I have read the same thing. I don't want them to fear me though. Can chickens respect you without fearing you? My friendly one probably is just sizing me up/being passive aggressive, but my heart has a hard time believing it. I raised him from a little tiny baby, and he has always insisted on being near me at all times. When he was smaller/felt more balanced he'd fly up onto my shoulders or my head (which is probably dominance behavior because he's being higher than I am) roost on my legs, sit in my lap, just cuddle in general. Even today now that he's turning 3 months old tomorrow he's still the same. I sit on the floor and set him in my lap. He'll stay with me for ages, letting me pet him and stroke his neck. I also pick him up and carry him with me at chest level. He has never shown a single sign of aggression in all this time. Never pecked me, run at me, tried to flog me, shown a lowered posture like he was getting ready to charge, nothing. I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for when this all changes, but voluntarily sitting in my lap and being handled so much just don't feel like aggressive behaviors to me. Maybe I should be put off that he's not scared, but if he continues to be friendly I'm happy to have my little snuggle bug.

 

[Folly's place]

Let us all know how it works out with him!
My worst cockerel started attacking when he was seven WEEKS old, and never let up. Not a keeper! At the other extreme, I've had two roosters who got human aggressive their second year. Not so good either.
Most bad boys have started thinking bad thoughts between three and six months of age, and I'm over trying to reform them.
Mary

 

[AmyJane725]

Let us all know how it works out with him!
My worst cockerel started attacking when he was seven WEEKS old, and never let up. Not a keeper! At the other extreme, I've had two roosters who got human aggressive their second year. Not so good either.
Most bad boys have started thinking bad thoughts between three and six months of age, and I'm over trying to reform them.
Mary

I will definitely let y'all know. Just look out for a thread with a title akin to "My Best Boy Is Now A Jerk. Help Me Save Him T_T"

I think I might have the record for youngest jerk cockerel. I have one (he will be rehomed when he's not a chick anymore) who started attacking me/trying to dominance mate my hand at 13 days old. I mean, he'd attack sooner even. The 13 days was the dominance mating thing. I broke him of that crap the day it started. He fears me now.

 

[aart]

These two in question are 12 weeks, 3 days old.

Yep, dominance and emerging sexuality from male...females are a couple-few months from sexual maturity. Males often cause much grief, stress, and possible injury to same age pullets...can be exponentially worse if there are multiple males present.

I don't want them to fear me though. Can chickens respect you without fearing you?

There's a fine line between fear and respect. No fear at all may make them try to 'dominate'(attack) you.

I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for when this all changes, but voluntarily sitting in my lap and being handled so much just don't feel like aggressive behaviors to me.

Familiarity breeds Contempt....or Romance meets Reality.
I don't know how many times(dozens if not hundreds) I've read stories that go like this:
"My sweet poopsiesnookems roosterbaby attacked me!"
Cuddle your chickens if you must, but beware the possible/probable consequences.
I don't let any bird jump on me. I handle them just enough so they know they won't die from it(reducing the fear factor).

 

[Beccazon]

Yup they can respect without strong fear but if you think about it in general, with NO level of fear, then pecking order doesn't exist. And you need to be the top.

 

[Folly's place]

Cuddle the pullets, and keep the cockerels at a respectful distance, and I think it's going to work out much better. Most of the time, of course, with exceptions...
Mary

 

[goldysgirl]

So is the stunned look kinda normal at first then, until they hit sexual maturity and know what's going on?

I don't have any adults for these to learn from. They're pretty much on their own. I hope they develop manners.

I'm rehoming some cockerels on Tuesday who are being mean to their flockmates, and the all but one of the remaining ones are afraid of people (for no reason. Never been mistreated a day in their lives) and the last one is my friendliest chicken of all. I'm more worried about flockmate interactions than them being mean to me. I can hold my own against a rooster. I'm sad, because one of the ones I'm rehoming is friendly with me, but he has started being nasty to the girls so he has to go

The japanese roo, Tiny, that is my avatar is about 7 months old. He has been breeding the hens for a month or two now. At first he was being really rough. I thought he might have to go. And the girls seemed a little shocked at first, but then they become cooperative and now make no fuss- the ones that are actively laying. All of my new birds including Tiny started out in my fenced coop and run. I gradually removed the other 4 banty roos and standard sized silkie roo to my larger coop containing only standard hens where the birds free range in the day. There are too many roos to hens, but so far only mild squabbles. They roos were all raised together and only the two top roos breed the ladies and the other boys stay at the edge of the flock. Tiny settled down as soon as I removed the other roos and is being much gentler with the ladies. I think getting a little more experience is also calming him down. He is super tiny and can't physically breed some of the bigger hens in there. They squat down and are really patient, but he is miles from the goal haha. He is getting better with practice though and some of the eggs have been fertile. I definitely wouldn't try to keep more than one of my boys in the fenced in area. There is not enough space. I don't know if it will work out in the free range situation either, but so far so good. I think it helps that the hens are standards and all of the roos but one are tiny bantams.

 

[Halfpasthen]

Forgive me if this has been mentioned. Someone did say something about mating and dominating looking the same.
I looked back and your thread regarding the sex of your birds and the Cochin REALLY does look male.
I’m thinking what you witnessed was domination rather than mating. And that is why the Cochin just stayed down like that.

 

[aart]

I’m thinking what you witnessed was domination rather than mating. And that is why the Cochin just stayed down like that.

Domination mounting can be applied to, and by, either gender.

 

[Halfpasthen]

Domination mounting can be applied to, and by, either gender.

Right, not just in regards to chickens either lol.