Cockrel mean at 12 weeks?

[chickenlady7770]

Looking for some ideas.?i have a 12 week old blue birchen cockrel. He rough with the girls. I want To know if this is a stage at this age or if he will get better, nicer with time. Please advise.

 

[CannedMonster]

I have 4 that are the same age.
My bantam is the one chasing the girls right now.
They harass them pretty bad. The pullets mature slower so it may be better to separate the boys into another coop if you can.
It’ll probably get a lot worse before it gets better.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

It really depends on your bird. How rough are you talking? Do you have any older pullets or hens to keep him busy and put him in his place? Some people separate the cockerels out until they get to about a year.

 

[chickenlady7770]

I have 4 that are the same age.
My bantam is the one chasing the girls right now.
They harass them pretty bad. The pullets mature slower so it may be better to separate the boys into another coop if you can.
It’ll probably get a lot worse before it gets better.

Thanks

 

[chickenlady7770]

It really depends on your bird. How rough are you talking? Do you have any older pullets or hens to keep him busy and put him in his place? Some people separate the cockerels out until they get to about a year.

Wow!! A year? That's a long time. They are all about at same age. New coop

 

[RWise]

I am one of those that keeps a cock from the flock to raise. He is in the flock until about 4 months old. Once he hits 4 months he will be in a bachelor pad until he is at least 1 YO. (only 1 with the flock) This pad is where the flock can see and visit him, but not touch. All others are sorted into diner or sales at 4 months.
After 1 YO they calm down and start acting a lot nicer, of course there are some that will just not make a good rooster.
You can certainly keep him in the flock, but he will likely over mate the girls, leaving them with raw backs (saddles will help). The girls will teach him how to act, but he will listen to them more at 1 YO.

 

[aart]

12 weeks is prime for cockerels hormones to start flowing and they want to start mating.
Your pullets won't be ready to submit until they reach point of lay, which is 2-3 months away.

Do you have lots of space for the pullets to get away?
If he won't leave them any peace, might be good to separate him until the pullets are laying.

This is about the age(12-16 weeks) I sell or slaughter all extra cockerels,
still tender enough for the grill and before they cause too much strife.

 

[chickenlady7770]

I am one of those that keeps a cock from the flock to raise. He is in the flock until about 4 months old. Once he hits 4 months he will be in a bachelor pad until he is at least 1 YO. (only 1 with the flock) This pad is where the flock can see and visit him, but not touch. All others are sorted into diner or sales at 4 months.
After 1 YO they calm down and start acting a lot nicer, of course there are some that will just not make a good rooster.
You can certainly keep him in the flock, but he will likely over mate the girls, leaving them with raw backs (saddles will help). The girls will teach him how to act, but he will listen to them more at 1 YO.

Thank you. We had chickens before and had a gorgeous rooster who didn't act this way.