Mean 7 week old boy

[lazy gardener]

I agree with Sour, Those hormones can kick in at a very early age. And it's that cascade of T that starts the whole enlarging of comb and wattles that can often be distinguished at a VERY early age. I had a cockerel who was a complete jerk starting at 2 weeks of age. However, I was able to work him out of his jerkiness. He was human aggressive. If he had been aggressive to his pullet flock mates, I doubt that I could have "fixed" his jerkiness.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

If this behavior continues, you should definitely get more pullets. 6-8 hens per rooster is recommended.

 

[chickens really]

The last three Cockerels I had here were fighting each other at that age and my Rooster who is their father was starting to beat them up for fighting..

 

[chickens really]

If this behavior continues, you should definitely get more pullets. 6-10 hens per rooster is recommended.

That's hatchery recommendations and not true. A good Rooster does great with 3 Hens.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

That's hatchery recommendations and not true. A good Rooster does great with 3 Hens.

It is true that some roosters don't need that many, I've had roosters that did fine with only one hen. I've also successfully kept three roosters with five hens. But, in this case, I'm guessing that more hens the better.

 

[theoldchick]

Get a boss hen in the group to whip up on him. Seriously, though, at 7 weeks, they needs plenty of room and boredom breakers. If you only have two birds of different gender in limited space you will see this occur. If you get more birds you will need more room. What breed are they? Game and game crosses can be fairly assertive at a young age.

 

[chickens really]

Truly all it is is he is a cockerel with one Pullet and she needs back up.. He probably isn't a Bad Cockerel but puts all his energy on her being she is the weakest link.

 

[getaclue]

He needs about 2 more pullets the same age, and size as the one you already have. Yes, he will still show some aggression towards them at this age, at times. It should not be constant. Mine will show some of the behavior you are describing, at this age. Pay attention and you will probably see that he's taking on his role as protector, and teaching her to take her cues from him, and obey him. He's using you as a substitute predator role model, standing between you, and her, teaching her to stay behind him, so he can protect her. She does not perceive you as a threat, nor is she taking her cues from him, so she doesn't react by taking cover, behind him. He reacts by chastising her, getting her in line.

 

[aart]

I've had bantam roosters crowing at 4 or 5 weeks and attempting to mate shortly thereafter. Didn't run T tests on them so it is indeed an assumption on my part.

Edited to add : I have never had one become human aggressive at that age, so maybe he is just a nutjob.

I agree with Sour, Those hormones can kick in at a very early age. And it's that cascade of T that starts the whole enlarging of comb and wattles that can often be distinguished at a VERY early age. I had a cockerel who was a complete jerk starting at 2 weeks of age. However, I was able to work him out of his jerkiness. He was human aggressive. If he had been aggressive to his pullet flock mates, I doubt that I could have "fixed" his jerkiness.

I suppose that's true... red combs at 6wks indicating male = T.
Just never really seen any real aggressiveness until ~4mos.

 

[sbhkma]

I'm sorry, but I'll say it again... I disagree with folks saying "just get more pullets". This cockerel is aggressive at 7 weeks. He hasn't even started getting the full hormonal dose of testosterone. I would dump him, get a couple 8 week old pullets and, if you still want a rooster, get a young cockerel. Before you get him spend some time watching him. How does he behave toward the other birds? How does he act toward humans? That will at least tell you the building blocks of what sort of roo he'll most likely be-no guarantees of course but it's a good start.