My Rooster is brutalizing one hen in the flock!

[chickenpotter]

Jumping the gun here with only a partial picture. Hen separating herself from flock may be do to a health issue or her being broody. The disappearance would be consistent with a broody cycle that failed. Since she is soliciting him to cover her, that indicates she is not currently broody. I would isolate her and watch carefully for subtle behavioral issues.

Two situations I see result in a rooster driving off a hen; first she is not part of his harem here she usually attacked as much as mated, and second where hen is somehow in poor health. Neither is as reflection on the quality of the rooster.

Thanks so much for all of the good advice y'all! I think she may have been one of the hens resisting him when he started mating. That makes sense, though I think she's learned her lesson. She squats when he starts eyeing her from 10 yds. away!

 

[chickenpotter]

you mentioned she use to be a very bossy girl.That can cause problems when you have a dominate roo,i'm having your same problem with a cockerel about the same age as yours.He only attacks one of the dominant hens.

Could it be she is sick?

Your rooster sound like a good one,but I would defiantly seperte her,or even get rid of her,he could kill her.

I'm going to try separating him first for a few days and see how that goes. If that doesn't work, I may rehome her. I have been watching her closely and she appears to be in good health. Thank you for the input!

 

[chickens really]

I have a Brahma/Ameruacana Rooster....My one Ameruacana Hen also is bald on the back...The reason for it is because he Breeds her the most and Also she is not as thickly feathered as my other Hens...Orpingtons, Speckled Sussex, Danish Brown or the EEs.....Is it possible you only think he is being mean ? When Roosters breed it can look pretty rough....She might be his favourite.. .....

best wishes...


Cheers!

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Riping feathers from her back isn't how a rooster a mates.From what she describe sound slike he is attacking her.

 

[centrarchid]

Time for a video to settle.

 

[Joani Gust]

This is what's happening with our Labrador retrievers and one of our Australorp chickens (She has been kicked out of the flock by the rooster - not sure if it was 'before' her friendship with our field trial hunting dogs or after ??)

 

[Joani Gust]

Our rooster is a Black Copper Maran and was breeding her and the others until suddenly we noticed him chasing her - she runs and hides behind the dogs, jumps on top of the dogs back, or runs away - puffing herself up with wings down (like when the rooster begins to dance before breeding - except she aims 'both' wings down...) when he catches up with her he pecks her like he's disciplining her until he drives her away from the flock. Yesterday she went into the submissive stance, trying to join the flock again, when he began to peck her and drive her off again. He never tries to breed her anymore. Anyone had this happen before - just wondering what's going on..is this normal?

 

[Joani Gust]

(I got rid of all our mean roosters) This guy hatched out from our momma black copper last year ...