Rooster just started picking on one hen this week.

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FloridaDog

FloridaDog

Hatching
Aug 30, 2015
6
1
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Hi all,
I'm new to chickens, we have 11 chickens, 3 are roosters and the rest are hens. All raised together. The roosters all get along reasonably well, there is a pecking order but no fighting. They are 18 to 20 weeks old. This week the dominate roo has started picking on and attacking one hen. He won't let her in the coop, chases her away from the water etc.
seems worse in the evenings I assume because she's trying to enter the coop. I've broke up attacks the last two night. I have noticed she seems to favor, meaning hang with another roo and not the dominate one about half the time. Could is be the cause of the aggression? None of the roosters are people aggressive, but this one hen is in a living hell. The hen also is the most friendly to humans. Any thoughts on what to do to stop the attacks? I'd hate for her to get seriously hurt but I do like having roosters (I like the crowing) and they're very pretty birds.

Thanks,
Florida Dog
 
That's what we're debating tonight. It's just odd that he only has a problem with one hen and it just started. But the hen is one of our favorites and we don't want her hurt, I'd like to solve the issue but it seems that getting rid of him may be what we do.
 
They are just starting to sexually mature, young roosters will often display goofy behaviors as they try to figure stuff out, it can help to have a mature rooster to keep them in line.

You have way too many roosters, I personally would pen the trouble makers up for a while until they mature enough for me to judge which ones are better, sometimes you remove the dominant one only to find out the next rooster is worse, either way, you will have to start pulling roosters out until your hens are ready for their attention.
 
oldhenlikesdogs said:
They are just starting to sexually mature, young roosters will often display goofy behaviors as they try to figure stuff out, it can help to have a mature rooster to keep them in line.

You have way too many roosters, I personally would pen the trouble makers up for a while until they mature enough for me to judge which ones are better, sometimes you remove the dominant one only to find out the next rooster is worse, either way, you will have to start pulling roosters out until your hens are ready for their attention.
Click to expand...


We Really didn't want any roosters, just turned out that way. I'm afraid of exactly what you said, remove one rooster now another becomes a bigger issue. I'm thinking we just pull all three rooster out of the main coop/run and put them elsewhere. Now I just need an elsewhere.
 
FloridaDog said:
We Really didn't want any roosters, just turned out that way. I'm afraid of exactly what you said, remove one rooster now another becomes a bigger issue. I'm thinking we just pull all three rooster out of the main coop/run and put them elsewhere. Now I just need an elsewhere.
Click to expand...
That's Your best plan for now, often roosters will improve after about 8-10 month and if you still have them you could try to reintroduce one, by then the hens will want a rooster and the roosters will show their qualities and you will have three to choose from.
 
I vote for keeping only one rooster for that few of hens.

Options is what you are looking at.
1. keep the dominant roo and hope things improve for the one gal. Things might not improve.
2. pen all the roosters in a bachelor pad until mature then choose the best roo. The best human roo may not be the best roo for the hens.
3. keep no rooster and either give away or process them. Dealing with losing them can be emotional if ya'll are attached to them.

That is really what it boils down to. What to do with so many roosters.

Personally option 2 seems the most likely to solve the issue. Just choose the best roo for the hens. It may not be the one you want the most though.
 

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