Can Someone Answer WHY Rooster Killed Hen?????

[CCFarms9559]

I had a young roo who cut the back of a hen's neck when trying to mate - and then would not leave her alone. I would separate her, get her all scabbed over, put blue kote on her and let her visit the coop for a while each day - but as soon as I left her alone in the coop with him, he would get her again. I finally found her a new home.... and then the darn rooster died - so I lost the hen and the roo. Never did replace the roo... Wish now I had gotten rid of him the first time.

 

[KooKoe]

this may sound like a stupid question, but you mentioned that the hen hadn't layed an egg yet. Are you absolutely 100%, without a doubt sure that it was a hen? It might have been a roo too and that is why he killed it??

 

[dandelionheart]

I think she was meaning she hadn't *returned* to laying as she was in the end of her moult but that she had been a layer (she mentioned comb color still being pale too). I don't know what I'd do... with so many trying to rehome roosters that are friendly and good, it seems like you are courting disaster to keep one you know has killed in his desperate attempt to mate someone who *really* wasn't interested.

 

[MaransGuy]

Quote:
Cockerels of that age are volatile. They are just starting to get the surges of hormones that will shape them for the rest of their lives. Saying he has never behaved this way before is kind of like saying that my 13 year-old daughter never talked back to me before.

At 7 months old the personality is not yet formed. Sometimes, the aggression can pass, once they mature. Killing a member of the flock, sick or not, would not be tolerated in my birds. If a bird is sick they are usually cast out from the group but I have never had any of them kill another. I did have one young cockerel about that same age that would mercilessly pursue hens who did not submit to him. The hens that allowed him to mount he was fine with. However, it was the ones that were not receptive to breeding (moulting, too young, etc...) that he, literally, would not stop chasing until they tired and then he mounted. After two days of that behaviour he was no longer part of the flock. Your choice, but it is not a "normal" thing that should be expected in young birds in my opinion.

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

We have five roosters here that I raised from a young age. None of them have ever tried to hurt one of their hens. Even if a hen is sick, the rooster usually acts very worried and (in the case of our oldest rooster) even stays next to her. In fact, whenever I have to take a hen out of the coop who is acting ill, the rooster is usually upset, then very happy to see her come back. Even our younger roosters, although they have gone a little crazy around that age, have never hurt a pullet or hen for any reason (mating or otherwise). If he were my rooster, at the very least, he would be in solitary confinement. He would certainly not be allowed around the other chickens, even to see if he does it again.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

We had the same thing happen to our Leghorn hen when we introduced the Arcauna roo Barney to the flock. For some reason, they did NOT get along and she did end up dying. I think it was because her personality was a bit dominating and she would not submit to him. She was laying, and I don't believe she was the head hen. We had removed another rooster shortly before introducing Barney. I think it was just a total clash of personalities.
Barney has been an exemplary roo since then and I will be very sorry to see him go when we rearrange the flock for breeding this year. A young man from Craigslist posted wanting a blue egg roo and although I have a few of Barney's sons, I would rather give Barney a good home, knowing he is a good roo. After I get a good clutch of blue eggs from the girls in early Spring, he is going to his new home with new girls

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

We keep a "boys behaving badly" pen for growing out roosters. This reduces the wear and tear on hens and growing out pullets.

I am not a keeper of rooster who get this violent with hens. I had one hen get scalped by a young rooster, and the only thing that saved him is we couldn't tell for cetain which one was guilty.

 

[Up-the-Creek]

Well after a day of watching him I haven't seen nothing too bad, but he did raise his hackles a few times and peck at a couple of the hens. I believe his "manhood" has taken over and his sweet attitude has left the building, so to speak. We have decided it isn't worth the risk to loose any other laying hens, so he will be culled to the crockpot. This is my last effort trying to keep a rooster. Every one we have had has had some sort of "issue" even though he takes the cake. Thank you all for the help.

 

[centrarchid]

Your situation seems odd. Even my games do not play out like that unless something major wrong.

What are you feeding the flock?

How much area per bird?

Can they break line of sight if need be?

What kind of vertical escape routes are available for tormented (i.e. roost)?

 

[BuffOrpington22]

I think its best to cull the rooster or if there is someone that wants a rooster and believe they will change in the long run maybe its best they take it off ur hand. But the rooster should be replaced by a much mature, mannered roo...