male attacking females

[pappy1264]

HELP! My bantam cochin has been biting my females, to the point I am afraid someone will get gravely injured. Someone told me something about a 'ring' that is used to keep males from biting. I don't want to cull him, but have to do something. Can anyone give me some advice? I also have another roo, an EE, and he is fine with him, so assuming this is a mating thing (they are about 14 weeks old now.) Thank you.

 

[Den in Penn]

It is a mating thing. I assume the pullets are around the same age. Cockerels mature faster then the pullets, so they will try to mate before the pullets are ready. It rarely causes injury to the pullets just a few feathers and a lot of squawking. This is corrected with time and they begin to cooperate. Until then you have to put up with the teenage behavior or separate them until the hens catch up. I put up with it.

 

[pappy1264]

For now, he is separated, although right next to everyone. I have another bantam and she is even smaller then he is and he could really hurt her. He is biting everyone (well, not me). Have you ever tried the peepers things for the beak? Someone suggested I try it. Thank you.

 

[Den in Penn]

I myself haven't tried them. They do work to stop feather picking. Since this is a maturity/mating thing, they may work to disrupt his ability to grab their necks. With the Cochin separated, I think the EE will soon start to try to mate as well.

 

[pappy1264]

Funny how the little guy is the dominant one. I will watch for that. Actually, Christopher (the EE male) had stopped crowing, as Emeril (the cochin's) crowing became louder. Today, with the cochin not in with the others, Christopher started to crow again! Will we get through this safely? I mean, will it pass?

 

[pappy1264]

Well, that didn't take long...just had to pull Christopher, as he started going after Ruby now!!! GGGRRRRRR...I have to explain, we had a major stopage doing out coop, so they are still in the basement in very tight quarters, so I know that isn't helping! I have a huge double cage (it is actually a homemade bunny hutch) that the boys will go in (it is HUGE), two levels, so they will each have their own area. I just hope I can get them back in with the girls when I move everyone outside (coop itself is almost done, but have to do the run and I cannot let them free range, so have to finish it before I get them outside.)

 

[Den in Penn]

Allowing the boys to be together will keep them used to each other. When you finish the run If you can put some things in it to break the line of sight should help to lessen the grabbing, out of sight out of mind.. It will get better. They will mature and get better when the the pullets get into mating.

 

[pappy1264]

So just for now keep the boys in the same caging, until the coop is ready? They were not fighting, so that was not the issue. Ok, will try that. Have to finish the coop, I hope that will help too having more space and things to do! TY!

 

[donrae]

If you're going to keep roosters, you're going to have to deal with chicken mating. It's not a pretty picture, especially at first, but it's totally normal and the hens learn to deal with it, and the roosters get better. Separating the roosters now is only delaying the inevitable.

 

[pappy1264]

I understand, but since they are still inside (trying to get the coop finished) it isn't helping the girls cannot get far away.