Cockerel bullying one girl more than the others.

[Dusty Grin]

Grettings ya'll. I've been lurking around on BYC for a while now, and definitely wouldn't have had such an easy time acquiring and raising my birds thus far without all the info on here... I have one cockerel (RIR) who is constantly picking on my EE. He seems to enjoy and care about all the rest of the ladies and I've never seen him act so mean towards any of the others... Do you think my EE may be a cockerel as well?? I will post a picture as soon as I can. Has anyone else noticed a young cockerel (just under 2 months old) acting this way?

 

[CMV]

It could be the EE is a cockerel, or s/he may be the most dominant bird under the roo. My most dominant female was treated horribly by my roo until they reached a certain point. Once that accord was reached they completely ignored each other, but until then the feathers were flying and blood was flowing. Just let them work it out if you can. Once they reach an arrangement, the fighting should settle down.

Good luck.

 

[Dusty Grin]

thanks for the heads up... i really think my EE is a pullet, and she is quite quirky. i'm sure they will come to some sort of arrangement...

 

[Nostalchic]

On the other hand, I had two young roos who - just about the time they were full grown and crowing - mercilessly hounded and brutalized two of my sweetest, most docile hens (of course, my favorites) until they were terrified, haggard, and bloodied, and finally wouldn't even go in the coop. My interpretation of this was that these juveniles were working their way up the pecking order ladder from the bottom rung (they were raised in the flock) and so tried out their newfound strength on the easiest targets. It might have worked out in the end, but it was so disruptive and cruel that I finally couldn't take it anymore and we ate them. My hens recovered their health and spirits very quickly, and peace now reigns - though I'm letting a broody hatch a clutch right now, so I'm hoping to have a nicer rooster in this bunch. Because I like having a (nice) rooster around. Some people never learn.

 

[punky rooster]

They could both be males. Or you RIR has started to mate with the females and the EE is his "favorite" girl.

 

[Dusty Grin]

would he be trying to mate at 7 weeks, or more like practicing? i have a barred rock who might or might not be a cockerel as well, and they seem to get along... Punky, seeing as you've got rocks (which are quite beautiful heritage birds and mine are hatchery), do the males carry the lighter/whiter barring in hatchery birds, or is it only prevalent in purer bloodlines? I know that the hens can develop quite the comb and waddles, even this early...

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
Hello,
At 7 weeks it is possible, Some males don't even fight at all. I have two mix breed cockerels that have been with 4 hens for over 7 months and not much fighting.

Male barred Plymouth rocks will be a lighter color than the females.

 

[Stingrayg4]

This is kind of off-topic, but I keep seeing this abbreviation EE, can't for the life of me figure out what breed it refers to. Little help?

-S

 

[turney31]

Easter Egger

 

[Stingrayg4]

Thanks.

-S