Help! Behavior emergency! Rooster turning against top hen!

[JanetMarie]

He is not a good rooster. All young roosters have some growing up to do, but a good rooster will show good traits at a young age. When a rooster singles out one or more hens for "special treatment" it gets worse as the rooster matures. Then you have a situation of having to get rid of a rooster that you have had for a few years. It's better to get rid of him when he is young. The hens will not miss him. If you're looking to breed and have to have a rooster there are many that need new homes on craigslist.

.

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed. This roo should never be allowed to play in the gene pool.

 

[jlholm]

Thank you all for helping me figure out what I need to do.
The girls all do get along when he is not around, other than the normal pecking order bickering. If I hadn't want this to work so badly, I'm sure I would have already determined he had to go. But, I got I to chickens for the enjoyment of it and this has just been stressful. Since I'm new to having a rooster, I was just afraid that this IS normal behaviour and am thankful to hear that it is not. I will try again with a different rooster down the road a little bit.
Thanks again!

 

[lazy gardener]

Thank you all for helping me figure out what I need to do.
The girls all do get along when he is not around, other than the normal pecking order bickering. If I hadn't want this to work so badly, I'm sure I would have already determined he had to go. But, I got I to chickens for the enjoyment of it and this has just been stressful. Since I'm new to having a rooster, I was just afraid that this IS normal behaviour and am thankful to hear that it is not. I will try again with a different rooster down the road a little bit.
Thanks again!

Good decision.

 

[aart]

Quote: Ditto Dat^^^

Dealing with males can be a pretty steep learning curve......but you'll climb it.

 

[jlholm]

Thank you all for your help and advice. We culled the rooster and everyone, even "his" girls seem more relaxed. The older girls he was trying to eliminate took a couple days to come out without looking over their shoulder, but even started laying again! (They had stopped completely after the roo first started singling them out) I will eventually try a rooster again, but after this experience is a distant memory!

 

[aart]

Thank you all for your help and advice. We culled the rooster and everyone, even "his" girls seem more relaxed. The older girls he was trying to eliminate took a couple days to come out without looking over their shoulder, but even started laying again! (They had stopped completely after the roo first started singling them out) I will eventually try a rooster again, but after this experience is a distant memory!

Witnessing the behavioral changes is amazing, is it not?

 

[MILOCHICKEN]

I am not sure. My rooster is very large, Possibly 10-12 pounds, and never hurt any other chickens exit roosters. He does hurt me though but not my little brother.