normal rooster behavior around hens?

[muell112]

I am wondering how several roosters (3 active ones) would normally behave around hens - they seem to be molesting them quite aggressively. Would this change if I just had one? Is it always so violent? Squawking, feathers flying etc. We just put in a bunch of nesting boxes which I thought the hens might use as refuge but they're not yet.

 

[LegHorn-BusHorn]

What is your rooster to hen ratio? How old are they? I had a simular problem but after a week or so the rooster got much gentler. He was dragging one around by the back of neck and that scared me. But he is much better now.

 

[gritsar]

Yes, how old are your chickens?
Sounds like your boys have hit the terrible teens and the girls aren't quite there yet.
Be sure your hen to roo ratio is not too high or your hens will never know any peace. No peace = less eggs for you.

 

[muell112]

I ordered a dozen layer hens and a dozen cornish crosses (I got more than I was expecting when they arrived) - we got them May 1 as day olds.

This is what I have:
3 araucanas (hens)
2 mottled houdans (hens)
2 buff cochins (1 likely a roo)
3 polish (all roos)
3 partridge cochins (hens)
1 buff orpington (likely roo)
2 nj giants (hens)
2 cornish crosses (1 roo, 1 hen)
1 sicilian buttercup (hen)
1 salmon faverolles (hen)

So definitely a small ratio of hens to roosters than people recommend (1:10, 1:12) - right now it's basically the polish roos v. everyone. The cornish cross sticks to his one babe.

 

[gritsar]

Yep, definitely too many roos.
Sounds like the polish boys have had a surge of testosterone.