How do I get my rooster to stop harassing my hens?

[Tall-esRaisin]

I have two bantam hens and one rooster (the one pictured). The rooster (McNugget) doesn't fight any of the hens, but the problem is he won't stop trying to mate with them. I know it's normal for the roosters to try to fertilize the females, but he is non-stop!! If the hens are trying to eat he will sneak up behind, if they try to sleep he will bother them until they stand up, and if they are just walking around he will chase them until they give in. I would say he tries to mate with them at least 5 times a day. I wouldn't think my two hens (Teriyaki and Wasabi) would to like it because he just never stops and they never get a break. I don't want to lock him away in the coop all day, but I do want my hens to have some peace. If I have to sale him, then I guess that is what I have to do, but I would like to know if there is any other way to solve this. Did anyone have the same problem with their rooster, and if you did how did you solve the problem??

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

The answer is simple...get him some more hens

His mating habits are pretty normal. If he's young, he'll likely calm down with age.

 

[CherishHolland]

general rule of thumb is one rooster for every 10 hens some say 12 that way it gives the poor gals a break and if he is young he is going to be more randy than usual and will usually calm down the older he gets.

 

[smedly9921]

I agree more hens, When I first had a rooster he was mean as hell when i kept him with out hens, he got better with a few hens but like you say chased them around all day long, He has more hens now and it much better with them but as he gets older he is getting more aggressive towards us humans. I have been working on this but i have eaten one already due to his aggressiveness.

 

[wsmith]

The answer is simple...get him some more hens

His mating habits are pretty normal. If he's young, he'll likely calm down with age.

Yup.
Rooster will do what roosters do. That is their purpose in life, and to be fried with yummy spices. Remove him or give him more hens, but he will continue to attempt to mate as long as his system is working as it should.

 

[Tall-esRaisin]

Well my neighbor (who also raises chickens) decided to keep him over at her coop for awhile just to give my hens a break. I'm not sure if I'll going to sell him yet, or just let him live with the hens again. Thanks for the replies!!

 

[McSaize]

Only one of my roosters is very aggressive to my hens....he ripped the feather out of one older hen and she was bleeding so we had to keep her separated until the feathers grew back.
Now i keep the roosters separated from all the hens. The roosters are 7 months old. Will the aggressive one settle down in time? The roosters have been separated from the hens for 3 weeks.

 

[Shorty22366]

More hens. Hopefully he will settle down as he ages.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Only one of my roosters is very aggressive to my hens....he ripped the feather out of one older hen and she was bleeding so we had to keep her separated until the feathers grew back.
Now i keep the roosters separated from all the hens. The roosters are 7 months old. Will the aggressive one settle down in time? The roosters have been separated from the hens for 3 weeks.

I have separated out some roosters for almost a year, others for weeks or months. They are all different. They all usually settle down after that first year or so, most aren't fully mature until 2 years of age. Some are worse than others.

 

[Saiczarina]

Only one of my roosters is very aggressive to my hens....he ripped the feather out of one older hen and she was bleeding so we had to keep her separated until the feathers grew back.
Now i keep the roosters separated from all the hens. The roosters are 7 months old. Will the aggressive one settle down in time? The roosters have been separated from the hens for 3 weeks.