15 Week Old Cockerel is Being Aggressive

[TexasGirl97]

So I have 24 chickens, I know I have at least 2 cockerels. I will have to take a picture of the other 2 to show yall, if yall could help me figure out if they are cockerels too or pullets. Anyway, this one cockerel who is a buff orpington, has been a bit aggressive towards me. Everyday when I let the chickens out of the coop he immediately flies at me and full on attacks my shoes (Biting, squaking, flapping, shaking head back and forth with my shoes in his beak). He has never attacked my husband or my kids, just me... And it sucks cause 99% of the time I'm the one that takes care of them... the other cockerel, who is a lavendar orpington, has never done anything like that before and is quite docile to be honest.. Is there anything I can do to make him stop doing that? Or Is it one of those things that I can either deal with it or get rid of him? I've grown really attached to my babies and now I feel apprehensive walking into the coop/run area because I'm scared he's going to attack me instead of my shoes.

 

[nuthatched]

You should never have an animal you don't feel safe with, rehome him with full disclosure or dispatch him.

 

[TexasGirl97]

You should never have an animal you don't feel safe with, rehome him with full disclosure or dispatch him.

If that's what I should do then so be it... He's also very adamant about mating with the pullets, including the 9 week old pullets... I haven't seen my lavendar orpington cockerel, Frederick, do any mating with the pullets... they are both the same age... it's so weird... these are also the first chickens I've ever raised so I'm new to all of this

 

[nuthatched]

If that's what I should do then so be it... He's also very adamant about mating with the pullets, including the 9 week old pullets... I haven't seen my lavendar orpington cockerel, Frederick, do any mating with the pullets... they are both the same age... it's so weird... these are also the first chickens I've ever raised so I'm new to all of this

He's going to hurt your young pullets, they are too little. Your orpington is probably the submissive cockerel here. His personality could change once the other one is gone.

 

[TexasGirl97]

He's going to hurt your young pullets, they are too little. Your orpington is probably the submissive cockerel here. His personality could change once the other one is gone.

Ah, ok! Yeah, I don't want the little ones to get hurt... We will probably get rid of him then! Better to be safe than sorry

 

[My Bagurks]

When you go down to the run to let them out. Bring treats. Don’t back away from him but immediately lay the treats down in front of him. Give them TO HIM. And no one else.

As far as the smaller hens go, it’s definitely worth considering rehoming for their sake. Inspect them and see if he’s hurting them at all. How old is he by the way?

 

[TexasGirl97]

When you go down to the run to let them out. Bring treats. Don’t back away from him but immediately lay the treats down in front of him. Give them TO HIM. And no one else.

As far as the smaller hens go, it’s definitely worth considering rehoming for their sake. Inspect them and see if he’s hurting them at all. How old is he by the way?

He is 15 weeks old... I will for sure inspect the smaller ones closer tomorrow... I check on all of them before I close the coop up at night and haven't noticed any damage but I also haven't done a close up 1 on 1 inspection either... I will also post pics tomorrow as well

 

[My Bagurks]

He is 15 weeks old... I will for sure inspect the smaller ones closer tomorrow... I check on all of them before I close the coop up at night and haven't noticed any damage but I also haven't done a close up 1 on 1 inspection either... I will also post pics tomorrow as well

Duh. That’s what the title said. Sorry.

So they are still pretty young. Roosters are pretty clumsy when they’re younger. I had a rooster at the bottom of the pecking order practice several times a day on a knocked over waterer. But there’s a good chance that if you do regime him, the other rooster will step up his game and come into his own by himself. There are roosters that the hens don’t want anything to do with and there are roosters that are too prolific for their own good. As long as she’s not getting injured, I’d give it a little time to see how things go as they all mature.

 

[abpatchy]

At 15 weeks he is aggressive already? It will probably get worse when the hormones really come in. My opinion? You need to invite him over for dinner.

 

[TexasGirl97]

At 15 weeks he is aggressive already? It will probably get worse when the hormones really come in. My opinion? You need to invite him over for dinner.

Yep! And he's been like this for the last few weeks.