my lightbrahma cockerel keeps biting the pullets feathers and hes not mating when he does it

[chickenlover8969]

is it bc the pulllets ate alot smaller or why do i need to get some lightbrahma females

 

[chickenlover8969]

or do i need to get him a new home

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Your cockerel is doing what all cockerels eventually do: they test how to mate. This will begin with pulling on the neck or somewhere around their vent to try to grab onto them. It usually results in the female screaming and trying to get away. Eventually a cockerel usually grows out of this as he learns how to properly grab the females for breeding.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Also, a cockerel will always be a cockerel until he reaches a specific age. You do not call them a rooster when they begin to breed, you call them a rooster when they reach one year of age. Until then, any age under one year is considered a cockerel, whether they are breeding, crowing, or doing anything else a cockerel naturally does. It is the same for pullets: they do not become a hen until one year of age.

 

[chickenlover8969]

Also, a cockerel will always be a cockerel until he reaches a specific age. You do not call them a rooster when they begin to breed, you call them a rooster when they reach one year of age. Until then, any age under one year is considered a cockerel, whether they are breeding, crowing, or doing anything else a cockerel naturally does. It is the same for pullets: they do not become a hen until one year of age.

yah this is my first time with a male/cockerel in my flock so it does hurt the hens but it should stop and if my hens arent laying yet its still okay for them to mate rght

 

[chickenlover8969]

but thhis behavior should stop

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

yah this is my first time with a male/cockerel in my flock so it does hurt the hens but it should stop and if my hens arent laying yet its still okay for them to mate rght

but thhis behavior should stop

Preparing for breeding by grabbing the female's feathers is natural for a cockerel to attempt. Unless he's doing it constantly and harming them, there is nothing he is doing wrong. Also, yes, there is no reason mating when they are not laying yet is harmful. Cockerels often start breeding the pullets a week before they start laying.

 

[chickenlover8969]

okay the hens do scream like there getting hurt and a little bit of fluff if he grabbs up farther just a tiny bit tho but then he stops and hes only doing it 1-3 times a day ive obly ssen it once a day but im only out there for a hour at absolute most besides when im feeding them and stuff is that okay or bad that hes doing tha

 

[chickenlover8969]

id he doing it to much???

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

okay the hens do scream like there getting hurt and a little bit of fluff if he grabbs up farther just a tiny bit tho but then he stops and hes only doing it 1-3 times a day ive obly ssen it once a day but im only out there for a hour at absolute most besides when im feeding them and stuff is that okay or bad that hes doing tha

id he doing it to much???

One or three times a day is nothing compared to how much a regular cockerel attempts to breed his pullets. They'll be fine as long as his hormones don't grow worse and he starts over-breeding.