Cantankerous Roo

[MaryWheatley]

What to do????? We got a new rooster last fall who is continuing to "abuse" the hens....he bites them about the head and even took a bite out of one of their combs??? He approaches or chases them down, they submit and crouch and then sometimes, he doesn't breed the hen, he just pecks her about the head.

This seems a bit nasty....other roo never did anything like this. He would breed hens, but didn't beat them up. Any suggestions?? Is he just trying to drive them off for some reason, or is he just a mean guy??? Trying to decide whether he goes in the stewpot or what???

 

[sourland]

He's earned a trip to the stewpot.

 

[MaryWheatley]

Can you actually have a roo and they don't treat the girls this way????

 

[sourland]

Absolutely - sounds as if your first rooster was this sort.

 

[pdirt]

Chances are pretty good that he's just a mean roo. What little I understand about breeding chickens (I mean in terms of genetic traits, not the physical act) is that few people understand it very well. Meaning, a good breeder will have an eye for which pairs might make a mean rooster. Most hatcheries don't control much of the breeding within a particular breed.

Sounds like time for chicken soup to me.

 

[MaryWheatley]

He's good w people-- raised by kids, etc.
just seems like he's trying to drive the hens away. He's very attached to one, but is evil to others(