Cockrel - Trouble or Normal?

[PattyNH]

MY BAD!
I'm not quite all here today.

Sure..go ahead and eat him.
You still have 3 others to choose from if you want to keep one.

Sorry, I thought you were talking about boys in general taking forever to figure out what they're doing...

 

[MissChick@dee]

If he’s a snot to your girls don’t keep him.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree with @aart I would not rely on a cockerel/rooster for protection of the flock, they are no match for a predator. They are good at sounding the alarm and you may have one that stands in the way, gets eaten/attacked first while the girls make a get away or he may act like, well...a chicken! He may outrun those girls to safety

Seriously, you have 4 that are 13 weeks old, they are just barely getting started.
Separate out all 4 and continue to try to re-home, but while you are waiting, observe them and make your choice about who to keep.
Or if you can't re-home, then raise to eat.

 

[PattyNH]

I would get rid of the rapist cockerel first... some are more aggressive with "romancing" than others, yes they can all go through a learning phase, but if one is obviously a problem while the others are not, then deal with the problem one first.

I call him that too lol

Thanks!

 

[PattyNH]

Thanks everyone! I thought I knew the right path to go down but I have a 6 year old who keeps saying "We are NOT eating the cockrels!! Just let them live their lives!" Tonight I told him that he had to go because he was hurting Brownie (laying hen).

@Wyorp Rock Unfortunately that was exactly what I was thinking - a cockrel/rooster could give then hens a chance to run for cover...

 

[ShannonR]

Sorry, I thought you were talking about boys in general taking forever to figure out what they're doing...

It's not just chickens, either!

 

[PattyNH]

If you want to keep one, pick one and eat the rest.
Personally I only keep a male to sire the next generation of layers.
All extra males get put in the freezer between 12-16 weeks...multiple males are a PITA.
It's hard to see their true demeanor's until the others are gone.
My birds are confined, but even if I free ranged would not count on a male to protect the flock, many are just a speed bump on the way to the buffet.

I am totally on board with this. I don't need to breed as I keep the hens for eggs and pets/enjoyment. I'll be adding a few pullets each year to make up for those lost to predtora or that stop laying. We live with my 81y old father who thinks we should have a rooster so I'll keep one and eat the rest if I can't rehome them. Thanks!

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

You are going to disappoint your little 6 year old kid and scar him for life!!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

… One cockrel has started mounting the laying hen and biting/pulling the feathers at the back of her neck....

What you are seeing is normal and usual chicken behavior. Chicken sex is brief but confusing to the human eye. Because during chicken sex there is no penetration the male needs some way to keep his seat. He accomplishes this by holding on to the small feathers at the back of the hens head.

 

[alexa009]

This behavior is ordinary for a cockerel who has just commenced the mating habit. Cockerels tend to be more active and feisty at this stage and the rough process of mating generally dies down within a few months once they get control of it. If you are not comfortable with your hens being attacked roughly as described then you have every right to remove him. I have considered it before in my past of dealing with young males whose hormones suddenly kicked in. A cockerel will behave appropriately around a pullet or hen when he is mentally mature.