Dduell2's Chicken Journey

[Dduell2]

How old is he? Has he been aggressive to people?

Almost 16 weeks. No.

I feel like he's ready to mate and they are not. But I don't want my hens hurt or hating him. Or us to hate him for it

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

They won't hate him as they get older. He just needs a little time to finesse his technique. Soon he'll be showing them where the good treats are and such. It's fun to see how the roosters are with the hens. They will let him know when they are ready. I take it that the pullets aren't laying yet?

 

[Dduell2]

Will he? Currently he's greedy with the treats and chases the girls around and starting to get aggressive with them. When very young it was great to watch him grow and start to watch out for his girls. Now I just don't want my girls hurt

No they are not laying yet. All the same age bought from family farm and home at like 2 days old

 

[Dduell2]

They won't hate him as they get older. He just needs a little time to finesse his technique. Soon he'll be showing them where the good treats are and such. It's fun to see how the roosters are with the hens. They will let him know when they are ready. I take it that the pullets aren't laying yet?

What do i do? Do i need to keep her isolated from them all?

I think shes sad.

And its a pain in the but transferring her from in the house at night outside to in a small cage alone during the day

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Full disclosure, I'm not an expert and until this spring I haven't had chickens in twelve ish years. But I've always had roosters in with the flocks that I've had. As long as they weren't aggressive to people or being raised for dinner they got to stay.
Is it just one girl he's picking on? Is there a way that you can separate him? Maybe putting a barrier up when he can see but not touch? I figure in a month he may settle a little bit. Because the girls will be more ready for his advances

 

[fuzzi]

I am no expert, but separating a cockerel from the flock might make it harder to integrate him later.

Do the pullets/hens have room or clutter to avoid him? Are they getting hurt or are they just annoyed?

 

[Dduell2]

So far its only 1 hen of the 3. Seems like his favorite. They've been buddy buddy all growing up.

im not 100% sure it was him. We didnt catch him. Came hime to see her damage. Don't see any other signs of anything else.

here's some crappy pics ofnher head. Shes also missing a ton of tail feathers


technically its against township ordinance to have a rooster...

 

[fuzzi]

So far its only 1 hen of the 3. Seems like his favorite. They've been buddy buddy all growing up.

im not 100% sure it was him. We didnt catch him. Came hime to see her damage. Don't see any other signs of anything else.

here's some crappy pics ofnher head. Shes also missing a ton of tail feathers


technically its against township ordinance to have a rooster...
View attachment 4221434View attachment 4221435View attachment 4221436View attachment 4221438

Consider that it could be the other hen(s) doing the damage. They can be brutal to each other.

A few months ago two of my pullets had raw areas on their neck/head. I was told here that it was probably from mating attempts. I watched the raw areas, eventually they went away. The young roosters became experienced and stopped hurting the pullets.

The older hens weren't affected, they probably gave the young roos a dressing down for their inexperience.

 

[Dduell2]

Consider that it could be the other hen(s) doing the damage. They can be brutal to each other.

A few months ago two of my pullets had raw areas on their neck/head. I was told here that it was probably from mating attempts. I watched the raw areas, eventually they went away. The young roosters became experienced and stopped hurting the pullets.

The older hens weren't affected, they probably gave the young roos a dressing down for their inexperience.

Good point. She is the roosters favorite girl. Going to put her back and see how things go

 

[Dduell2]

I tried to let her back in with the others. I threw down some worms as treats to lure her in and the rooster attacked another hen going for treats twice. I removed him. He's not going back in there. Anyone want a rooster?