Cockerel Suddenly Aggressive with Hens

[Shadrach]

Just spot on. Newly introduced roosters and young cockerels are subordinate to the senior hens here unti they are either accepted; this can take some time, or with cockerels, until they are 'man' enough to take on the senior hens.

 

[Mosey2003]

His plan is to become a flock rooster and I am sure that he understands more about that job description than you or I ever will. But remember that a cockerel is not necessarily the ubber chicken in the flock, usually a more mature hen is the top chicken until the rooster is fully mature. Once he becomes an adult then it is natural for him to assume the role of the top hen. The process of assuming that role is not a pretty one.

Yeah, but she said he's actually like 2 years old. So mature.

 

[HollyWoozle]

He is definitely top dog and has always been for the 18 months or so we have had him (at least as far as I recall), although I think we only have one hen left who has been here longer than him and is more senior. We did have a few others but they have since died of old age/illness. I have only ever seen one hen stand up to him and that is actually a rescue hen who is on the other side of the fence to him currently (they are still feathering up since they came from a battery farm). I expect she might not be so bold when they are all integrated though, but we shall see! Sassy Helga!

ETA: As poster above says, I'm not sure what you consider to be fully mature... we have had him since April 2017 and he was already full grown but I think he was still quite young in the grand scheme of things. He actually lived with the neighbours and he and the few hens living with him hopped over the fence one by one and the neighbour said we could keep them!

 

[Mosey2003]

I, and I think most others, consider a male fully mature at 12 months. Some do mature faster, but that first year is generally really crappy, as young cockerels tend to be pretty hard on the girls. 18 months is the age where I really like them.

 

[Cryss]

I've lost track a bit.
Can you leave food out 24/7?

Shadrach, yes, we can do that. My parents (they are family chickens, not purely mine) used to leave feeders out all the time (inside at night) but we had a rat problem. I had read some views that you should only feed as much as they would eat, so we took the feeders up and have been feeding them as I mentioned earlier. It seems this was an error! I think we can go back to how we did it before but perhaps just take up the food at night when the chickens have gone to roost?

Just to he clear, when I suggested not restricting the feed I was referring to the hours of the day when the chickens are up. When I tuck my flock in for the night I remove all feeders. When I climb out of bed with the sun I top up those feeders and return them. Chicken first, coffee second. Whodathunkit? Coffee has always been my reason for getting out of bed.
Feeders remain till bedtime.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks for clarifying. They are out with free access to food today.

 

[Mrs. K]

ok, well I am going to go the other route.

The OP says he is more than 2 years old, but unsure how much more. When I have old birds, they get cranky and stiff. I think they get aches and pains (I know I do) I think that may be part of the problem.

It might not be, but a bird of his age, I would expect to behave pretty consistently. I don't feed mine 24/7 due to rodents, and often do not get down there before dark.

I think he might be getting old.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I just thought I would update this post and say thanks again for the advice. Since posting this thread we have kept feeders out and well stocked during daylight hours, just taking them up when the chickens go to roost, and this seems to have solved the problem. Olaf is a lot more relaxed and friendly with the hens again.

 

[Cryss]

I just thought I would update this post and say thanks again for the advice. Since posting this thread we have kept feeders out and well stocked during daylight hours, just taking them up when the chickens go to roost, and this seems to have solved the problem. Olaf is a lot more relaxed and friendly with the hens again.