1.5 year old rooster suddenly killing hens?

[duckidaho]

Our rooster has been well behaved until now, but last week we had a hen with a neck slashed so badly on the back we had to put her down. We thought it was a hawk. But today we had another bloody hen, similar injuries, and saw the rooster just tearing into her. Why the new behavior? Will it stop? Or should we just stew the rooster now. We have 36 hens and these are the newest-but they've been in there a couple of months. Thanks.

 

[La Roux]

I think it may be time for a date with the freezer

. There are a TON of wonderful roos looking for homes, u can find one easily.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

I don't know but my normally sweet 2 year old rooster has started acting like a madman too. He is flogging anyone that goes in the run and chasing his girls all around. One of my leghorns is missing a ton of feathers on her neck and some of the other girls are nearly bare backed. I hope this is just a "it's spring, let's mate" hormonal thing going on with him.

 

[Zahboo]

How many hens per the roo? Could it be spring testosterone? My roo has gotten rougher with my hens but not to the ripping and such. I would seperate him or sell him for a more appropriate roo personally.

 

[sourland]

It's the season of testosterone madness for roosters, but that's no excuse. Get rid of him and get a calmer rooster. Such behavior may be hereditary in nature. No one needs a nasty rooster or worse yet a flock of nasty roosters.

 

[blake101]

Quote:
9 Hens per Roo.

 

[geebs]

Freezer camp... It takes to long to replace a good hen... the girls don't deserve it... I am for capital punishement in the coup.

 

[BirdBrain]

My Mom's flock has 17 hens and 1 roo. He is a rather calm and docile roo, but even with so many hens he still thinks he's on holiday and take advantage of every opportunity he gets. He'll jump on one right after the other if they are otherwise distracted. He tried jumping a guinea the other day and got attacked by one of the other guineas and thought better of the idea. On the whole his hens don't look too much worse for the wear although some are missing back feathers.

 

[EweSheep]

If a roo did so much to draw blood and mate rather aggressively, giving the hens no break, in the stew pot he goes! I do not tolerate that behavior and nor do I want to pass that behavior down to the chicks too!

There are plenty of roos out there that can do a better job serving his girls without tearing them up.

 

[MareeZoCool]

Have you checked his spurs? Could he be needing a trim?