courtship or aggressive behavior?

[Our Roost]

4 months old now and my 2 roo's behaviors are changing rapidly. My hens are being grappled and pecked on the head and neck severely. They scream as if they are being attacked and mauled. And they are! I have 21 hens. I believe having 2 roosters and one flock may be the problem. Both roosters are trying to show their dominancy over the flock. Is this behavior normal? I think my girls are too young and probably wont lay eggs for another month or so yet. What gives? Not the way for gentlemen to act to a lady during courtship!

 

[sourland]

Many roosters and most young roosters are far from gentlemen. Two roosters fighting over/attempting to breed the same hen can potentially injure the hen. If their behavior is bothersome to you, perhaps separating the roosters until both they and the hens are more mature might be a good idea.

 

[Our Roost]

Do you think the behavior would be less aggressive if there were only one of them? Its not just one hen they are fighting over, its all of them. I suppose forced mating can be pretty aggressive anyway. Does it ever settle down to where the hens just accept and expect it?

 

[sourland]

Young roosters especially as they are perfecting their technique may try to gang breed the same hen. Removing one rooster would lessen the chance of injury to your pullets, but they are still going to object to the randy young cockerels attentions.