[Dicky]

Never come across this before but we have a group of cockerels in a run together waiting for us to have the time to slaughter them, and today I noticed one of them was sitting on the floor a lot, then he was being mounted by one of his half brothers.  This happened 3 or 4 times that I saw.

I'm sure he his a he as they were separated from the hens at around 12-14 weeks when the differences were quite clear, and though he is perhaps slightly smaller than some of his brothers, he is clearly bigger than his sisters.

[ZacB]

Most likely dominance, possibly not too well and fed up about getting bullied. May be worth while taking out of the main run, will probably end in tears as cockerels (actually most chickens) can be little buggers at times and likely to bully until the bitter end, not pleasant and hope I'm wrong. 

[chrismahon]

One of our cockerels trod a paper bag. They need a hen and the subservient cockerel is the best thing available. There is no penetration in the process so Homosexuality doesn't enter into it.

[SteveHants]

Gay poultry?


Best thread ever. 

[scruffbag]

We have had hen on hen action as a sign of dominance in the lack of a cockerel, at my work we have a bantum cockerel on its own when you put your hand down for the food bowl it will try its best to have some fun with your hand! I'd have defo said dominance!

[Mrs Snoodles]

Yep, dominance. I'd get that cockerel out too if you are rearing for meat.  He'll get stressed and ill and you'll be a dinner down.

[Ina]

Gay poultry?


Best thread ever. 

Don't know about poultry, but I've seen it in sheep.

For a project we were taking semen from quite a number of rams, and had a nice, sexy female to entice them to jump - not so for some of them... Several would only mount another ram, no matter how many ready females we had waiting for them! There was one good looking young ram in particular that had to suffer the attentions from a few other rams... And he himself wasn't gay. Poor bloke...

So these problems are definitely not just human.

[SteveHants]

I'm fairly sure that animals dont have the social mores to make it a good, bad or indifferent thing, Its just what they do, hence my amusement.


Yes, I've seen ram lambs riding each other round too.

[Ina]

What was new to me was that they didn't just do it when there was no other option, but in preference to a female - proving (to my mind) that homosexuality might not be the majority option, but it seems a perfectly natural alternative!

[sokel]

A friend of mine has a male pug that mounts other male dogs. At first she thought it was dominance but he will not mate a bitch in season or even try and mount them

[in the hills]

    Sorry, this thread has made me giggle no end.

[deepinthewoods]

brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'spring chicken'

[Lesley Silvester]

  Sorry, this thread has made me giggle no end.

Me too.   

[northfifeduckling]

I actually also have a contribution to this - my FEMALE ducks - I know, because normally they are laying eggs and are quacking  - mount each other during winter and spring. It looks creepily real! I decided it must be dominace but do not have much anatomical knowledge of ducks' genitalia