Our rooster has changed his behaviour

[Heidrun]

Hi..Our rooster is 2 years old.. He was behaving like the best gentleman..
But a few weeks ago he started turning against the hen..He is chasing them away from food, were he always used to let them eat first..He has done this to one after each other. And now evenhis favorite girl gets pecked and chased away from any food.
This has coursed our hens to go totally nervous, and the whole peckingorder is all in chaos..
The rooster is moulting, and so is many of the hens. Could this be a reason?
Also he is terrible to his 4 offsprings who are 3 mnds old..
Hope he will change back to his old himself ? ?

 

[FrostRanger]

No telling, i'd separate him for now but if he doesn't get his act together once he's done molting, i'd remove him permantly

That said, what's their diet like and what's the size of your coop and run in square feet? I'd also set out more feeders

 

[Mrs. K]

Are his offspring males or females?

IMO - roosters seldom go back to better behavior. Maybe it is molting, maybe it is not.

 

[Heidrun]

No telling, i'd separate him for now but if he doesn't get his act together once he's done molting, i'd remove him permantly

That said, what's their diet like and what's the size of your coop and run in square feet? I'd also set out more feeders

The run is 150 square feet for 10 chicks..But They arel let out free ranging in woodland for the whole day.. At the moment they are eating growers pellets , because of the little ones..Also fermented barley and weath , some mealy worms and millets..
I will wait and see if he goes any better after molting..Thank you

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I think it’s the 3 month olds that are stirring him up. I wouldn’t bet on him getting any better, but I think he feels threatened by at least one of them. Are any of his offspring cockerels?

 

[Heidrun]

I think it’s the 3 month olds that are stirring him up. I wouldn’t bet on him getting any better, but I think he feels threatened by at least one of them. Are any of his offspring cockerels?

Yes might be that...Well 2 of his children are males..But they are acting like babies...do you think he know that they are males?

 

[Heidrun]

Are his offspring males or females?

IMO - roosters seldom go back to better behavior. Maybe it is molting, maybe it is not.

Its 2 males, 2 females..Maybe thats the problem?
I will wait and see if he changes after molting..
Thank you

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Yes might be that...Well 2 of his children are males..But they are acting like babies...do you think he know that they are males?

Yes he 100% knows that they are male. Anytime new males are introduced you will see a change in behavior in your current males. Sometimes it’s just minimal pecking order sorting and sometimes it a complete 180 personality change.

 

[Heidrun]

Yes he 100% knows that they are male.

Ok..well I have to wait and see what happens

 

[CoopBoots]

My old boy (at least 4, probably much older as we adopted him full grown) absolutely becomes much more "selfish" during his molt. Some molts are worse than others and I doubt every rooster does this, but I have one that certainly does. He goes back to wooing the ladies once he's made it through, so my guess is yours will, too.

I'd set up a secondary feed and water spot so he can't bully as much/competition is less, and maybe feed him a little egg solo for a protein boost.

That doesn't really address his attitude with the babies, but my rooster also tries to "chase off" babies of a certain age, especially the cockerels. My solution is more space, as in nature he definitely is supposed to drive away his sons to form their own flocks, and I don't think they are trying to hang on to pullets when they already have a breeding age flock of hens to provide resources for.