Not so Feathered friend
Hatching
Hi everyone, we have a flock of 11, 10 girls and the big man, Pickle. 9 of the girls are 10 months old, the last girl and the cockerel were hatched using our broody hen and are about 18 weeks now.
Over the last couple of weeks, Pickle has started crowing (some nights from 2am!!) and has been mounting the girls. The way he mounts can look a bit aggressive but there is a definite difference in how he is with just 1 of the older girls, Whimpey. I noticed it yesterday and just thought he was doing his usual but he wouldn't leave her alone and was biting and pulling on her comb and he was just standing on her, not mating her. I went out to see what was going on and when I picked her up her comb was bleeding and its very scabbed so it must have been going on for a few days. I have kept an eye out since to see what's going on and she stays away from him as much as she can but if he sees her he charges at her, he will even leave his corn to get her.
We don't know what to do, wether to wait or to rehome him. I posted a few weeks ago because he is roosting in a tree right outside my bedroom window and no matter what I try to get him in the coop, he goes straight back into the tree so my lack of sleep is also having a baring on my decision. He is not aggressive with us so I would be sad to see him go but I absolutely love my girls so I'm scared for Whimpey as I can't watch them all the time.
I am so grateful for any advice
Over the last couple of weeks, Pickle has started crowing (some nights from 2am!!) and has been mounting the girls. The way he mounts can look a bit aggressive but there is a definite difference in how he is with just 1 of the older girls, Whimpey. I noticed it yesterday and just thought he was doing his usual but he wouldn't leave her alone and was biting and pulling on her comb and he was just standing on her, not mating her. I went out to see what was going on and when I picked her up her comb was bleeding and its very scabbed so it must have been going on for a few days. I have kept an eye out since to see what's going on and she stays away from him as much as she can but if he sees her he charges at her, he will even leave his corn to get her.
We don't know what to do, wether to wait or to rehome him. I posted a few weeks ago because he is roosting in a tree right outside my bedroom window and no matter what I try to get him in the coop, he goes straight back into the tree so my lack of sleep is also having a baring on my decision. He is not aggressive with us so I would be sad to see him go but I absolutely love my girls so I'm scared for Whimpey as I can't watch them all the time.
I am so grateful for any advice