Cockerels formed a gang

[Happy Chick Home]

I knew I had too many boys. I knew they would fight. Got all ready for it ... but, wait, what?
No fighting with each other - there are four cockerels going on 6 months old + one 18 month old rooster. There are twelve terrorized ladies - three 6 months; three 8-9 months, and six 18 months up.
One boy jumps on a hen, two others, one on each side peck her and another can't get close but waits for first guy to get of and they all try to be next by just pushing. There is no pecking or real fighting each other. They only peck the hens, especially when they can get easy shots. So tell me chicken experts is this normal?
Some pullets now choose to take their chances with coyotes, owls and cats instead of the cockerels and won't sleep in the coop. Can't have that. So I just opened the Gangland Jail. Next step- Stew Pot Jail.
Normal?

 

[Happy Chick Home]

More info: the flock has about 1200 sq ft enclosure and free ranges most days.

 

[nuthatched]

Too many boys with flaming hormones, I'm not sure if it's normal or not, I've never had that many.

 

[Sussex19]

I think that is normal, the only time it has happened to me was when a hen squeezed though the fence in to the cockerel encloser, and the behaver was pretty much as you described.
Both me and her rooster ran to the rescue, and it was quite hard to get the boys off her; I don't like to think what would have happened to her if we hadn't been there.
You will definitely have to either separate, or process them.
Good luck!

 

[Happy Chick Home]

Thank you. That is such a help. I processed 3 others and they had no meat. Wanted to wait a bit before doing the rest. Their time has come.
Her adult roo is part of the gang. Don't know what to do with him yet. Maybe 18 months isn't fully mature.

 

[Happy Chick Home]

Is 18 month for a rooster fully mature?

 

[aart]

Is 18 month for a rooster fully mature?

Physically, yes......'mentally', sometimes they never 'grow up'.

 

[Happy Chick Home]

Thank you.

 

[Shadrach]

I knew I had too many boys. I knew they would fight. Got all ready for it ... but, wait, what?
No fighting with each other - there are four cockerels going on 6 months old + one 18 month old rooster. There are twelve terrorized ladies - three 6 months; three 8-9 months, and six 18 months up.
One boy jumps on a hen, two others, one on each side peck her and another can't get close but waits for first guy to get of and they all try to be next by just pushing. There is no pecking or real fighting each other. They only peck the hens, especially when they can get easy shots. So tell me chicken experts is this normal?
Some pullets now choose to take their chances with coyotes, owls and cats instead of the cockerels and won't sleep in the coop. Can't have that. So I just opened the Gangland Jail. Next step- Stew Pot Jail.
Normal?

It is normal when there is no senior rooster who will keep order.

 

[Happy Chick Home]

Oh thank you! I saw the article (linked in a different post) about training roos. Do you think I need a different roo or can this one be trained? That's the other reason I was keeping so many. I want to see who will care for the hens best.