We had our flock of hens in the city for a couple years before moving to our homestead. We didn't keep a rooster in the city, so we were excited to add one to the flock once we were out here in the country. I remember being very amused the first time I saw our rooster court the hens.
The rooster will do a little dance for the hen to let her know he is interested. He will circle around her while dropping a wing to the ground and purring softly in her ear. Sometimes the hen will squat immediately and make the rooster's job easier, other times she will run away or play hard to get and the rooster will have to get a little more forceful.
I caught our Rhode Island Red rooster, Roosty Roo, wooing our light Brahma hen, Ellie, the other day. Roosty was a gentleman and tried his hardest to win Ellie's affection, but as you can see, she wouldn't even give him the time of day and appeared to be much more interested in pecking around for treats.
Roosty can be pretty rough and just grab the hen by the neck if she's not paying attention to him, but he was exceptionally sweet this time. Sometimes I feel bad for the boys when the girls just ignore them or run away. I guess they are playing hard to get! Typical girls.
Have you ever seen a rooster dance for a hen?
~Tammy
Shared with Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop, Farm Girl Blog Fest, Clever Chicks Blog Hop, The Growing Patch
I definitely have never seen a rooster dance for a hen before, but then again, I haven't seen many of either in real life :)
ReplyDeleteThat is too cute, though!
Hi Tammy, yep she wasn't interested at all! Love seeing all the guineas in the background, and the one that came in for a cameo appearance! We don't have any roosters (yet! maybe all 3 surviving chicks are roosters!), I think our girls will get the shock of their lives after 5 years of spinsterhood!! Have a wonderful Christmas, it's been lovely getting to know you this year Sxxx
ReplyDeleteThat is so cute! No I've never seen a rooster dance before, but then I've never seen a rooster close up. Everyone I know that has chickens is in a urban or suburban setting where roosters aren't allowed.
ReplyDeleteSo cute how he 'dances' and she is just ignoring all his antics ~ Great video ~ Happy Holidays to you and your family ~ (A Creative Harbor ~ aka artmusedog and Carol ^_^)
ReplyDeleteHa ha cute! I guess it happens to the best of men...feathered or not! Thanks for sharing the video - it must be fun to watch chicken life while it's happening! :)
ReplyDeleteOMG my roosters dance all the time for my hens. It is so funny to watch! And yes, a lot of the time they don't get any lovin for it...poor guys. My beta roo especially..... A lot of dancin but not much lovin. He even dances at me! LOL
ReplyDeleteOur rooster dances for the girls too, sometimes in vain! ;) He is really good to them though, pointing out all the tasty treats and rounding them up to keep them safe.
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny and cute!! I'm a city girl so I've never seen a rooster dance. Typical man - strut around. ha.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and yours.
Judy
That is pretty cute :-)
ReplyDeleteI may get hubby to do a little dance after seeing this.. grin.. xo
ReplyDeleteOh, what a sweet guy! Maybe she wants him to help around the roost more often before expecting some lovin'. Just sayin'. he he. xx
ReplyDeleteHahaha, he was getting a bit frustrated, but I'm thinking she was toying with him just a bit.
ReplyDeleteOh Tammy you made me laugh the video and your commentary Thank you:)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and all the best of 2013. Enjoy the holidays with your family. Hugs B
That's cute! I've never seen a rooster dance.
ReplyDeleteHave a Merry Christmas.
We rehomed our roosters, but sometimes I wish I had kept the most docile of the bunch. Roosty is a great name!
ReplyDeleteHe seems like a very patient bird. She was making him work for it! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOur previous rooster used to dance a lot, but the one we have now doesn't do much dancing.
ReplyDeleteThat's so cute he is trying his best isn't he , poor ol Rooster. Never seen a Rooster dance like this before.
ReplyDeletePoor dear Rooster!! Would be funny if you set his dance to music!! Wonder if he'd pick up the beat to music being played? Although, all the clucking may be music to HIS ears :-}}
ReplyDeletepoor Roosty, glad he was gentle! love your Christmas card with all your 'family' in it. very sweet. I didn't send any card this year, but got one and I'm going to answer it. Merry Xmas dear :) xxo
ReplyDeleteLove this! I have never seen any of our roosters dance.
ReplyDeleteYou are much kinder than me. I don't think I've ever had sympathy for the rooster. I always get ticked off at the roosters when I see them being rough with a hen.
He does seem intent on his lady, and she does seem intent on eating, lol
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your family (feathered friends included). :)
This was so fun to watch! We don't have a rooster, so I have not seen how they interact with the hens before. Kinda feel bad for the poor guy!
ReplyDeleteyes, indeedy....I have seen the male STRUT HIS STUFF around a fair maiden. Mr. Sweet's mom had chickens...
ReplyDeleteI am almost afraid to ask .....when you have fired chicken, do you use one of your own (heaven forbid) or just buy chicken strips at the groc store?
I know you get mighty fresh eggs and, boy, don't they taste good...:)
Have a fabulous Christmas.
O, I wanted to add:
ReplyDeleteI am a city girl...never knew much about farming or farm animals. My mother in law decided she would "show me" how to wring a chickens neck, pluck the feathers, cut one up and fry it. OH, dear...I couldn't even TOUCH that chicken, much less wring it's neck. I watched, tho...and didn;t like it one single bit...I am not crazy for chicken to this day.
I love watching our lads dance for the girls. It is hilarious to watch. And, you are right, the ladies rarely are give our dancing boys their attention. At least, we enjoy it! ♥
ReplyDeleteThat's a first for me!
ReplyDeleteA first for me too, Tammy, and I was captivated! I'm so glad you shared this!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, my friend, a very happy 2013 to you and your wonderful family too! xx
I love the white guinea hen getting in on the video :) Pretty amusing!
ReplyDeleteYour roo is very patient. Ours is the grab and go kinda guy...pretty rough on the hens.
I hope you will link up to Wildcrafting Wednesday next week...I'd love to have you share this! We will be having our people's choice awards this week, be sure to stop by and vote for your favorite at http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/
ahaha great video! Always great posts in our neck of the woods.
ReplyDeleteCome join my BlogHop at http://www.growingpatch.com/blog-hop/
Garrett @TheGrowingPatch
Hi there from the Blog Hop! New follower. You can find me at http://theresmagicoutthere.blogspot.com/ Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteThat is a good rooster that will dance and court the hen before....I love the video very cute.
ReplyDelete