Silly question about frisky roosters...

[downeastthunderfarm]

In our main coop we have one rooster - a Barred Rock. In the same coop/run we have 6 Barred Rock hens and 6 Buff Orpington hens. As best we can tell, the rooster only mates with the Barred Rock girls, not the Buffs. Is this normal? Is it likely that the rooster is sticking with his own breed? I assumed that he wouldn't be very picky about the hens. Or maybe it's just coincidence that we never see him with a Buff? I should mention that all of the chickens have just turned 6 months-old.

Silly, I know, but my husband, daughter and I are curious!

 

[Countrypunk92]

I have a silkie roo who only mates with silkies, but my neighbors goes for anything.

 

[azygous]

Roosters are usually as opportunistic as most males of any species, but there are those with discriminating tastes. Sometimes, they won't mate with hens who give them a bad time about it, as one of my hens does with my Cochin roo - she can't stand him and will beat him up if he tries. Other times, a roo will have favorite hens and it may only be coincidental that they are of the same breed as he is. It usually has more to do with personality and fertility than appearance.