Rooster Aggressive Towards One Hen

Hi, I have a rooster being aggressive to one hen. He is a little over 5 months old. He is a Brown Leghorn mix. (Daddy was full LG) I have 4 hens, a EE, Speckled Sussex, Australorp, and a Ancona. I have 6 more chicks coming at the end of March. The Ancona is 8 months old and she is the one getting picked on, only from the Rooster. He jumps on her back and pecks what look like her comb area and behind it. This only started 5 days ago. I finally had to remove her today because she is now bleeding and her feathers on the top of her head are gone. I think he has gotten worst towards her and it even seem like to me like an attack. I thought at first she was not submitting but now I'm not sure. He is fine with the other girls and even me. He never has shown aggressiveness towards me when I feed or give treats. He also gives me space when I walk up to him and the hens. They are free ranged and have 15 acres to run around on. I would like advise on should I separate him for a while? And for how long? Or is this his hormones taking over? And if so how long will this last? Will he ever be nice to her? Sorry so many questions. I hatched the rooster to protect the flock. He was raised by the Australorp but she is not the mom.

Oh btw, I'm new, I've been reading stuff on here for a couple of years. This place is great for information and has help me in the past with my hens. Thanks

Hi and welcome to BYC - glad that you decided to join us. I think most of us are lurkers to begin with, but its a great community to be a part of. Does he mate with your other chickens? If not then its likely that your victim may be the only sufficiently mature hen to draw his amorous attentions.

Yep, I'd suggest putting him in roo prison for a while, and maybe for a few weeks or so.

You may also wish to consider separating the victim - or at least making sure there is no evidence of blood - chickens are can attack relentlessly if they see blood. If you can treat the damaged area with iodine or a mild saline solution and theres no sign of blood, then it may be ok.

Good luck

CT

5 month old male......he's trying to mate and doesn't know how yet,
and chances are that your pullets(same age?) are not ready to be mated.
The 8 month old pullet (is she laying?) may not be submitting to him.

I'd remove the male and let him grow up a bit, give the girls a break.

I have a 5x10 chicken tractor that has a coop with run that my hurt chicken is in all doctored up and getting rest to heal. I will switch her out and put the rooster in there for a few week as You both suggested. Do you know about what age they start to settle down a bit? I know I read on one post they go through a sort of raging hormones phase but I didn't see when that would begin to slow down or stop. Any ideas?

Thank you both for the response.

chickiecakes said:

I have a 5x10 chicken tractor that has a coop with run that my hurt chicken is in all doctored up and getting rest to heal. I will switch her out and put the rooster in there for a few week as You both suggested. Do you know about what age they start to settle down a bit? I know I read on one post they go through a sort of raging hormones phase but I didn't see when that would begin to slow down or stop. Any ideas?

Thank you both for the response.

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It's really hard to say how long it will take for him to settle down, if he ever does.
You kind of have to be flexible, observant, and creative when chicken juggling.

Separate them for a few weeks, then try to let him back out and see what happens.....
......if he misbehaves, lock him back up and try again in a few more weeks.

I'd separate them soonest, the hurt hen may get some trouble when you put her back in with the others.
How long has she been gone from flock?
It can only take a few days for the others to possibly regard her as a stranger when she rejoins the flock.

Okay I have put the hen back with the others. I noticed a couple of pecks only, I imagine it was just to remind her the pecking order but that was it. The rooster is now in jail ...lol... And I will wait a few week before I let him out again to see what happens. Although he's pacing a trial back & forth on the one side.

Thank you again for such a quick response

chickiecakes said:

Okay I have put the hen back with the others. I noticed a couple of pecks only, I imagine it was just to remind her the pecking order but that was it. The rooster is now in jail ...lol... And I will wait a few week before I let him out again to see what happens. Although he's pacing a trial back & forth on the one side.

Thank you again for such a quick response

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Oh, good!!

Yeah, let him pace, the little %^$(@*$^%!

CT

I want to tag on. I have a one-year-old, beautiful, sweet, perfect Dominique rooster. He was in with our first 7 chickens..turned out to be a roo. As he grew he was the perfect boy, did all the right things. Until now. We have one Australorpe that he was very fond of. Her back shows how much. That's fine, I understand that happens and a saddle has been ordered. But now anytime he get's near her he goes nuts and tried to attack her, not to mount, to injure. I have been keeping them separated for almost 2 weeks with occasional chances to prove he's not going to keep up with this behavior. Those didn't go well. So my questions. What are my options? I've read this thread. I've heard 3 options. Cull, re-home, keep separated. Is there a reason for this behavior? Will it ever change? Is it too late to caponize? Would that "cure" it? Right now there are nine hens, 3 of which are almost to breeding maturity. There are 15 chicks in the brooder. Will more hens keep him too occupied to attack the Australorpe? She is THE sweetest hen we have and a great layer (and same age as the roo). I love my roo, but the hens come first. He won't be hard to re-home, but I don't want to.

Thanks,

Jason

Hi Jason I would love to have those answers too because, I did separate him (my rooster) for 3 weeks and then let him out. Well he was a complete gentleman for about 3 days. Then for no reason (well at least none that I seen) he started after my Anonca again. Chasing her all the way across the yard and jumping on her and what seem to be pecking on her head and pulling feathers out. I let it happen once because I thought she need submit to him and him be the leader but then it happen again almost 2 minutes right after and she was running and he was chasing her. So I stepped in and now he's in jail again. I was going to keep in there until he was a year old and hope he would grow out of this but now you have said my fear. You have one at a year old and doing the same thing. I hope someone has some good answers.