Adult Roo mating 14 week pullet

[kattitude45]

This morning I opened the coop for my flock to free range and my 1 year old EE roo chased down and mated my 14week old pullet. He has never even paid attention to her or my other 14 w pullet. They have been in the flock now for several weeks. She was screaming, running, flying all trying to escape. I managed to grab her only as he mated her. Is this normal? What do I do?

 

[enola]

If he was my rooster and he was choosing pullets over mature hens, he would be in rooster jail for a couple of months. That kind of treatment is very stressful for pullets.

If you put him back with the flock and that type of behavior continues, he should get a date with the crock pot....

 

[kattitude45]

He is also mating the adult hens as well. I have 7 adult hens and 1- 20 week pullet, he mates all of them but just began mating the 20 week pullet in the last week or so, I assumed that is normal since she is laying age now. But I do not like him chasing the 14wo pullets. I can kennel him for a few days if I need to.

 

[Calix]

Yeah, if she's freaking out like that then something isn't right. I've heard people refer to those sorts of roosters as pullet rapists- it certainly can't be good for the pullets to be stressed out that way, and it's definitely not natural for him to be trying to mate with a hen that is so obviously not cooperating. Bad, bad rooster. I would do whatever you have to to protect your hens.

 

[crazyfeathers]

My Rooster did this too but only lasted a few days. I was told that a Rooster knows when a pullet is ready to lay and that is why he mates them, whether this is true or not I don't know. It stopped so I'm not concerned.

 

[kattitude45]

ok, so I recalculated the hatch date and the pullets are actually 17 weeks NOT 14. Does this make a difference? she could be only a few weeks from laying correct? This is my first experience with pullets beginning to lay

 

[enola]

If she is not co-operating by squatting and accepting him, then he is indeed stressing her out. A good rooster does NOT go around forcing hens like that.

He would be the most important guest at tommorow's dinner if he lived here.

 

[kattitude45]

I can't believe that he has turned aggressive! He has been a very good roo. He makes sure to feed his girl's first, calls them to the best food and even throws it at them. He has almost died a few times protecting the flock from a neighbor's dog. But this morning he showed a side that I have never seen from him. He RAN her down and cornered her very aggressively. I guess I should start looking for another roo...