New Cockerel aggressive to new Hen?

[PlymouthRocky504]

So for the past 17 weeks we have been raising a rather friendly cockerel who has grown up with our main flock causing no problem to the other cockerel. However today we split him off and thought we would give him his own trio of hens and when we got a new hen for him, he seems to be over aggressive in pecking the hen and chasing her around. She is getting very upset with him chasing so we decided to separate them. Does this mean our new cockerel isn’t suitable for a trio and shouldn’t have hens if he’s to aggressive?

 

[sourland]

Cockerels take time to adjust to their rising testosterone levels. It may be that the new hen challenged him, and he is putting her in her place, but that can escalate. I would separate him, allow the new hen time to adjust - days, not hours - and then reintroduce him. Good luck.

 

[CluckerFamily]

He was also the submissive cockerel and now he has his own group. I would separate him also but within the trio so they all get use to him.

 

[PlymouthRocky504]

Ok I have s

Cockerels take time to adjust to their rising testosterone levels. It may be that the new hen challenged him, and he is putting her in her place, but that can escalate. I would separate him, allow the new hen time to adjust - days, not hours - and then reintroduce him. Good luck.

I have separated the hen so she can settle but she’s a small thing compared to him and didn’t challenge him or anything and he was being aggressive in pecking constantly and chasing her.

however he seems to be trying to get back to her now they have been separated and the hen dosent seem keen?

 

[PlymouthRocky504]

I have separated the hen so she can settle but she’s a small thing compared to him and didn’t challenge him or anything and he was being aggressive in pecking constantly and chasing her.

however he seems to be trying to get back to her now they have been separated and the hen dosent seem keen?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Breeders often keep one rooster with one or two hens for the breeding season with no issues but the secret is that they use roosters and hens, not immature cockerels or pullets. Adolescence can be hard on chickens. I think you are jumping the gun on trying to create a trio. Let them grow up first.