Rooster mating or being mean?

[ihavechicks]

My chickens are almost 6 months old. I have a rooster that has started attacking my pullet on a regular basis. He jumps on top of her and won't let her up. I would've swore that he was trying to mate with her, but he was standing in the wrong direction. My girls have not started laying eggs yet. Is he trying to mate or just showing dominance? Is she getting ready to lay eggs? This is my first time with chicks so this is all new to me. Thanks for any input.

 

[Illia]

He's trying to mate with her. If she's not showing signs of complying (for example, squatting down for him) then she's not ready to lay eggs. If she's the same age, you should expect it any day now though.

 

[Judy]

Hopefully he's just practicing or learning and he will get the idea soon. If he were handy I'd kick him off (gently nudge him off.)

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Obviously, you haven't had "the talk" with him yet.

 

[ihavechicks]

They are the same age, within a few days. I nudged him off of her but he went after her again. She just lays on the ground with her tail feathers up in the air, so I figured she was getting close. I sure hope it is true, can't wait to get some eggs

 

[sourland]

You say "pullet." Hopefully you have more than one. One rooster to one pullet can be a pretty abusive situation. His technique will improve, but he needs nine or ten hens.

 

[highcountrychickens]

There are little aprons you can put on the hens if he is too rough with her - but to answer the title of your post... Yes, and yes. Sourland is right, one hen will take a lot of abuse with one Roo - you might consider getting a few more hens.

 

[ihavechicks]

We got 9 chicks when they were a few weeks old, my sister hatched them for us. We think only 3 of them are girls and the rest boys.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

My rooster did the same thing as he learned by trial and error. Lots of error. He still is not much of a lover but I forgive him since he does the right thing when it really matters .

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
If you have 6 roosters with 3 hens, you'd best be getting rid of 5 of those roosters pretty quickly, or penning them up in separate quarters. Your poor pullets will be ill used once all those roosters begin to come of age...