8 week old roo getting aggressive

[justmeandtheflock]

I have 6 - 16 week old pullets and 23 - 8 week olds including 2 little roos. Both started crowing this past week. My little silver leghorn is still leaving the girls alone but the EE is pestering the younger girls like crazy. He is grabbing them by the neck and holding on. Needless to say they want nothing to do with it at this point. The big girls have been hard on him since I put them together a few weeks ago so he still runs from them although he is just about as big as they are. Is he trying to mate already? I thought I had a few more weeks. Is there a chance he will settle down as he gets older or do you think I have a problem roo on my hands? TIA

 

[JessHall]

I was once told that you need to handle the Roos a lot. When they start showing signs of aggression, you should handle them and show them "this is MY yard NOT yours" I've taken that advice and handled all of my roos almost to the point that it's a bit excessive, but I guess I'm thankful because they are all really friendly.
As far as his long term temperament goes, I'm not sure if he'll stay that way. If he doesn't get better though, he may need to live on his own in a little bachelor pad

Good luck!

 

[Hopefully]

Mine was like that, it seems yours as become sexually mature. With mine I brought out a broom with me and would just walk by and he'd attack it! (Note: don't hit him with the broom... ow) But when he realized it did nothing, he got embarrassed and walked away. It hurt his pride in front of all the hens watching. Or I'd spray him if he was doing something bad. Basically, you've got to show him that YOU are the head of the flock, not him, and if you don't like something, he better not do it. When mine hurts the hens by trying to mate them, I spray the hose at him. Of course, though, if my hens begin losing feathers and/or get sores, I know I'm going to have to put him in my sister's farm.

I also agree with the person above me. Handle him a lot.

Doing that with mine has done wonders. He's improved somewhat.

 

[justmeandtheflock]

Thanks for the responses

. I was wrong about how old he is, he will be 10 weeks tomorrow. I guess I lost a week, lol. This guy is getting worse by the day and he is really doing a number on my little silver leghorn roo and my little girls so I have decided to rehome him. I posted an ad on Craigslist tonight and e-mailed someone who came out to get pullets from me who liked him. I hope she wants him so that he doesn't end up as supper

. I just can't keep him here is he is going to be this aggressive. He got all the attention as a baby since he was the only yellow chick out of the bunch but never liked it much.