Is my rooster a bully???

[Ziggy1973]

First time raising chickens. I have 14 hens and one rooster who are 13 weeks old. I know roosters get a bit rough with the hens but I'm wondering if my rooster is being too rough. I've seen him grab one of the girls by the neck and have seen lots of feathers laying around after i hear a squabble. Maybe I'm too tenderhearted but I get upset when i see him treat my girls this way. Is this normal behavior and will it lessen over time? Thanks!

 

[nchls school]

At 13 weeks your cockerel is winning dominance over the females. If he didn't the hens would beat him up even worse than what he does. The behavior should lessen in time. Completely normal behavior.

 

[keesmom]

While what you are seeing is normal for a group of young birds, that doesn't necessarily make it acceptable. Cockerels mature more quickly than the pullets. He's on a hormone high and ready to get going, while the pullets are months away from being ready for that kind of attention. Things should calm down when the pullets start laying, but until then he may need to be separated if he gets to be too much for them. Sometimes pullets hide all day, or stay on the perch unwilling to come down to eat or drink to avoid the attentions.

 

[aart]

While what you are seeing is normal for a group of young birds, that doesn't necessarily make it acceptable.

Exactly!!

First time raising chickens. I have 14 hens and one rooster who are 13 weeks old. I know roosters get a bit rough with the hens but I'm wondering if my rooster is being too rough. I've seen him grab one of the girls by the neck and have seen lots of feathers laying around after i hear a squabble. Maybe I'm too tenderhearted but I get upset when i see him treat my girls this way. Is this normal behavior and will it lessen over time? Thanks!

How much space do they have?
Coop and run, in feet by feet?
Pics would help here.
The pullets need to be able to get way from the cockerel, and still be able to eat and drink and rest without harassment.


Oh, and....
FYI-PSA.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

First time raising chickens. I have 14 hens and one rooster who are 13 weeks old. I know roosters get a bit rough with the hens but I'm wondering if my rooster is being too rough. I've seen him grab one of the girls by the neck and have seen lots of feathers laying around after i hear a squabble. Maybe I'm too tenderhearted but I get upset when i see him treat my girls this way. Is this normal behavior and will it lessen over time? Thanks!

I agree with what others said. On the note of space, if you can't provide them with more space, try to provide more hiding spots. And on the note of feathers, at that age they are near constantly shedding and growing new feathers as they age. I wouldn't be too terribly concerned about feathers just yet. Chicken's finding their way in the pecking order can be so stressful for us chicken lovers, but to some extent we do need to let them learn their own way.

 

[Ziggy1973]

Exactly!!

How much space do they have?
Coop and run, in feet by feet?
Pics would help here.
The pullets need to be able to get way from the cockerel, and still be able to eat and drink and rest without harassment.


Oh, and....
FYI-PSA.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

Exactly!!

How much space do they have?
Coop and run, in feet by feet?
Pics would help here.
The pullets need to be able to get way from the cockerel, and still be able to eat and drink and rest without harassment.


Oh, and....
FYI-PSA.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

The building houses 2 coops, each measuring 7 1/2 x 11 1/2 feet, a little over 6 feet tall. Each coop has 10 nesting boxes on one end and roosts on the other. There is a door that attaches them and it's now open so they have access to both. Each coop has access to a run that is 21 x 17 feet. There is a gate that opens between them and it's open right now. Hard to get pictures in the coop... And thanks for sharing correct terminology! And I'm working on getting some fast growing shrubs in there for more shade/cover. I appreciate the help!

 

[humblehillsfarm]

The building houses 2 coops, each measuring 7 1/2 x 11 1/2 feet, a little over 6 feet tall. Each coop has 10 nesting boxes on one end and roosts on the other. There is a door that attaches them and it's now open so they have access to both. Each coop has access to a run that is 21 x 17 feet. There is a gate that opens between them and it's open right now. Hard to get pictures in the coop... And thanks for sharing correct terminology! And I'm working on getting some fast growing shrubs in there for more shade/cover. I appreciate the help!View attachment 2231994View attachment 2231995

Wow that’s a nice setup for year one! Definitely work on that shade. On a sunny day shade is where chickens like to be. I’d just observe your rooster for the next couple weeks or month and see if he’s improving or getting worse. His first year or so of life are always the roughest.

 

[aart]

The building houses 2 coops, each measuring 7 1/2 x 11 1/2 feet, a little over 6 feet tall.

...and looks like lots of room for 'chicken math'!!