Why is pullet grabbing roo by the wattles?

[teeville5]

I have a roo that is getting his wattles grabbed by one of my pullets. We have him separated from the girls for most of the day and then let him in with them for a few hours before they all get put away for the night. This afternoon after putting him in with them, I watched as one of the NH girls went up to him and grabbed him by the wattles. He shook her off, but she kept coming back up to him and doing it. I've never noticed this behavior before so I'm a bit perplexed as to why she was doing it. No matter how many times he shook her off and ran away, she just kept following him and doing it. My DH thought that she was just trying to get his attention as the roo seems to be more partial to the barred rocks, but I don't think so. Any ideas what is going on? If it's pecking order stuff, I thought that was already determined. He's not new to the girls as he was raised with them so what is this about? Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[duckinnut]

I cant explain why but can tell you that your not alone. My White Rock Roo is constantly harassed by a couple of my girls,usually the dominant RIR and same BR. They peck his butt and his comb,maybe due to the red on the comb,but he does absolutely nothing. He justs stands there and let them peck him in the head,granted he weighs almost twice what they do but choses not even to move. I know he is not the smartest thing I have ever encountered but he is very protective of his girls. I wonder if the I. T. dept. is not communicating with the engineering dept. telling him to move. Naming him Rocky Balboa probably didnt help the matter.

 

[KDK1]

Quote:
Probably cause he doesn't have ears...

maybe she just wants a little, umm, attention... Yeah, that's it, attention.

 

[KDailey]

I don't know this from personal experiance but I've read on here in several different threads that if a flock of hens does not have a rooster, a hen will take over the job.

So maybe by you keeping him seperate except for a little while before bedtime, this hen has decided to take over the job as leader and when you do put the rooster in she feels she is defending "Her" flock.

 

[anderson8505]

Quote:
I agree. Although the other ideas are funnier.

 

[pgpoultry]

I would have thought it is pecking order stuff or "I've got you by the short and curlies" chicken style.