Rooster Issues!

Date sort Score sort
ChickCrazed

ChickCrazed

Songster
6 Years
Jan 14, 2014
1,068
476
178
Lebanon, Indiana
I have a 16 month old Cochin rooster that has been an absolute doll up until the last couple of months. He really only recently (January - February) started asserting his manly rights over most of the 5 hens as I re-homed the dominant roo in January. I don't know if it is him trying to assert dominance, but he seems to be getting into "fights" with the hens, pecking them on the heads and chasing them around. No real damage is being done, but I don't like the trend. He also isn't very gentlemanly. There is no wooing or dancing happening yet and I'm worried that he won't ever get to be a gentleman. I don't like the club and jump type of caveman mating I am seeing and it isn't getting any better.

I also added two 12 week old pullets and a 12 week old cockerel to the coop after carefully integrating them side by side for a week and a half. My roo is (understandably) chasing the cockerel around a bit and there were a couple peck marks on the cockerel's comb, but the roo is also chasing and terrifying the pullets. I was not expecting that from him.

The roo is super respectful of people, but I don't know if his behavior is normal to the ladies and babies or if it is aggression that won't go away.

I am planning on re-homing the cockerel if they don't settle into a pattern, and I have 4 more 12 week old pullets that will be integrated after quarantine to help with the hen:roo ratio.

Can anyone offer thoughts on my roo's behavior?
 
ChickCrazed said:
I have a 16 month old Cochin rooster that has been an absolute doll up until the last couple of months. He really only recently (January - February) started asserting his manly rights over most of the 5 hens as I re-homed the dominant roo in January. I don't know if it is him trying to assert dominance, but he seems to be getting into "fights" with the hens, pecking them on the heads and chasing them around. No real damage is being done, but I don't like the trend. He also isn't very gentlemanly. There is no wooing or dancing happening yet and I'm worried that he won't ever get to be a gentleman. I don't like the club and jump type of caveman mating I am seeing and it isn't getting any better.

I also added two 12 week old pullets and a 12 week old cockerel to the coop after carefully integrating them side by side for a week and a half. My roo is (understandably) chasing the cockerel around a bit and there were a couple peck marks on the cockerel's comb, but the roo is also chasing and terrifying the pullets. I was not expecting that from him.

The roo is super respectful of people, but I don't know if his behavior is normal to the ladies and babies or if it is aggression that won't go away.

I am planning on re-homing the cockerel if they don't settle into a pattern, and I have 4 more 12 week old pullets that will be integrated after quarantine to help with the hen:roo ratio.

Can anyone offer thoughts on my roo's behavior?
Click to expand...

My guess is since you got rid of your dominant rooster that the hens were used to your young rooster is trying to assert his dominance and show the hens that he is the boss. They usually stop fighting with each other within a couple of days to a week until the hens get used to the new rooster. He is doing the same with your 12 week old birds too trying to show them he is the boss especially the cockerel.
 
I agree, but I figured after a few months it would have stopped by now. My fear is that he is settling into a pattern that he won't break. He doesn't woo or dance for any of them that I can see, just goes around using brute force. There hasn't been any blood so I don't know if I am over reacting to normal behavior. I hate seeing the hens picked on though. I thought about separating him for a week to see if that would help, but I fear it might make him even worse when he comes back in if he is fighting for dominance.
 
ChickCrazed said:
I agree, but I figured after a few months it would have stopped by now. My fear is that he is settling into a pattern that he won't break. He doesn't woo or dance for any of them that I can see, just goes around using brute force. There hasn't been any blood so I don't know if I am over reacting to normal behavior. I hate seeing the hens picked on though. I thought about separating him for a week to see if that would help, but I fear it might make him even worse when he comes back in if he is fighting for dominance.
Click to expand...

If it's been a few months I would get rid of him and get another rooster or maybe separate him with a couple hens and try that to see if they straighten out their problems.
 
Every rooster has a different style and some styles look pretty discourteous alright. My old guy used to march his flock down the laneway, reminding me of a bullying pompous little tin soldier. They marched right behind him though, so I guess they didn't mind. Your girls probably don't mind the rough trade as much as you do. Your rooster is still a teenager. Give him a bit more time.
 
Thanks! I appreciate the opinions! I am hoping giving him 6 new ladies will help take some of the pressure off of the older hens. It will be a month or so before they are getting close to POL though. Is it worth trying to separate him for a week or should I just keep watching and give it more time. If there is blood I will definitely separate, but so far I'm sure it looks worse than it probably is.
 
ChickCrazed said:
Thanks! I appreciate the opinions! I am hoping giving him 6 new ladies will help take some of the pressure off of the older hens. It will be a month or so before they are getting close to POL though. Is it worth trying to separate him for a week or should I just keep watching and give it more time. If there is blood I will definitely separate, but so far I'm sure it looks worse than it probably is.
Click to expand...

I would just leave him in the pen and watch him.
 

Similar threads

16 and me
Choosing a beta cockerel. Help!
2
Replies
19
Views
2K
Mrs. K
Mrs. K
peafowl_Lover
Rooster issues
Replies
6
Views
747
Folly's place
Folly's place
Goatm0m
    • Like
Integration, bullying Roo
Replies
2
Views
834
Goatm0m
Goatm0m
R
Introducing Rooster to flock
Replies
2
Views
442
Mrs. K
Mrs. K
LaurenRitz
Bachelor Pad
Replies
6
Views
325
Shabby Chic-Hens
Shabby Chic-Hens

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom