8 week old Serama Cockerel biting pullets neck

[MommasChicks]

My little Serama cockerel is only almost 8 weeks old and has a nice full comb and crowing nicely. He is so trying to be a big boy. LOL Anyways, he was challenging our feet, so we started picking him up and carrying him around with us for some time outs so he will realize we are at the top of the pecking order, and it is working great. The only thing I now wonder about is he is biting my little pullets neck sometimes and she is screaming. She is about half his size, but they are around the same age. He does let go when she screams, but I was wondering if I should separate them? They are really bonded, so I was hoping I didn't have to do that, But definitely will if I have to. He is definitely maturing. Other than this "natural mating behavior" that he is showing, he is a true cuddle bug and so is she Thanks!

 

[azygous]

Your little boy badly needs discipline. Understand that "discipline" doesn't mean punishment. It means you need to correct his bad behavior when he does it. He may be cuddly and cute now, but in another six weeks, he's likely to be coming full into his hormones and he will become a possible danger if left undisciplined.

You've begun disciplining him admirably, but you need to follow through and discipline every aggressive behavior he begins to engage in. Biting the pullet's neck is a precursor to grasping a hen to force her into position so he can climb on her and mate. When he does that, you can thump him on the back of his head with a flick of your finger, not enough to hurt him, just enough to show him your disapproval.

Disciplining a cockerel is very much like disciplining a dog, and you're doing it for many of the same reasons. You want him to be well-behaved and not a danger to people or the hens by permitting aggressive behavior to go unchecked.

 

[MommasChicks]

Thank you so much for your helpful reply. I always keep him from grabbing her neck if I see him thinking of doing it, but sometimes they weren't close to me, or I was doing something else when he did it and I didn't realize he did until I heard her scream, then when I check to see he has already let go of her. I have since been keeping a watchful eye on him with her. I would never want him to hurt anyone or her, that's why we have been working constantly with him. He's not very big and not even grown up yet, but when he first started attacking our feet, it really hurt, then we knew we had to get him to behave before he gets out of hand. I am really hoping that he behaves, we hatched them out in our incubator and they have been very spoiled chickens ever since.