Hormones or pecking order issues?

[MTKitty]

Set up: Twelve weeks old. Three cockerels (one was a surprise); 14 pullets. All Buckeyes (fiesty from the beginning). Coop is 80 sq ft w/15-ish ft of roost space, rarely used. Yard is ~ 800 sq ft. They are cooped at night due to predator load.

Tonight, one of the roos grabbed a girl by the head and she screamed bloody murder. He didn’t let her go until I took a step toward them. As she moved away, he looked at her funny, so I used tone to discourage him.

As I prepared to leave the yard, most are under my feet, as normal. One hen came running over to be with the group; and the same roo fluffed his neck and acted like he was ready to attack. I moved until I was between them and shoo’d him off. He stepped away, then moved on her again (she’s just hanging out now, not running up).

I voice corrected and threw my pocket flashlight at him. It hit him in the side and he freaked. I chased him several steps for reinforcement before reminding him that Thanksgiving isn’t far off and I haven’t decided on my menu yet.

If you’ve stuck with me this far — Thank you! What I need input on is this: Is he being a hormonal jerk? Or am I looking a potential flock disrupter who might need to be dinner?

If his aggression is due to rising hormones, how long should I watch for him to settle down?

 

[Ais]

I would cull. 3 cockerels to 14 pullets is a high ratio to start with. If 1 is already causing trouble, I'd remove him.

 

[rosemarythyme]

He grabbed her head because he wanted to mate. He's not a rooster yet, he's still a cockerel, so yes his hormones are running high (a good mature rooster should not mate with a 12 week old pullet).

You do have too many boys for the girls, so culling at least 1 (if not 2) would bring a lot more peace to the flock.

 

[HumbleAmerican]

Sounds like he's the first volunteer for the fry pan. At that age he will provide a tender morsel that goes well alongside fried potatoes and gravy.

 

[MTKitty]

Thank you for the responses.

I’m disappointed at this because he is the most watchful of the boys when out in the yard. I’d hoped he would be my best flock guardian.

But I also knew this might happen when I realized one of the 15 pullets was mis-sexed, throwing my male:female ratio from mid-range to marginal.