Cockerel attacked reintroduction of isolated pullet

[bakersdozenroo]

Hello! I have a 22 week old pullet that had coccidiosis. For a few days I noticed our 28 week old cockerel kept mounting her a lot. We isolated her and gave her Corrid and she seemed much better. She was isolated in a dog crate in our garage. She seemed normal after 3 days so we took her out to put her back with the flock and the cockerel immediately ran to her and aggressively mounted her. My husband tried to shoo him away but he just kept going after her and he did end up hurting her. My husband was able to grab her and put her back in the crate. Is the cockerel going to keep doing this to her? Why did he do this?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Likely he will continue to do so. It sounds like she may be lower in the pecking order or is a timid pullet.
The cockerel is young and hormonal and will take advantage, hopefully he will grow out of this stage and become a fine rooster at the age of about 18months.

How badly is the pullet injured? If possible, I'd crate her within the coop/run so she can be near the other pullets and stay familiar.

Cage/separate out the cockerel for a period of time when you re-introduce the pullet back in. He'll pitch a fit, but it won't kill him to be on his own for several weeks. The pullet needs to be established back with the other pullets before you put him back. Then observe.

I usually have Zero Tolerance for cockerels or roosters that hurt pullets and hens, so if he continues, then separate out, allow for a bit of maturity to take place and see how it goes. Hopefully things will work out.

 

[bakersdozenroo]

Thank you for your input. We have decided to just cull him. We had another cockerel who was mean and we just culled him today. The nice older gentleman has been taking care of chickens for over 37 years and he will take any chicken (roo or otherwise). So we decided we are just going to take him there as well. As a first time chicken owner, getting a cockerel was a little out of my league. Now we will just have our 8 pullets

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Thank you for your input. We have decided to just cull him. We had another cockerel who was mean and we just culled him today. The nice older gentleman has been taking care of chickens for over 37 years and he will take any chicken (roo or otherwise). So we decided we are just going to take him there as well. As a first time chicken owner, getting a cockerel was a little out of my league. Now we will just have our 8 pullets

I have all girls (city ordinance), and I have to admit that I’m grateful. Love my pullets, but they keep me plenty busy just on their own, without the disruption of a cockerel (or roo.)

Maybe with a few more years’ worth of experience, and a WHOLE lot more land, I’d give it a try, with either a mature rooster or a cockerel who would be raised among older hens that don’t take any crap from an oversexed teen boy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for your input. We have decided to just cull him. We had another cockerel who was mean and we just culled him today. The nice older gentleman has been taking care of chickens for over 37 years and he will take any chicken (roo or otherwise). So we decided we are just going to take him there as well. As a first time chicken owner, getting a cockerel was a little out of my league. Now we will just have our 8 pullets

Sounds like a good plan for now.
Enjoy the pullets, learn and then as they mature and you feel more comfortable, consider another rooster or cockerel. You may find you don't want one or you do. Introducing a cockerel to mature hens (over a year old) can often work better. Older hens may "school" the cockerel in some manners and he'll learn to woo the ladies instead of force them.

Sometimes having them all the same age (when young) can be harder to deal with. The cockerels usually become sexually mature earlier than the pullets. Pullets still have some of their own growing to do as well as establishing their place within the flock, so it can be a stressful time for all. Pullets/Hens from my experience and observation, have their own pecking order/places within the flock. A cockerel/rooster somewhat revolves around the order. While the "head hen" does keep everyone somewhat in line, the rooster will also step in if he thinks he needs too. His role is to mate/fertilize eggs, alert the girls to dangers real or imagined (Butterflies are killers), call them to food and to look handsome and debonair.

I wish you well, I think you'll have fun with the pullets and you have time to decide what is best for your situation. I do like my roosters very much, I can't imagine not having any, but I've had my ups/downs with a few over time as well. While culling out isn't always easy, it sometimes is a necessary step to take for the peace and wellbeing of the pullets/hens.