At what age do roosters “settle down”?

[carlaashdown]

I have a 13 month old Blue Laced Red Wyandotte rooster. Within the last couple months, he is a lot more hormone driven with the girls, especially over the last couple weeks. Yesterday was bad.

Setup:
1 rooster
6 hens (also 13 months)
Coop is 120 sq feet
enclosed run is 200 sq feet
plenty of space and things to do in the run, they aren’t bored by any means
We live in SE Georgia where it is hot already. This is our “spring” weather, but cooler “spring-like” temps were February and March.

 

[Tonyroo]

Spring weather increases hormone responses, so it's just a natural condition for the rooster of any age.

My own Swedish flower roo reacted the same way, it lasted for a month. He's now acting normal and also 2 1/2 years old.

 

[3KillerBs]

Normal behavior in the spring breeding season.

If the girls are suffering you might give them a break by putting him into a large dog crate in the coop or run -- like you might use it for a broody breaker.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/outdoor-broody-breaker.76592/

 

[Egghead_Jr]

He'll also have a lot of red on legs due to the spring hormone increase.

 

[carlaashdown]

Normal behavior in the spring breeding season.

If the girls are suffering you might give them a break by putting him into a large dog crate in the coop or run -- like you might use it for a broody breaker.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/outdoor-broody-breaker.76592/

I’ve been considering doing that, because they are suffering. My concern is that when I do let him out, he’ll go crazy mating them over and over - like he has been doing every time I go in the run.

 

[3KillerBs]

I’ve been considering doing that, because they are suffering. My concern is that when I do let him out, he’ll go crazy mating them over and over - like he has been doing every time I go in the run.

Are they panicking and hiding from him or are they squatting willingly and following him all around?

If blood isn't being drawn, hens losing feathers on their backs seems to bother us for than it bothers them.

Have you trimmed his toenails and spurs to make sure there are no sharp edges?

 

[carlaashdown]

Are they panicking and hiding from him or are they squatting willingly and following him all around?

If blood isn't being drawn, hens losing feathers on their backs seems to bother us for than it bothers them.

Have you trimmed his toenails and spurs to make sure there are no sharp edges?

They are running and hiding. One has a bruised comb and another has a sprained leg. Three of them delay coming out of the coop in the morning because he has to mate all of them first thing. He doesn’t do it in the coop, waits until I let them out into the run. They will run and fly up onto things to get away from him. Yesterday, after I went into the run, he mated all of them three times in thirty minutes. He would chase and snatch them down and they’d cry out. It’s was awful to watch.
A few of them are smaller breeds and I’m afraid he’s going to seriously hurt them.
I’ve also noticed the girls are bickering a lot more with each other, especially on the roost at night.
Maybe all spring hormones , but it’s stressing me out lol

 

[Tonyroo]

I would separate him, he's too aggressive. My rooster doesn't behave like that but he is a year older than yours.

He's calm and doesn't chase them like a young rooster would.

 

[carlaashdown]

I would separate him, he's too aggressive. My rooster doesn't behave like that but he is a year older than yours.

He's calm and doesn't chase them like a young rooster would.

Separate for how long? Or permanently?
This is my first rooster.

 

[carlaashdown]

Separate for how long? Or permanently?
This is my first rooster.

Also, if I can find someone locally to take him, I’ll get rid of him. We’re actively looking. I love him and he’s gorgeous, but I don’t want him hurting my girls. Some of mine are smaller breeds. Much smaller than him.