Hormonal young Rooster help

[Bellatrain]

First time chicken owner here. We have a mixed flock of 13, down from 20. We kept two roosters and 11 hens. They are all between 14 and 18 weeks old and have been raised together. My question is this: one of the remaining roosters (an Americauna) seems to be causing my hens, one in particular, much grief. I have finally realized he is trying to mate, but it sounds like he’s trying to kill them. When I’m out with them in the evening, he follows them / chases them and pins them down and they scream bloody murder. He does this over and over with whomever he can corner. They all try to avoid him and his favorite hen always comes to me when I’m around for protection. She will hide between my feet or try to get on my shoulder. If I’m not out there she is hiding. Is this a phase that will pass as he matures? He is a beautiful bird and we’d love to keep him, but he causes a lot of drama. When he’s not trying to mate, he’s gentle and never aggressive. Thoughts? Is the mating always this brutal when they are young? Suggestions are appreciated!

 

[The Coop Crew]

Roosters mature must faster hormonally than hens. He might need to be separated for a little while. Tagging some more people who know way more than me!
@azygous
@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock

 

[azygous]

They're called cockerels until they're one year old. They come into their hormones before they have the sense to know how they should be used. There is no law that says you have to keep the cockerels or even mature roosters with the hens. In fact, I keep my two roosters separate from my thirteen hens, and these guys are seven and eight years old and perfectly behaved.

It really does make for a more peaceful flock. When my two guys were young, they would often fight when the hens were out with them. Since I've rationed the time they get to spend with the hens, these two have become best friends over the years. Most of the time, my roosters are in each other's company, and they seem quite content. Ditto the hens.

 

[The Coop Crew]

They're called cockerels until they're one year old. They come into their hormones before they have the sense to know how they should be used. There is no law that says you have to keep the cockerels or even mature roosters with the hens. In fact, I keep my two roosters separate from my thirteen hens, and these guys are seven and eight years old and perfectly behaved.

It really does make for a more peaceful flock. When my two guys were young, they would often fight when the hens were out with them. Since I've rationed the time they get to spend with the hens, these two have become best friends over the years. Most of the time, my roosters are in each other's company, and they seem quite content. Ditto the hens.

Probably a stupid question but..
I know they’re cockerels and pullets until they’re a year old but why? Do they really not “mature” all the way until they reach a year old?
Just trying to learn all I can!
Thank you

 

[azygous]

I think it's just the terminology in animal husbandry. If you are buying and selling cockerels and roosters, you automatically will understand the difference in age and what you're dealing with.

Pullets are female chickens that have not reached point of lay. After they lay the first egg at four months to nine months plus, they are then called hens. So that's how we know whether a chicken is past point of lay. A hen that is no longer laying is called a spent hen.

In actuality, chickens continue to grow and fill out until they're two years old. The terminology is mostly concerned with states of fertility.

 

[The Coop Crew]

I think it's just the terminology in animal husbandry. If you are buying and selling cockerels and roosters, you automatically will understand the difference in age and what you're dealing with.

Pullets are female chickens that have not reached point of lay. After they lay the first egg at four months to nine months plus, they are then called hens. So that's how we know whether a chicken is past point of lay. A hen that is no longer laying is called a spent hen.

In actuality, chickens continue to grow and fill out until they're two years old. The terminology is mostly concerned with states of fertility.

Thank you for the explanation, I appreciate it

 

[aart]

Pullets are female chickens that have not reached point of lay. After they lay the first egg at four months to nine months plus, they are then called hens.

Not hens until one year....why they lay 'pullet eggs'.