9 week old roosters becoming mean to other 9 week old hens

[Livvydays]

Hello all. I am new to having chickens. I have 2 buff orpington roosters (they were straight runs and i took a chance), 2 Olive egger hens and 4 light brahma hens. All of them are 9 weeks old. One rooster started crowing last week and the other started crowing today. I plan to get rid of one rooster since I've learned 2 roosters would be too much with the amount of hens I have. Both roosters are grabbing the back of the hens necks being mean at times I've noticed. Sometimes when eating or in their space. It looks like an attack and not trying to mate because he doesn't try to get on top of the hen. It hurts then hen and I'm not sure what's normal and what's not since I'm new to this. I haven't seen any injuries yet and hope i dont see any. Both roosters are nice to me. Will this get worse or get better over time? Maybe I should get rid of both roosters? Any advice welcomed.

The inside coop is approximately 8x10 and the run is approximately 8x12. I let them free range for about 30m in am and pm when I'm out in the yard. I try to give them things to do so not bored. Hanging treats. Pool with rocks and treats. Hay and scratch. Several roosts different levels. Dust Bath.

 

[Perris]

read this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

and welcome to BYC

 

[Buckeye Amy]

He's not being mean, he's being a cockerel. I agree with @Perris , the link provided will help you a lot.

 

[Livvydays]

I'm still confused lol. The attacks are more during eating and territory towards the hens and it doesn't look like what is being referred to in the article. I will continue to monitor them and keep trying to understand. Sorry I'm still confused.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Another great article here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-naturally-good-rooster.74983/

 

[Perris]

All of them are 9 weeks old

they are teenagers in chicken terms. Hormones raging. Fumbling around trying to work out what they are supposed to do to reproduce their genes. The males develop faster than the females so are bullies at this stage. What you are seeing is normal in a group of young chickens with no adult hens or roos to show them how to be a grown up chicken.

The attacks are more during eating and territory towards the hens

The boys are trying to establish their dominance over the girls, by controlling access to food and shelter. The girls are not sufficiently developed physically or mentally to fight back effectively.

They will get through this, and grow up, just like human teenagers do. Hopefully without anyone getting seriously hurt in the process. If you intervene and do not know what you are doing, you may well make it worse. Imo the best option is to let them free range, so anyone being bullied can run away and is not trapped in the same space as the aggressor. Failing that, as much space as you can give them, and as much clutter in the run as possible so that there are lots of impediments to the pursuer (make sure there are no dead ends); most will give up if at first they don't succeed.

If any pullet (the young females; technically they are not hens till they are a year old) is a concern, try to get them aside for a quiet private meal. Ensuring they get enough to eat is essential.

 

[Vicker]

I don't know that it's just a male thing. It's most often my hens that do things like this. Pecking order behavior can appear brutal.

 

[Livvydays]

Thank you all for your feedback, reassurance and articles! Because of all your help, I'm seeing things through a different lens this morning as i was watching their interactions. I wish I could free range but I'm in town. I may over time come up with a larger fenced in area because I know that would be better for them.

An another note, I had read you should hold your rooster upside down by their legs for a few seconds if they were aggressive to teach them a lesson. I did this once the other day after he had grabbed my hen by the neck. Now I feel bad for doing that since I now understand he was just doing normal rooster things. Or is that okay to do in certain situations? And is it okay to do to hens if being aggressive towards other hens? My hens are nice to each other so far. Just thinking ahead. Thanks again so much for helping me learn everyone!!

 

[Perris]

Now I feel bad for doing that since I now understand he was just doing normal rooster things. Or is that okay to do in certain situations? And is it okay to do to hens if being aggressive towards other hens?

my approach is not to intervene unless blood has been drawn and a bird clearly needs rescuing to avert serious injury. But my birds aren't confined, so it has very rarely got bloody.

Chickens can be aggressive towards one another, but how often do we really understand the social dynamics and personalities in the flock, so interpret correctly what is actually going on? 'If in doubt, don't' is my motto with these things. Others take a different approach. You have to find what works for you and your flock.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome @Livvydays!
All good advice so far, and glad you are here.
Holding the bird upside down isn't best, and there's no way this cockerel knows why you're doing it. He's busy trying to breathe, not easy while in this position.
Adding places to be out of sight, and at least two feeders and waterers in separate locations, will help your pullets be more comfortable during this stressful time for them.
Mary