Standard-sized roo with bantam cochin hens ok?

[khind]

I've had 3 bantam cochin hens along with 1 standard-sized austrolorp hen.
7 months ago, I got a gentle 3-month-old standard-sized Leghorn roo and 1 leghorn hen who was raised with him, to add to the flock. (So, 3 small hens, 2 standard-sized hens, and 1 standard-sized rooster).
Since the roo became virile, he's still a really nice guy, but I'm wondering if he's the right, safe size for the bantams. His favorites seem to be the bantams. The austrolorp was pretty much in charge til he got there so she gives him just a look and then he usually withdraws his advances and moves to someone else; and he doesn't seem really interested in the hen he arrived with, who is his age and size. So that really leaves just the bantams. They're not missing any feathers on their backs or necks (that can be seen anyway), but when he mounts them, he's really trying to keep his balance (maybe moreso because they're so small?), and I'm afraid he's going to hurt their wings by stepping on them again and again. Does this sound like a concern I should have? So far they're moving around fine.

The other question is, does a younger roo like he is tend to want to mate several times/day? I've had other roosters, but this guy mounts one hen, and then I've seen him go back several minutes later and mount her again! Once again, I don't know if it's because maybe they can't quite "get it right" in the fit, given their size difference, so he's trying again? Or maybe he really needs it that often, that bad?! I even saw him the other day suddenly mount a very caught-off-guard bantam as she was coming down the ramp from the roost in the a.m. You should have heard her - sounded like he was killing her, so I went over and touched him on the back and said, "Hey!" and then he got off of her.

Any thoughts?

 

[Roo5]

Yes, young roosters are way more hormonal then older roosters, it sometimes calms down with age, but Ive seen it usually spark back up in the spring time.
The standard size rooster shouldn’t be an issue,escpecially being a leghorn, their not that big anyway.I kept a New Hampshire rooster who was twice the size of my bantam Cochins and he bred them with no issues.

 

[aart]

The other question is, does a younger roo like he is tend to want to mate several times/day? I've had other roosters, but this guy mounts one hen, and then I've seen him go back several minutes later and mount her again!

Sounds like 'not a great' cock/erel...tho might just be spring surge.
A 12 month old(?) 'good' cockbird should be a bit more mellow and adept, IMO.

 

[Callender Girl]

I'm glad the question was asked because my lone rooster, Sir Henry the Loud, is often kept in his run while everyone else free ranges, due to his keen interest in mating.

At three years old, the Iowa Blue boy still wants to mount everyone -- including a frizzle cochin bantam; Gabby runs and screams when she sees him coming.

At the other end of the spectrum, Honey, the large, grand dame Buff Orpington, just gives him the evil eye, and he usually rethinks his target. Plenty of other girls to keep him busy.

While I think he too often bothers the girls, I do enjoy seeing his "Look-at-me dance." He is a magnificent-looking roo.

 

[rebrascora]

Adolescent cockerels in springtime are by far the worst torment for hens and particularly pullets. Their hormones are merciless. In a more natural setting they would not be allowed to mate because there would be a senior rooster that would be in charge and the youngsters would be driven out of the flock to form a bachelor unit until they had matured and were ready to take on the old guy or steal a few hens and create their own flock. They might manage to mate the odd pullet when the head guy's back was turned but the pullets soon learn to stick with the mature rooster or older hens for protection. And a mature hen will usually see off an amorous young whipper snapper as you have seen. With only having a few bantams that are vulnerable to him, they will get over mated sooner or later and because his balance and technique are putting more strain on them, there is a risk of injury or stress causing a latent disease to exhibit, so I would pen him separately if you can or give them time away from him when they can relax without the harassment or get rid of him.

 

[CannedMonster]

Keep an eye on him.
A Leghorn is on the smaller side of the standard breeeds so it could work but he sounds like he’s struggling with technique regarding how to breed such a small hen.
I wouldn’t have a roo bigger than a Leghorn with bantams though.
You did the right thing in pushing him off the screaming hen.
A dominant rooster would do the same.
Hopefully he is just reacting to a spring hormone flush as others have said.
If he’s not human aggressive I think it’s worth it to see if he may settle down and work it out.