Newbie, Hello :D need advice !

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lisa7

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Hello everyone, I'm a newby at raising chickens...very happy to join you all in this journey !

(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
Our baby chicks arrived the last week of Oct 2025.

(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
We have a total of 6, one turned out to be a rooster...

(3) What breeds do you have?
Our rooster is a Rhode Island Red. We have a Plymouth Barred Rock, White Leghorn, Black Australorp, Silver-laced Wyandotte a Buff Orpington. The first 3 hens are laying as of last week (about 20 weeks old).

(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
They are curious creatures, so fun to watch and interact with. Chicken love, for sure!

(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I'm an artist/painter and jewelry artisan.

(6) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community? :D
I have been checking in off and on and have really appreciated the feedback I've seen towards one another here in BYC. I hope to garner some answers as well from the more experienced community by sharing my immediate ROOSTER issue :D

(7) Pending issue in our flock:
Mr. Rooster, his name is Red (Rhode Island Red): young, 20 weeks old, a full on testosterone male. NOTE: I did not order a rooster, but i do like the thought of some Sex-link chicks down the road...and he is beautiful !

PROS: He fits the bill with the "good rooster traits." He the top of the pecking order/peacekeeper, protector, and flock leader. He "tidbits" the hens, holding back when offered snacks and leads them to it. He seems to care for them, especially the smallest "Sweet Pea" White Leghorn. He favors her, protects her from the others and has empowered her to stick up for herself.

CON #1.) However, because he's so big and she (Sweet Pea) so small, he can only grab her comb to "cover" her. And the daily mating is causing her comb to bleed and scab. I'm trying to apply some iodine and a little antibacterial ointment as of yesterday. Everyday there is another one, so i hope to keep them from getting infected. I hate to separate her as it may stress her since she just started laying eggs a few days ago...

CON #2) "Red" crows strong and all day long. I have heard him start at least by 5:30-6am, maybe sooner. I'm sure my neighbor is not impressed with this and may have to speak with him soon...So, i hope once this spring/mating season is over, and he grows up, that the crowing will subside a bit ???

I'd appreciate some feedback, thank you sooo much ! Lisa
 
Hello Lisa, and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.

It may be in Sweet Peas best interest to isolate her from him for a few weeks. If she has any other pullet friends put one in with her and don't keep them out of sight of the flock.
 
Hiya, Lisa, and welcome to BYC! :frow

Red is still quite young and should get better as he ages. He's at prime hormone time. You could either do @DobieLover's idea and put Sweet Pea with another for a month or so, or put him somewhere else for a month or two.

It can take up to a year for some to balance out and become a great rooster. If you can deal with this until he's stable, it sounds like it'll be well worth it!

We're glad you're here!
 
lisa7 said:
Hello everyone, I'm a newby at raising chickens...very happy to join you all in this journey !

(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
Our baby chicks arrived the last week of Oct 2025.

(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
We have a total of 6, one turned out to be a rooster...

(3) What breeds do you have?
Our rooster is a Rhode Island Red. We have a Plymouth Barred Rock, White Leghorn, Black Australorp, Silver-laced Wyandotte a Buff Orpington. The first 3 hens are laying as of last week (about 20 weeks old).

(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
They are curious creatures, so fun to watch and interact with. Chicken love, for sure!

(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I'm an artist/painter and jewelry artisan.

(6) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community? :D
I have been checking in off and on and have really appreciated the feedback I've seen towards one another here in BYC. I hope to garner some answers as well from the more experienced community by sharing my immediate ROOSTER issue :D

(7) Pending issue in our flock:
Mr. Rooster, his name is Red (Rhode Island Red): young, 20 weeks old, a full on testosterone male. NOTE: I did not order a rooster, but i do like the thought of some Sex-link chicks down the road...and he is beautiful !

PROS: He fits the bill with the "good rooster traits." He the top of the pecking order/peacekeeper, protector, and flock leader. He "tidbits" the hens, holding back when offered snacks and leads them to it. He seems to care for them, especially the smallest "Sweet Pea" White Leghorn. He favors her, protects her from the others and has empowered her to stick up for herself.

CON #1.) However, because he's so big and she (Sweet Pea) so small, he can only grab her comb to "cover" her. And the daily mating is causing her comb to bleed and scab. I'm trying to apply some iodine and a little antibacterial ointment as of yesterday. Everyday there is another one, so i hope to keep them from getting infected. I hate to separate her as it may stress her since she just started laying eggs a few days ago...

CON #2) "Red" crows strong and all day long. I have heard him start at least by 5:30-6am, maybe sooner. I'm sure my neighbor is not impressed with this and may have to speak with him soon...So, i hope once this spring/mating season is over, and he grows up, that the crowing will subside a bit ???

I'd appreciate some feedback, thank you sooo much ! Lisa
Click to expand...
It may seem bass-ackwards, but your best bet is to isolate Red for awhile. Cockerels just coming into their own are, shall we say, overzealous in their breeding habits? Liken it to a teenage boy when he discovers girls but has no restrictions on his behavior. He could use a month or so of bachelor digs. If you can divide the run/coop so he has a section to himself with just a hardware cloth wall between him and his ladies, that would be ideal. By the time the rest of your pullets have settled into laying, he should be past the worst of the hormones.
That should settle his mating behavior some, but not his singing. Once they've discovered their voices, roosters lay waste to the "Crow When the Sun Comes Up" myth. That's just when they start ... then they go all. day. long. If you want to keep your neighbor happy, either send over some eggs or bake him something nice with your "extras" - even if you don't have any truly "extra eggs," yet. That can go a long way towards encouraging tolerance!
Oh - and Welcome to BYC! We're awfully glad you joined us. You won't regret it ... much ... :D
 

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