Cockerel Advice Needed

[debid]

You say he's being "a little rough". Are the girls having feathers pulled? Is he drawing blood? Are they running away and he chases? If he's doing those things, get him out of their pen and don't let him back in until the girls are reaching POL -- if you decide to keep him. If he's just grabbing at their neck feathers and gives up when they squeal and run, that's normal cockerel behavior and you've probably got two or more months of it to look forward to before the girls will start to submit.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I agree with debid - sounds like normal behavior. Cockerels mature faster than the pullets. Things will settle down more as the pullets get closer to POL.

Unless he's drawing blood, he's not going to cause your pullets to begin laying any slower. They will lay when their bodies are ready.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

You say he's being "a little rough". Are the girls having feathers pulled? Is he drawing blood? Are they running away and he chases? If he's doing those things, get him out of their pen and don't let him back in until the girls are reaching POL -- if you decide to keep him. If he's just grabbing at their neck feathers and gives up when they squeal and run, that's normal cockerel behavior and you've probably got two or more months of it to look forward to before the girls will start to submit.

He is just getting feathers. No blood being draw. He usually gives up when he tries once and fails. The girls then avoid getting too close for a while after he tries. Just gonna keep an eye on them and let nature run.

 

[Daisy8s]

I have a rooster of the same age doing the same thing. I'd say to leave things as they are. If you separate him then you'll have to deal with reintroduction issues. And, in my experience, it's upon reunification that the rooster is most likely to attempt to mate, as if to re-establish his role. So, separating them each day would only ensure a big scuffle when they were reunited each day.

If you're really concerned you could put in some obstacles (plywood leaning against the fence, stump, etc.) that the girls can use to get away from him. I have one tiny perch very high in my coop that any bird can get away to if being bullied. It only sits one bird at at time so whoever needs the space can use it.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I have a rooster of the same age doing the same thing. I'd say to leave things as they are. If you separate him then you'll have to deal with reintroduction issues. And, in my experience, it's upon reunification that the rooster is most likely to attempt to mate, as if to re-establish his role. So, separating them each day would only ensure a big scuffle when they were reunited each day.

If you're really concerned you could put in some obstacles (plywood leaning against the fence, stump, etc.) that the girls can use to get away from him. I have one tiny perch very high in my coop that any bird can get away to if being bullied. It only sits one bird at at time so whoever needs the space can use it.

Today he left them alone. He did correct one on order when I gave them my leftover rice a roni as a treat. My backyard is about 15,000sq ft of my 3 acres where they are fenced in for free ranging. Lots of trees, old utility trailer, large shed and such for them to run away and hide and in the coop/pen the nestbox top is too far for "Pig Pen"(the cockerel) to fly up to. He is just too big. I had to add an intermediate roost level between lower and higher roosts because he couldn't make it to the top one. Kept on almost hanging himself on it. Still gonna watch them nut they will stay together at this point. And I have to remember he has only been with my girls going on three weeks now so it still might just be dominance as well as hormones. Flipping teenagers.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Well, this morning "Pig Pen" successfully mounted one of my BR's. Waited about 10 minutes and checked her neck and she was fine. So I guess things will look up from here.

 

[outdoorsii]

Well, this morning "Pig Pen" successfully mounted one of my BR's. Waited about 10 minutes and checked her neck and she was fine. So I guess things will look up from here.

yay! lol

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Today after I let the "kids" out, "Pig Pen" pecked the back of one of my BR's and she willingly laid down and he mounted her. It was much more gentle than the "raping" that has been going on. So glad to see my girls approaching POL. Can't wait to start getting those eggs.