Mean cock... went to freezer camp, interesting find inside!

[ShrekDawg]

I've processed a lot of chickens. The dominant cockerel/rooster always has the biggest testicles. Sometimes they're mean, sometimes they're just loud, sometimes really just in good with the ladies.

Young cockerels are almost never good with young pullets, unless they have an older rooster or hen to teach them. I person don't worry about it because they grow out of that phase eventually. My frizzled cochin was great with the girls but a jerk to humans. Normally I'd cull but he was so small and handsome I held off. He's an awesome rooster now at 3ish years old. He will get in a tizzy if you mess with his ladies too much or reach for him but otherwise we respect each others space.

I’m really hoping mine grows out of it! I really think it’s because he hasn’t had any older ones to teach him like you were saying. But that said he seems worse than the other ones. Granted I haven’t had very many but the other boys I had just jumped the girls and tried to mate but otherwise were pretty respectful. But this guy just seems like he’s chasing and grabbing neck feathers ??? they scream in terror but it might be because they are his age ?? The older girls would never tolerate it so maybe I need to move them in together or separate him.

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

So sorry you had to cull your cock. He was gorgeous! Pity he was so mean.

 

[chickenmomma16]

So sorry you had to cull your cock. He was gorgeous! Pity he was so mean.

Thank you. I stressed about it. But it had to be done.

 

[six_chooks_for_now]

I just wanted to say that he reminds me of a renaissance painting of a war general (or something)

 

[Mylied]

I’m really hoping mine grows out of it! I really think it’s because he hasn’t had any older ones to teach him like you were saying. But that said he seems worse than the other ones. Granted I haven’t had very many but the other boys I had just jumped the girls and tried to mate but otherwise were pretty respectful. But this guy just seems like he’s chasing and grabbing neck feathers ??? they scream in terror but it might be because they are his age ?? The older girls would never tolerate it so maybe I need to move them in together or separate him.

Yes, the pullets aren't ready for mating as soon as the cockerels are. So the boys try to catch them but they don't yet have the instinct to squat and take it. So pulling of feathers and chasing happens. I've seen it plenty. And they grow out of it within a few months.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Hi all, Interesting thread! Well, to me anyways....love rooster talk.
So maybe you folks can chime in on my delima. I promise not to pirate this thread too much... right.
DH finally gave into letting me have a roo. Picked up a looker and he was good. The most A.D.D. rooster I have ever seen. He had to have his girls in order, he knew where they were at all times and they had to do what he said. Was pretty funny. But he started to cause a ruckus, usually @ 2am and he would get the whole flock going. Then he would do it again at 4, then 6... So, after a few months of this and it getting worse... I found him a good home with a few acres and let a few of his favorite girls go with him. my back up roo became my #1 guy and me and the gals LOVED him. Everything quieted down, total peace and harmony, he was a wonderful, kind perfect boy. But a few months later he died suddenly. Probably starvation and heat because he gave the girls everything and it got pretty hot for a few days??? I tried everything to revive him but... . So then... I have a handsome cockerel from roo #1 and my girls really like him... and he is young but he is loud.. all the time... dad loud... drama, drama, drama loud. So, I found him a good home with a few acres too. (no, not freezer camp acres lol)
I then went and purchased us a handsome 2 yo silky/americana roo from a good home. After quarantine, he started out pretty good with the ladies, I only have 9 hens, 7- 2mo pullets, 2 2mo-cockerels and 13 chicks (and 1- 4 month old cockerel). Except he hates my alfa hen or now ex-alfa BR hen and her BR bestie. He does not mate them but he makes them submit and chases them away from the rest of the flock. I have had him for a few months now and it has gotten more obvious. The BR's are getting frazzled and I don't like that they don't get to be chillin with the rest of the flock. I do have a back-up roo... I'm just getting tired of the rotating door, are my expectations too high? Coop and run are big and they freerange pretty much all day. They want for nothing- I am their beck and call person. Do I continue to wait this out hoping he and BR's will sort this out or can I cage him for a bit and knock him down a few pegs?
Flock dynamics. Note BR's... watching him and never around.

He likes other gals fine- american's best.

Poor Indie is keeping distance on top of deck chair, Mazzie ready to bolt. Is this a breed thing? Could he prejudice against stripes?

Mahalo wise rooster peeps. Much appreciated. I've been dying to ask this long winded question for awhile now.
Sorry so long, it happens lol

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yes, the pullets aren't ready for mating as soon as the cockerels are. So the boys try to catch them but they don't yet have the instinct to squat and take it. So pulling of feathers and chasing happens. I've seen it plenty. And they grow out of it within a few months.

That makes sense!! Thanks! I just feel bad they’re being so stressed haha the new coop will hopefully be done soon so maybe that will help or I might separate him.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I like to trust that a rooster will grow out of being overly excited about breeding, and stop being a jerk after a while. It also helps to have adult hens about to put him in his spot.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had 3 roosters (one too many) and I am keeping Rick and Shane who are pretty roosters. (4 months old or so.) My third was not mean either, but he decided being cuddled was not his thing anymore, so I didn't feel like keeping him because we didn't have a connection any longer. After I parted him up, I noticed the cartilage tip at the end of his breast bone was not there and the tip looked separated at the end. Has anyone seen this before?

 

[aart]

Anyways, when I compared the 2 brothers the ”Meanie” had noticeably larger testicles even though his full brother was much larger then him. Probably the increase in testosterone was the cause of his aggressive behavior? Maybe?

Without a a doubt!

I've processed a lot of chickens. The dominant cockerel/rooster always has the biggest testicles. Sometimes they're mean, sometimes they're just loud, sometimes really just in good with the ladies.

Yeppers, have done enough to see the signs, always kinda know whose gonna have the bigger cojones.

Thank you. I stressed about it. But it had to be done.

Was that your first slaughter?
Even if it wasn't......Kudos!!
Sounds like you are pragmatic, and will pass that on to your daughter.