cockerel misbehaving

[discretesys]

Hi all,
New member here.

In new england raising 8 buff orpingtons, 16 weeks of age.

I have 4 males and 4 females (thats how I got straight run from hatchery).
One of the males is much bigger than other males.
People told me that buffs are docile. But this one the other day bit me hard, and is always ready to bite me.

When I hold a hen or even another cockerel, he approaches me sideways, standing tall and making sounds. He also holds hens by feathers on their heads, pulling out several feathers.

Looks like he is taking a leadership role here. But I want him to be at least friendly to me. What to do?

Thanks
John W

 

[ging3rhoffman]

He is just feeling his oats...or starter/grower.

I think most roo's act like that. I had a couple of Delaware roos that acted like that. The pulling of the head feathers is what they do when they are getting ready to breed. You will only want to keep one of those roosters. There should be one rooster for 6 to 10 hens. I have one silver lace wyandotte rooster for 20 hens. They could always go in the freezer.