Rooster question

[chickenteacher2]

I have a question about roosters. Would my grown rooster shake his leg at a cockerel (if it is still too young to tell)? Or is he letting everyone know with his behavior that they are girls? From my recollection - he has not shaken his leg at my known cockerels.

 

[sourland]

"Shake his leg"? Please describe this behavior. It is something that I have never observed.

 

[bj taylor]

my rooster shakes his leg at the girls. i haven't really interpreted what he's doing (it's a kind of dance) - other than showing himself off to them.

 

[chickenteacher2]

He dips his shoulder and shakes one leg at the female and sings a little gurgly song....his love serenade?

 

[TXchickmum]

Both of my cockerels (about 18 weeks old) do this same thing. -and, my dominant cockerel will also "dance" at the other cockerel as a show of dominance/territory, etc. I've observed it as a "keep your distance" thing when it is directed at the other cockerel. (Initially, the two sparred a good bit when they were very young. They no longer do this, and have established the "flock leader".) Other than the wing down and leg shake, the cockerels get along just fine. -and, it is always the dominant one that exhibits this behavior. My other little guy just dances for the gals. He gives my alpha his space.

 

[Den in Penn]

If he is doing what I think he is doing, he can't be shaking his leg at the hen. If he is dropping his wing on the same side as the hen is standing, lifting his leg on the same side to shake it at the hen he'd fall over. Bet he's shuffling a few steps circling the hen.

 

[sourland]

He dips his shoulder and shakes one leg at the female and sings a little gurgly song....his love serenade?

Courtship dance, and yes a rooster frequently will do this to any chicken regardless of gender.

 

[chickenteacher2]

Oh, ok, thanks! Yeah, he circles, too.