Is my rooster just mean?

[NCchickentender]

I've got a rooster (4 more but they are kept separated from the rest) and 5 hens. Buddy is a good boy to me and most of the hens. However, there is one hen that he is just straight up mean to!! When he heads in her direction she just lays down and waits for him but when he get near her, he grabs her neck and slings her around! He does his thing then slings her around some more. They are free range so she tries to stay away from him to the point that she was always alone. She's got to where she wouldn't sleep in the coup. After a week of this I tried letting one of the younger roosters out, hoping he'd take up with her. He did but now Buddy chases them both. We've been trying to give the roosters away but nobody seems to want roosters. My question is, is it normal for a rooster to chase a hen out of the flock?

 

[sourland]

It happens, but is really not normal. In my flock, hens come first. Buddy would have to go to a new home.

 

[azygous]

I completely agree. Buddy has a flaw. This should be a warning that now is a good time for chicken soup.

 

[NCchickentender]

Thank you Sourland and Azygous. Within minutes of posting this, my hen was chased inside my house! There's a "magic mesh" screen into the laundry room and she came inside. She might have seen the dogs doing it but still...! Buddy has to go!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My question is, is it normal for a rooster to chase a hen out of the flock?

Hi there, hope you're enjoying BYC!

No, I agree with others it is NOT normal.

I also get the feeling we're talking about cockerels and not roosters?? It's only natural that he would chase one of the other boys that's been locked up as he established the hens are HIS harem, including the extra (possibly excessively) docile one..

For whatever reason you've decided Buddy should get access to the ladies instead of being locked up with his buddies.. I'm not sure.. but he's GOT to go!

Craigslist farm and garden section is your friend.

Alternatively, and not my preference.. re-home the lady he has a problem with.. but watch and see other behaviors that develop and escalate outta that boy.. he's given the first signs of his true temperament.. and this goes beyond clumsy, & still learning.

Solve for peace!

 

[Mrs. K]

Use a broomstick. If you can't eat them, plant them with a rose bush.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

The only reason I’ve ever had a rooster try to chase off a hen was because she had lice and all the chickens knew it before I did… once that was taken care of he didn’t chase her off anymore.

I’d check your hen over well before making a decision but if you don’t find anything I would definitely get rid of Buddy!

 

[NCchickentender]

Here's what I did. Buddy was separated Sunday night and all the girls and Raleigh were put in the coop. The coop and the rooster's roost is about 30 feet apart. I have an electric door for the girls' coop. Monday morning I assumed they all came out. When I went out to start the morning chores, 4 of the hens were hanging right with Raleigh. Meanwhile, Buddy is NOT happy about this! I'm searching everywhere for Betty, the lil abused hen. I finally find her still in the coop. She looked terrified! Up on the top roost in the very darkest corner. She didn't even move when I opened the big door. At first I thought she was just tired from being chased off for so long and hadn't got any real rest. So I checked her for bugs, pet her for a minute, scratched her head and put her back on the perch. Then I started wondering if she was sick and that was why Buddy was chasing her away. As I was walking away from the coop to come here and start searching for answers, Buddy is still mad and letting me know it! It dawned on me! Betty can hear him right outside the coop!! She doesn't know he can't get her! So I went back and got her. I carried her to her safe spot near the chick run, set her down and she perked right up. The girls are starting to come back together. Betty wondered off a few times and Raleigh did his best to keep them all together. She was the only one I had to put up at bedtime. Buddy and another young roo were caught and taken to their new home a few miles away. This morning Betty didn't come out with the others but she was standing in one of the nests. I shewed her out the door. She stood on the ramp and looked at the roosters roost. I had to shew her passed it but she seems to be doing much better today. They're all hanging out in the same general area now. Thanks for everyone's advice. It really helped a lot

 

[NCchickentender]

The only reason I’ve ever had a rooster try to chase off a hen was because she had lice and all the chickens knew it before I did… once that was taken care of he didn’t chase her off anymore.

I’d check your hen over well before making a decision but if you don’t find anything I would definitely get rid of Buddy!

I've picked her up twice today. I pet her and scratched her head. I didn't notice anything but I wasn't really looking for lice. I'll check her tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[NCchickentender]

Roosters and hens have a set of personal behaviors. So it's hard to say why he would behave that way unless your watching for signs of what triggered him to be that way. But just because he is expected to accept every hen in the flock won't always happen.

I've seen this with my own flock. But for my situation, I gave her space to roost by herself for several months. Had her spend daylight hours with flock and my rooster finally came around to accepting her. She was a young hen under a year old.

But I do agree with everyone's opinion on getting rid of the rooster if you want an immediate change.

I wish I could give her that much time but I'm afraid something will get her. And I'm kinda worried Buddy will do this again to another hen. The coup was in chaos last night. Only Buddy and one hen was in there. He's now in lock-down and I'm watching to see if the girls will get back together. Thanks Tonyroo!