So I had just got done telling another BYC member not to worry, her rooster will get the hang of it as he matures. 
And I've had a dozen roosters in my experience with chickens.
But I'm dealing with a young Sumatra stag- 7 months old. He grabs the hen and hops on and does the dance, then let's go and seems confused. Tries again, and again. (I was really having to keep myself from jumping in on the hen's behalf. I typically don't unless blood is being drawn) but after about twenty to thirty seconds of this, she threw him off.
Five minutes later he attempted with another hen and she was having none of it. Around and around she went with him holding tightly to her head until my other hens jumped in and flogged him for not getting the hint.
During my observance watch, he made a third attempt, and I still couldn't see if he was on the money or not. He seemed confused, like he hadn't quite made it and still had the urge. Eventually, he steps off the hen who remains squatting, then steps on her head and neck looking for a way back on. Poor hen looked dead at this point. I can tell he's really confused.
I'm hoping he gets the hang of it, but I've never seen one quite THIS BAD at mating before. Every other juvenile I had before would try once and whether he hit or failed he was done with the hen for a few minutes. This one seems to really take his time-- I've never seen one go over ten to fifteen seconds.
Overall, I'll have to let the girls decide if we're going to keep him.
They seem cool with him and his place in the pecking order, but they get kinda crabby about the whole half-minute/awkward mating sessions.
Anyone else had a more awkward cockerel??
And I've had a dozen roosters in my experience with chickens.But I'm dealing with a young Sumatra stag- 7 months old. He grabs the hen and hops on and does the dance, then let's go and seems confused. Tries again, and again. (I was really having to keep myself from jumping in on the hen's behalf. I typically don't unless blood is being drawn) but after about twenty to thirty seconds of this, she threw him off.
Five minutes later he attempted with another hen and she was having none of it. Around and around she went with him holding tightly to her head until my other hens jumped in and flogged him for not getting the hint.
During my observance watch, he made a third attempt, and I still couldn't see if he was on the money or not. He seemed confused, like he hadn't quite made it and still had the urge. Eventually, he steps off the hen who remains squatting, then steps on her head and neck looking for a way back on. Poor hen looked dead at this point. I can tell he's really confused.
I'm hoping he gets the hang of it, but I've never seen one quite THIS BAD at mating before. Every other juvenile I had before would try once and whether he hit or failed he was done with the hen for a few minutes. This one seems to really take his time-- I've never seen one go over ten to fifteen seconds. Overall, I'll have to let the girls decide if we're going to keep him.
They seem cool with him and his place in the pecking order, but they get kinda crabby about the whole half-minute/awkward mating sessions. Anyone else had a more awkward cockerel??
i think with a bit of time he will find the right groove
But now I'm seriously thinking of giving this suggestion a try. He has plenty of brothers to "learn" from but they're all the same age so they're all doofus-es together.
