Sudden aggression?

SunflowerTheBun

Chirping
Jul 8, 2016
233
36
79
Victoria, Australia.
Hi all,

Wondering if any of you have any answers to why my rooster and one of the hens started fighting today.

Backstory: They've been fine with each other for ages, except for when we first introduced the rooster as a youngter and she had a bit of a go at him then, (at the start of the year) but they've been pretty much nice to each other ever since (apart from the occasional chasing which has been harmless).

Recently she came into lay so he has been mounting her (don't think she liked that much) so I think it may have even been HER who induced the fighting,

Currently they are separated from the four chicks and my other hen during her day in the run, only because the chicks can get through the wire, but at night and morning and when we go out they are all together in the coop.

Any ideas are appreciated,
Sunny.
 
Your hen is still in the process of accepting the "rooster". He's probably still under a year old and is still a cockerel would be my guess, even though you don't state his age. This is normal what they are doing. He has to earn your hen's respect. Be patient.
 
Hi all,

Wondering if any of you have any answers to why my rooster and one of the hens started fighting today.

Backstory: They've been fine with each other for ages, except for when we first introduced the rooster as a youngter and she had a bit of a go at him then, (at the start of the year) but they've been pretty much nice to each other ever since (apart from the occasional chasing which has been harmless).

Recently she came into lay so he has been mounting her (don't think she liked that much) so I think it may have even been HER who induced the fighting,

Currently they are separated from the four chicks and my other hen during her day in the run, only because the chicks can get through the wire, but at night and morning and when we go out they are all together in the coop.

Any ideas are appreciated,
Sunny.
So she's only about 6 months old....and the male is younger?

BTW.....semantics, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
 
Being your Pullet just came into lay......I will assume you have a young Cockerel and Not a Mature Rooster.......She is possibly dominant and he is lacking experience with the Ladies ...........As long as its only Chest bumping and no blood is shed, no need to interfere.......All the Birds are maturing so pecking order might be changing?


Cheers!
 
So she's only about 6 months old....and the male is younger?

BTW.....semantics, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).


She is almost 2 years old and he is almost one year old.
I thought pullets became hens when they laid?
 
Being your Pullet just came into lay......I will assume you have a young Cockerel and Not a Mature Rooster.......She is possibly dominant and he is lacking experience with the Ladies ...........As long as its only Chest bumping and no blood is shed, no need to interfere.......All the Birds are maturing so pecking order might be changing?


Cheers!


My hen has layed many time before, yes I believe he isn't a rooster yet although we have got chicks from him
 
Quote: Nope, not until one year old......thus the term 'pullet eggs'.

Anyway when you said she "recently came into lay" I figured pullet.....
.....if you had said she came back into lay I might have known she was an older hen.

Anyway anyway...If she just came back into lay she may just be not so keen and being mated again...yet.
Did she ever let him mate her before?
 

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