cockerel behavior-- violent toward hens?

[rebecuna]

My 4.5mo cockerel has started jumping on the hens and grabbing the back of their necks with his beak and pushing their heads down. It's very disturbing to watch... is it normal? Is he trying to mate with them? Show dominance? Do I need to intervene? I don't want him to hurt them!

 

[sourland]

It's breeding behavior on the part of an inexperienced cockerel. He will probably perfect his technique, but chicken mating is not all warm and cuddly.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Mine is same age and doing same thing. Advice I have gotten on here is unless he is drawing blood them let them be. If he is drawing blood separate him for a week and separate the injured girl until wounds heal.

 

[KimKimWilliamso]

My Roo will grab a pullet by the comb and drag her around while she screams. Its awful to watch, and I often stop him by stomping loudly toward him until he lets her go. Days ago (around the time the two pullets started laying for the first time) he stopped running from me and started puffing his neck feather up and running at me. I think he might be trying to spur me. As brazen and brave as he is all of a sudden (was previously a really soft kind little roo) I have been trying to assert my flock dominance and I put my arms out and walk quickly toward him while stomping and speaking loudly until he backs down. Then I try to catch him and hold him for a bit. It seems to decrease the amount of pullet attacks he makes, LOL

 

[maidenwolfx80]

At 4 months its practice mating and a dominance routine. Yes it is terrifying to watch but just watch for blood and let him do his job it will settle down soon as he gets more experience.

 

[Citychicken12]

How can you tell if a pullet is actually a roo. I just purchased three pullerts that are 11 weeks old and the Ameraucana did something funny towards me tonight. I was sitting down next to the run and giving two of the girls meal worms when it came out of the coop and stared at me making funny sounds. It than flew towards me and grabbed the wire between me and it with it's feet. Is this normal hen behavior!

 

[Vicky2479]

Usually in chickens the same age you look at the wattle and comb, if one is bigger and redder than the rest you might have a Roo, also the feathers around their necks and tail will be longer and pointy, some breeds are easier than others to see the difference and these are by no means hard and fast rules, if you post a pic some one might be able to help you out.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

When I bring yummy treats I have a few that will fly up and try to sit on the cup to hog all the goodies. The strange sound may be a dominant bird ( could be male or female) telling the others to get out of the way so the "big dog" could eat!! If you post pics someone can help with sexing but if you have a roo it may start crowing soon, thats the age mine start learning how to crow, so funny to hear!!

 

[Aschenfire]

It's breeding behavior on the part of an inexperienced cockerel. He will probably perfect his technique, but chicken mating is not all warm and cuddly.

I don't know about your roosters, but my MGB cockerel brings the ladies wine and mealworms before he leads them to his bed of rose petals! ^..^

Naaahh... chicken life is not fluffy, warm and Disney. Young cockerels have to learn what to do and how to do it. I had a two year old stud colt once who was pretty darn sure he was supposed to jump the girls from the front end... every single time. Frustrated mares, frustrated colt... he finally learned. So will your little cockerels LOL!

 

[Citychicken12]

Here they are. I also am unsure of the gray/blues breed. Thank you!!