We have 3 12 week old Buff Orpington roosters and 2 Welsummer boys that are starting the 'dance of the hormones'. So far things aren't too bad between them. There is the usual pecking, chasing, squabbling and squawking but no major blood shed and one of the Buffs is surging ahead as alpha cock. Being that they were raised together they get along suprisingly well..
I've noticed something going on that I can't figure out. If I handle one of the hens, the # 1 boy stands under me watching every move I make to make sure I don't hurt 'his' girl. Once I put her down, he makes it a point to 'chastize' HER. I've seen him do it with every hen every time I dare to touch them.
He doesn't try this with me. He knows better. But why is he chastizing the hens?
He has the makings of being a great Alpha. Today I saw him carefully tear a bit of grass and offer it to one of the younger hens that he has a definite crush on. She is a new girl in the coop, an 8 to 10 week old Speckled Sussex that I just got last week along with 2 younger Welsummers. They are only together for short supervised visits at this point but every time Mr. Alpha lays eyes on her, he rushes over and jumps her poor little bones. Little Speckles is young enough that she doesn't know what the heck this big lug on top of her is trying to do but she wants him to quit it immediately. So he does (no finess all hormones) and rushes over to give the hen I just put down that is his age grief.
So I understand whats going on with the speckled hotty (who is the only hen I've seen him mount). But why is he chastizing the other hens when I cuddle them?
Is this just chicken adolescence at its finest or is our Alpha rooster developing a taste for younger women?
I've noticed something going on that I can't figure out. If I handle one of the hens, the # 1 boy stands under me watching every move I make to make sure I don't hurt 'his' girl. Once I put her down, he makes it a point to 'chastize' HER. I've seen him do it with every hen every time I dare to touch them.
He doesn't try this with me. He knows better. But why is he chastizing the hens?
He has the makings of being a great Alpha. Today I saw him carefully tear a bit of grass and offer it to one of the younger hens that he has a definite crush on. She is a new girl in the coop, an 8 to 10 week old Speckled Sussex that I just got last week along with 2 younger Welsummers. They are only together for short supervised visits at this point but every time Mr. Alpha lays eyes on her, he rushes over and jumps her poor little bones. Little Speckles is young enough that she doesn't know what the heck this big lug on top of her is trying to do but she wants him to quit it immediately. So he does (no finess all hormones) and rushes over to give the hen I just put down that is his age grief.
So I understand whats going on with the speckled hotty (who is the only hen I've seen him mount). But why is he chastizing the other hens when I cuddle them?
Is this just chicken adolescence at its finest or is our Alpha rooster developing a taste for younger women?
