My rooster is terrorizing the flock

[Matilda Belle]

Currently incarcerated at the Silkie Country Jail. Charges pending are disorderly conduct, sexual assault, inciting a riot, and attempted homicide. Bail $3,500.

 

[Matilda Belle]

I'm not sure what just happened, but the entire mentality of my flock changed almost overnight. They were so peaceful up until the recent incident. Now, even with the naughty one caged, the others are fighting. The head rooster (the nice one) isn't interfering at all. I thought it was his job to keep order?

 

[Hamiam]

I'm not sure what just happened, but the entire mentality of my flock changed almost overnight. They were so peaceful up until the recent incident. Now, even with the naughty one caged, the others are fighting. The head rooster (the nice one) isn't interfering at all. I thought it was his job to keep order?

It maybe just pecking order adjustment now that one is gone. They are not over crowded are they? Could they be bored? Do you have multiple feeding & water stations?

 

[Matilda Belle]

Not overcrowded. I have 125 square feet in my run, which is more than 10 square feet per bird. I have two feeding stations (one in the coop and run in the one) and one watering station. Do you think I need more? They never had problems sharing before.

I am in the process of expanding my coop so that I can separate the flock (perhaps roosters from hens). I will be adding another run as well. This won't happen until next week. So in the interim should I just keep him caged? I feel bad for him, but I can't have him doing this.

He was such a sweet boy until yesterday. I'm not sure what happened.

 

[Shorty22366]

My first flock was 15 Silkies ordered from Ideal Poultry turned out 9 roosters 5 red, 2 black and 2 white. All of my reds were MEAN and bullies ( except 1) black and white were sweet and easy going. I rehomed 7 kept 1 black and 1 red. I then got Sebrights 7 three were roos 2 mean as could be 1 sweet as sugar. Rehomed 2 and kept 1. I just think roosters have either I am mean and a bully or sweet. My roosters are very protective and sweet. My whole flock became relaxed and comfortable after I rehomed troublemakers. He is beautiful but you need to think about the rest of your flock..

 

[Hamiam]

In my experience, a lot of fighting is due to boredom or fighting over resources. I know my runs look messy, but I have many things to jump up on, run around or under. I do special things like put in a pile of leaves to scratch thru, a piece of watermelon tied up like a piñata, etc. In this picture you see the child's playhouse in one run. Beside it is a homemade table with multiple roost bars coming off of it. The fan is blowing over a pan of water with a large rock inside that the chickens like to jump on & off. The wooden pallet you see is in a different run. By adding legs, it stands at an angle & the chickens love to climb up & down & roost on it. There is also a long roost on the back that connects to the legs. The turquoise colored plastic child's wagon is barely visible. The chickens love to play on it. There's a black thing on the ground by the pallet. It's a plastic piece of irrigation pipe that they've had since they were in the brooder. They are too big to crawl thru it, but they like to stand on it now. The wooden box that the fan is on, is one of many that we made & we place in different places in the runs & put waterers & feeders on them. Three times a day, I give a small amount of their feed in a pan mixed with water to make a mash. They love it & think it's a fantastic treat. I love it because I know it's not empty calories & it's good nutrition. It's crazy, because it's the same dry food that's been available to them all day, but when they see me coming with the pans, they get so Excited!

 

[keesmom]

He was such a sweet boy until yesterday. I'm not sure what happened.

Puberty happened.

Is he crated in with the others?

 

[Matilda Belle]

Is he crated in with the others?

Yes. He is in a crate in the run. Is that the right thing to do?

 

[Hamiam]

Puberty happened.

Is he crated in with the others?

That's true!

 

[Trux]

I would take him out of the pen with the pullets and give him his own pen. He will continue to do what he is doing and your going to end up with injured pullets. look at him as a horny teenager with raging testosterone. Once he gets older he will likely settle down to the point he will romance the girls instead of chasing them down and jumping them