Fatal Attraction?

As we head into the breeding season, over-amorous cockerels can start causing real problems for their favourite hens. Fortunately, poultry saddles offer a simple solution.

While those of you with cockerels may well be looking forward to the production of fertile eggs and some new chicks, the breeding process isn’t always plain sailing. Problems can arise and so it’s as well to be aware of the potential for trouble, so that you can nip things in the bud before push turns to shove!

Fast and furious The act of mating among chickens involves the male bird ‘treading’ the female; she squats down on the ground while he jumps onto her back to do what comes naturally. This is all well and good under normal circumstances, but trouble can arise if the cock bird becomes over-amorous.

Often, within breeding groups, you’ll find that a male will favour one particular hen over all the others, which is when the trouble can start. If he’s treading her multiple times a day, this will soon begin to take its toll on her plumage and then, if it continues, her general health and wellbeing.

The feathers on her back and flanks will start to become damaged and broken by the repeated gripping action of his sharp claws and spurs. In addition, the male will often use his beak to grab at the feathers on the back of the hen’s head and neck, for additional support while he’s treading, with the same results.

Unfortunately, cockerels aren’t known for their sensitivity and gentleness during the mating process, as anyone who has witnessed it will confirm. It’s a very perfunctory kind of business that’s accomplished with controlled aggression and in a matter of seconds.

Too much attention

Now, while this is all fair enough every once in a while, the issues become very much more serious for hens that get picked on in this way, especially if there are too many males in the breeding group; one cockerel for every four hens is the generally accepted ratio to work with.