Cockerel overly aggressive when mating.

[K813ZRA]

i dont see why you would give him up yet.He still so young.

If I were you I'd wait until about 7 or more months old to decide whethef he should go....This guy could make a perfect rooster one day.

I know a lot of people suggest keeping roosters longer but I am worried about the welfare of my hens. I mean, he is plucking them bald! Not riding their backs bald but ripping out feathers with his beak from their tails and neck. Biting them, slamming them into the fence and walls and you name it. I was just worried he was going to kill them. In fact today he is acting worse.

The only thing I would add is that removing what is probably the top cockerel, may change the behaviour of the previously well behaved less dominant ones. It might just be worth creating a bachelor pad for all the boys until they are past that horrid juvenile phase and give the pullets a chance to mature unmolested and then reintroduce each male bird individually in 6 months time or so and see which one has the better manners then.

I could separate one of them but not five, I just don't have the funds left after building coops for my two flocks (I am only half done with the second), I am three grand into this project. Group one was bought straight run and there are five roosters and six hens. For that reason I bought group two sexed. I really only want one rooster, I don't need any but I'd like to have one.

Again, I realize roosters are what they are but I was concerned this little guy might be over the top. My grandfather has two roosters and has had them for half a dozen years or so and they will eat from your hand and one will allow you to pet him sometimes. I know, I know, you get what you get.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions, both of you. I will have to see what I can come up with.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If he's trouble and you don't want or like him than get rid of him. I start by removing the worse and work my way down.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

If ypu camt bare to see it then give him up and your probably do not want any other young roosters because a great chance theyll be just like him.

I know it seems bad but it isnt really.He is just doing what an animal needs to do to repopulate...and to calm his hormones.

Balding the hens is perfectly normal even calm maters will have hens completely bald....


Also spererating him may also help the situation.

 

[Folly's place]

Injuring pullets is NOT all right; he needs to go. Mary

 

[K813ZRA]

Well I seperated him and the flock seems to be at peace. The other cockerels, four of them, are attempting to mate though they seem to miss a lot, lol. One of the black australorps corrals everyone up at night and sees them in the coop. That didnt happen before as the hens would put themselves away and the roosters would all stay outiside for a few minutes, sparing is the best word I can think of.

Now I can watch the others and weed them out over the months to come.

Sunday dinner in a few weeks.

Thank you everyone for the advice.