Okay, so I have a mixed flock of chickens that are aprox 10-12 weeks of age. Of all 26, there are aprox 4-5 roosters i have identified.
Now, my question is on the behavior of one of my banty roos. He is constantly grabbing the smaller females and sort of trying to either mount them or pull them around by the neck feathers. My more dominant (and favorite) banty roo had to step in today when one of the girls was being harrassed. The former will try to grab my big girls too, bit they are more girl than he can handle, and they brush him away. My point is that this behaviore is concerning to me because i do not want any of them to get hurt.
These are my first batch of chickens I have raised myself, so i am veru new to everything regaeding that. I was wondering if this is normal behavior, such as mearly showing dominance or pecking order? I believe they are way too young for mating yet. I also wonderif I should seperate him from everyone for a bit?
Also, if it helps, they freerange all day and are cooped at night, so it is not a space issue. With that many roos I can only guess he is trying to be dominant over the other more prominant roo. I realize they will eventually need to be culled or given away, but utimatly i am still unsure which of my three banty boys to keep (although, like i said, i do have a favorite).
Please and thank you for and ideas or advise.
Now, my question is on the behavior of one of my banty roos. He is constantly grabbing the smaller females and sort of trying to either mount them or pull them around by the neck feathers. My more dominant (and favorite) banty roo had to step in today when one of the girls was being harrassed. The former will try to grab my big girls too, bit they are more girl than he can handle, and they brush him away. My point is that this behaviore is concerning to me because i do not want any of them to get hurt.
These are my first batch of chickens I have raised myself, so i am veru new to everything regaeding that. I was wondering if this is normal behavior, such as mearly showing dominance or pecking order? I believe they are way too young for mating yet. I also wonderif I should seperate him from everyone for a bit?
Also, if it helps, they freerange all day and are cooped at night, so it is not a space issue. With that many roos I can only guess he is trying to be dominant over the other more prominant roo. I realize they will eventually need to be culled or given away, but utimatly i am still unsure which of my three banty boys to keep (although, like i said, i do have a favorite).
Please and thank you for and ideas or advise.
