Horny Roo stalking one particular chicken

[mamazeta]

I have 10 chickens --- 5 are 20 months old (Delilah is in this group) and 5 are 8 months old (Clyde, the rooster is in this group). In the past 3-4 weeks Clyde has taken to stalking Delilah. He will mount her and then five minutes later he is back. Although he does service the other girls, Delilah seems to be his favorite. He leaves the coop looking for her. Delilah has gotten to the point that she flees and he chases, relentlessly.

It has gotten so bad that Delilah has taken to leaving the flock and hiding in the field near the house. I put Clyde in a separate area within the coop. The other day I let him out to see if confinement had cooled him down. Once he was in the yard and spotted Delilah, he started running towards her, and since it was a distance he flew the remaining 100 feet towards her. He went right back into confinement!!!

Clyde is a beautiful rooster - I was told he is a Grey Game but I have not found info on that breed.
Upto this point, he has been a good protector and provider to the other 4 8 month old girls.

Is there anyway to change his behavior towards Delilah? If not, he will be leaving

and I know his 4 girls will be sad as they have been staying close to the coop while he is in confinement.

 

[lazy gardener]

I don't have an answer to your dilemma, but Clyde is certainly a looker. And I'd be looking to send him packing if he was terrorizing one of my girls.

 

[donrae]

Animal behavior is hard to predict. I've had roosters have favorites and the hens not appreciate it, but had enough space to be able to live okay together. I've also had a psycho stalker rooster who would literally stalk my two buff Orp hens. They would hide under the porch and he'd just set there, waiting for them to come out. For hours....creepy, right? Over a dozen other hens wandering around, but nope, he wanted the blondes. It was all screaming and fighting until I invited him to dinner. Then, I had a lovely flock of calm birds again. Sounds to me like you like this hen a lot more than you like the rooster, and new roosters are easy to come by. Yeah, he's pretty, but a harmonious flock is priceless.

 

[krista74]

My rooster, George, also has a favourite girl, but to be fair he will give any of them a bit of love if they come within mounting distance of him!

His favourite girl is a feisty redhead (a RIR) who will sometimes submit but often times will tell him to rack off in chicken language so obvious that even I get it!

She now has literally no back feathers remaining, and limited feathering on her shoulders.

I bought her an apron (saddle) to wear to give her some protection against him. It's not that he is rough with her, but he is just so big and heavy (being an Orpington) and the feathers come out purely from the treading action and from him hanging on to her.

I got a new apron the other day which has shoulder protectors added to it, and when I get a chance I will pop that on her too. I am conscious of not putting too many layers on her though, as it is quite hot here.

Anyway, I digress. My point is that maybe Delilah might benefit from an apron too? All of my girls now wear them in Spring and Summer when George is at his most 'active.'

- Krista

 

[brnstd]

Absolutely an apron is a good idea. We had to buy them too as we had 3 roosters and only 11 girls at one time. If you're talented you can make them. Another thing would 've to put some pine tar on her. He won't bother her at all til it wears off.
Good luck.

 

[mamazeta]

Krista74 & Brnstd - Thanks for the suggestion; however, Delilah doesn't need an apron as Clyde has not injured or defeathered her. The problem is he stalks Delilah and won't let her alone. She heads to the tall grass in the field when he is out and about

 

[brnstd]

I'm glad he's not de-feathering her. Pine tar is stinky and she'll get a break if you want. Good luck!

 

[SILKIEOBESSESED]

My rooster has a favorite to but its not that big of a problem because he is a bantam and the girls arent. Try to find things to distract your rooster when Delilah is in sight, does he have a favorite treat?

 

[krista74]

My rooster has a favorite to but its not that big of a problem because he is a bantam and the girls arent. Try to find things to distract your rooster when Delilah is in sight, does he have a favorite treat?

Maybe something like a head of cabbage hung just out of reach, or a whole melon to play with and eat.

That could keep him entertained for a while.

- Krista