Aggressive Rooster problem

[dugtoni]

Hi all! First time chicken owner and I would appreciate some advice about our aggressive rooster. We bought 10 hens last August and one was sexed wrong so we ended up with a rooster. A couple of the hens have nearly all the feather ripped off their back from when he is mating with them. There is one hen that seems to be particularly tormented by him and she will hang back in the coop when I let them out in the morning, and he will storm in there and come after her. She hangs out on top of a door in the run for a majority of the day to stay away from him. He has also charged my wife a few times when she is picking the eggs. She carries a large stick which seems to keep him away.

So, does this behavior sound particularly bad for a rooster? How serious of a problem could the hens missing feathers on their backs be? I worry about during the winter when it gets very cold here (northern Vermont) they could freeze to death without those feathers to keep them warm? I have heard roosters can help protect the hens and alert them of danger, is this true? I let them free range in my yard so that would be one useful thing about him.

We are either considering sending him to the freezer, or possibly some remedy that may help the situation. We would be somewhat sad to kill him even though he is a jerk. We are leaving on vacation for a couple weeks next week, and my neighbor is going to look after our chicken’s, and I’m feeling a bit uneasy needing to send him in there every day with this aggressive guy, so was considering just getting rid of him before then but I can’t decide. Hoping for some advice on the situation. Thank you!

 

[Isadora]

As sad as it seems, I would get rid of him before your vacation. You would be liable if he injured your neighbor.
There's lots of good roosters in the world so if you decide you would like to try again in the future, I would check Craigslist or Facebook for a mature boy with a calm track record.

 

[nuthatched]

Chop him, this is not "good rooster" behavior.

 

[Chicks in VA]

i would cull him

 

[mccmeadows]

get rid of him and if you want a rooster for your girls, find them a gentleman. good roos are out there

 

[Folly's place]

This cockerel is already attacking at least one person, and is rude to the pullets. He'd be in the stock pot here!
Having a neighbor attacked will not be a good thing, and his behavior will only get worse, sorry.
Raise some chicks later, so your by then adult hens can teach a young cockerel some manners, and you are getting that new flock owner experience right now, so watching for 'difficulties' with new cockerels will go better.
It takes experience to see cockerel behaviors with more understanding; many of us have had miserable first roosters, and we learn.
BTW, does your insurance include coverage for poultry, especially liability insurance coverage? Many/ most 'homeowner's' policies don't. Check on that!
Some farm policies also don't cover poultry, don't ask me why.
Mary

 

[Geena]

Some farm policies also don't cover poultry, don't ask me why.

True, I have a farm policy but I'm not allowed to sell any eggs. All the extras go to the dogs anyway, but what the heck.