Rooster does a funny dance

[PatS]

I suspect it has something to do with "having love on his mind," but I'm not sure.

I watched all the chickens come out of the coop very early this morning. As soon as they left the run, the rooster did a dance around every chicken. It was a sideways circular dance, while dipping the shoulder closest to the chicken. The chickens didn't seem to like the dance at all.

They are all the same age, (19 weeks), but the dancing rooster is quite a bit more developed than the other male, with very long wattles and ear lobes, and a very tall comb.

At this point, the chickens don't want anything to do with him. Sometimes he'll grab one by the back of the neck, and the girl will squawk and run away. Is this mating behavior or something else?

ALSO, he crows like crazy, he goes on and on. I wish he had a snooze button I could push! When he finally gets some "satisfaction" will the crowing be toned down a little?

 

[b.hromada]

He's just beautiful!

Its sounds like mating behavior to me. Thats what everyone says, any way. Enjoy!

 

[Bookworm chick]

Yes, it's a courtship dance. My rooster always does it too. Usually first thing in the morning when I let them out in the run. It's really amusing to watch.
The pullets just aren't maturing at the same rate. Eventually they might "squat" when he approaches them.

 

[canada-goose]

I love the dancing, it's cute.

 

[crtrlovr]

Yep, that's the typical Rooster dance -- it's his way of letting the girls know he's boss and in charge. He may use the dance to guide them in a particular direction -- again, to show them he's in charge. If he dances around YOU, he's telling you he's the boss over you. (Not something you should let him get by with! Pick him up and carry him around a bit so he knows YOU are the alpha roo/chicken, and he's second in command). He's a beautiful fellow! Looks like my BO rooster, Moose.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree. It's fine if he's doing it to a hen, not so fine if he's doing it to you. If you don't respond in the way he wants you to (do what he wants), he may step up his try for domination in other, not so cute ways. Best to nip it in the bud, IMO.

 

[jenjscott]

I have a bunch of roosters who have the run of the yard. They are funny, because I can tell they want to do their dance at me, but they get as far as dropping one shoulder, never the whole wing, and don't dance. So I have a bunch of crooked roosters in my yard.

 

[PatS]

Thank you for clearing this up for me! And thanks, I think he's pretty, too.

Yes, I can tell he wants to try to do it to me, especially if I am squatting, working in the yard. He approaches me sideways, in a tentative way, so I either put my hand on him or stand up and make it look like I'm going to chase him a little. It's hard, I don't want him to be terrified of me, but I do want him to be respectful of me as "the boss." I guess I have to use the "calm dominance" that the dog whisperer talks about.

I read about not letting him mount a hen in my presence, so when he looks like he's about to chase one, I make a loud noise.

I never thought chickens would make me pay so much attention to psychology!

Thank you, Everyone!

 

[Namble]

If you want him to stop crowing just put a rooster bigger than him in his pen! He will run for cover then
! lol Thats what i did and mine stopped crowing.