Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Mincepies]

My araucana cockerel Tootsie has recently become a man and as well as crowing his head off, he's taken a distinct fancy to top chicken Beyonce (a plain, dumpy but lovely ISA brown).

He doesn't seem to mind that not only is she old enough to be his great-great-great-great grandma, but she's probably not fertile (she doesn't lay eggs anymore).

Is there any reason a cockerel will choose to mate with one female rather than another? Tootsie has seven to choose from, including some very pretty and fertile youngsters!

He does a very entertaining courtship dance before launching himself on her too, but we haven't seen him do this with the other hens.

[Mollie333]

 

Just the same with my Alice. He will choose one Pekin (Blanche) and his 'wife' Holly. I suppose its just which takes his fancy really.

[Space Chick]

Men

 

Although this fella is obviously sensible seeing the appeal of an older woman

[meezers]

I've found the opposite. Dandelion, my Silkie cockerel is only interested in the two that are laying - but did chase my Welsummer around the run today so fingers crossed she's coming back into lay. He does make me laugh though, he does his little dance and coos sweet nothings ( anyone else think they sound like pigeons ? ) but the girls are unimpressed to say the least -Lottie is last out of the coop in the morning - after sticking her beak out to check the coast is clear and when Mabel sees him coming she gets up onto the highest perch , knowing he'll struggle to follow her

[Mincepies]

It does seem strange that Tootsie has gone for the only non-laying hen! I thought maybe he was fooled by her 'head hen' status and her crafty habit of disappearing into the nesting box each day for a while, as if she is laying when she isn't.

I do feel for her, she's clearly finds the whole affair very undignified!

[Mincepies]

Just read Meezers message out to the other half and he says it's classic male/female behaviour - poor male goes all out to impress female and she doesn't give a monkeys!

[sjp]

Boris is the same, he's got 2 or 3 girls he hangs out with. He's got 2 he won't leave alone If you know what I mean neither of which are laying at the moment. one that untill this last couple of days hated his guts but is now flirting like mad with him but he also has one that he took a dislike to after she moulted the only other one apart from his 'sister' that's never been mean to him. then there's starfish I'm not sure were she stands

[chuckmum6]

My Onion has several wives, he particually favours Hen Solo, my araucana with a wonky neck, I think its because she can't see him sneaking up on her! He then has his maran's. He has made advances on some of the others, but has be duffed up, especailly by Tikka our legbar who was so enraged she chased him around the garden for a good five minutes! He hasn't tried again! He does has a close, but plutonic relationship with his sister Sage (so far), his surrogate mother however has been danced around, so maybe part of his harem very soon! He is very sweet with his food offerings, clucking at them, a real gentleman (with wicked motives)!

[keyhole kate]

Having read your posts I wish I could have a cockerel they sound so endearing and entertaining sadly living in a built up area I think my neighbours would have a fit

[Redwing]

the males do tend to go for the females that are more submissive to them - sometimes those females can really suffer though so keep an eye on them!