What's w/the Roos?

[Ridgerunner]

A rooster does his dance for a hen. She squats to spread his weight straight into the ground so she really does not have to support his weight. He hops on and grabs her by the back of the head to signal her to raise her tail and help keep his balance. She raisies her tail out of the way, he does his thing, then hops off. She does the fluffy shake to get the sperm up where it needs to be. I don't know what's ugly about that. But it does not always go like this.

Several roosters multiple mate a hen. Or a hen resists, either because she is too immature or she does not accept the dominance of the rooster. He's bigger and stronger so he chases her down and forces her. This is not pretty. Some roosters have brutal techniques and need to go.

Often a hen will try to run away, the rooster chases her and catches her, then she cooperates. This happens more with mature hens and roosters. I consider this more like the top one. He has to once again show her he is dominant and she accepts that, if relunctantly.

Often, when the rooster starts his dance, the hen trots away instead of squatting. The rooster ignores her and goes about his other business. I see this a lot in my flock.

Its not always nice, especially if you have young hens or roosters in the flock. Often, it gets better when they mature, but not always.

 

[ElioraImmanuel]

We have 45 hens and 3 roos. All were born between May 18 and June 7th 2010.

The other thing is the constant crowing of the one roo....oye vey! He walks all the way around the house in the morning crowing at 10 minute/15 feet intervals. It's like he's telling us get up, get up! I woke up before the sun this morning and I thought, "Oh! I have to shut the window or he's going to be waking the baby and me!" Then, I went back to sleep. Even w/my earplugs in, I can hear him. He crows all...day...long.

DH lets the chooks out before he leaves for work.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I don't think it's ugly Ridge, not at all. However, we both know that some folks are very protective of their hens and just can't handle the (appearance of) roughness involved. That's why I always say it's best to just walk away and let it happen.