New BYC member :)

[MapleLeaf11]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and I have a question about my chickens. I have a 1 year old rooster and he keeps chasing my 4 month old silkies around and sticking his head underneath them. Can anyone tell me what's going on? Is he trying to breed, or hurt them?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC!

Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Is he mounting them? If so, then he's trying to breed. If not then he's probably being aggressive.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

 

[MapleLeaf11]

Thanks, he is trying to mount them. I won't worry to much about them then

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Thanks, he is trying to mount them. I won't worry to much about them then

Yep, sounds normal then.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Depending on your rooster and if the silkies are other cockerels or pullets, he may actually hurt them eventually, either fighting with the cockerels or trying to breed too young pullets/ or over breeding/ harassing them. Silkies are often picked on by other breeds anyhow, and you might want to prepare to keep them separate if the older roo does become more aggressive with them.

 

[MapleLeaf11]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Depending on your rooster and if the silkies are other cockerels or pullets, he may actually hurt them eventually, either fighting with the cockerels or trying to breed too young pullets/ or over breeding/ harassing them. Silkies are often picked on by other breeds anyhow, and you might want to prepare to keep them separate if the older roo does become more aggressive with them.

Thanks, We haven't figured out if our silkies are cockerels or pulleys yet. We have already had to separate them from 2 other chickens because they were being picked on. I'll probably just build them a new coop. I feel bad for them.

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[gander007]

Alright

 

[drumstick diva]

Roosters can handle 10 hens, so if you intend to keep him you may keep more girls. If you don't need or want "fertile" eggs, the girls will happily lay without him.