It's Mating time! Why do my 4 roosters like the one hen best?

[ChikenChik]

So I have 4 teenage Australorp roos. They are only about 3 and a half months old and 3 are already starting to go crazy humping all the girls. I have 11 hens though 4 are not laying yet...the Australorps same age as the boys. The boys seem to prefer my poor oldest 3 year old hen who is a New Hampshire. In fact I literally just had to pick her up to save her from the 3 that were ALL trying to get her. They occasionally go after the other Australorps and sometimes go after my 3 Barnevelders but never seem to even try with the 2 EE's or my White Leghorn. My New Hampshire is kinda the queen bee but more like a motherly type. She's not mean to new chickens but also puts everyone in their place. Why are they picking on her? We will be having smoked chicken this weekend...so that will put us down to 2 roos. I am hoping to keep one if I can find one that is not too aggressive and loud. Anyone have experience with this?

 

[21hens-incharge]

You might consider putting the males in a pen away from the females for a while.

At least until around dinnertime.

Even when down to two males you may need to pen one up to give that gal a break.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Your New Hampshire is probably very submissive and that is why they are mounting her.

 

[ChikenChik]

You might consider putting the males in a pen away from the females for a while.

At least until around dinnertime.

Even when down to two males you may need to pen one up to give that gal a break.

Actually they usually end up in the chicken tractor during the day. I let 6 or 7 go in there. 6 or 7 stay in the run and a couple run around the yard. She is usually one of the ones that run around. I find that if I only let a couple out they stay around our yard and away from the neighbors. They won't go too far from the flock. So she does get a break. But I still feel bad for her when I let everyone out to free range an hour before sunset and they all go after her! But eventually we will be down to one or none. I have tried to keep roosters before and ended up getting tired of them harassing my hens and getting agressive towards people. But now I have more hens and these do seem much nicer to me at least. We shall see!

 

[RWise]

I would separate the cocks, and when they are at least 1 YO I would then pick 1 and only 1 to be with he flock
Good luck!

 

[ChikenChik]

I would separate the cocks, and when they are at least 1 YO I would then pick 1 and only 1 to be with he flock
Good luck!

I can't keep 4 roosters for 9 more months my neighbors would kill me! One starts crowing and they all join in all day long. And I can't separate just the one in the winter I don't use heat and it gets pretty cold here in Northern MI. I am hoping with 11 girls just one rooster will be ok. If not we will try again next year. I might just get an adult rooster next spring so we can make some babies if this doesn't work out. There are always free Roosters available around here

 

[aart]

Get them in the freezer now, no sense in waiting, they're still grillable before 16 weeks.
Removing all but 1 will probably calm the remaining one down.

 

[featherhead007]

My poor Hampshire hen has lost a lot of feathers due to rooster damage also!

 

[ChikenChik]

Get them in the freezer now, no sense in waiting, they're still grillable before 16 weeks.
Removing all but 1 will probably calm the remaining one down.

Hubby said he would do it this weekend. He's the butcher and he works long hours during the week

 

[ChikenChik]

My poor Hampshire hen has lost a lot of feathers due to rooster damage also!

Maybe they just like the red heads