Please help! Rooster attacking hen(s)

[austintexasredhead]

My rooster has been attacking one of my hens. This is NOT mating behavior. He successfully mounts and mates all the hens. Today he completely pecked out the eye of a hen he's been tormenting for two days now. He also tore her comb, and sliced her neck. I've seen him chase her across the property, chest butt her, and abuse her. I've got her isolated at the moment to heal and now he's begun tormenting one of the other hens. My flock has been together about a year. The rooster reached sexual maturity several months ago.

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC.
Sorry to say this but you should get rid of him.
There is no changing that behavior.

You may want to read this although it probably won't help your situation:
Beekissed's Rooster Speak

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hormones are currently surging in poultry due to increasing light. I would remove the rooster, either temporarily or permanently. A rooster isn't generally fully mature until 2 years. Before that age they are more prone to bad behaviors, and following their every urge. With his current behaviors I personally would remove him permanently and try another rooster.

 

[sonandsal]

Get rid of the rooster. I agree with some op you wont be able to change him now. He doesnt deserve those lovely girls and they dont deserve to get their eyes pecked out. Whats holding you back.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings austintexasredhead,

I hear in your words, that you also care about your rooster. I understand that, totally.

But, here's my experience with roosters...not only are they social creatures, they have instincts, and intelligence. Roosters are a lot like parrots, as far as their capacity to learn. Even though a parrot ranks higher in intelligence. Thus, I have had great success in training my roosters. First they learn, I am stronger, then, they learn words and phrases.The phrase, "No Peck", is the first thing they learn. Some learn by one year old, some like my current, RIR, "Frito", learned by 1.5 years old. He was very powerful and extremely aggressive as a youngster. Now, he is my buddy, follows and comes on command. If I tell him not to bother a certain hen, he walks away. Yes, he knows all the hen's names, the cats, and the dog's too.

Training a rooster involves understanding the instincts and over riding them by appealing to the intelligence of the bird, with training. And even with training, instincts will sometimes overrule. Especially when hormones are riding high, like now during Spring. But, here's where maturity, along with training can allow the rooster to develop into a well rounded leader of the flock.

Here's your problem - your rooster has been learning from his instincts. These instinctive behaviors of aggression, have been reinforced by your decision not to intervene. So, in a way, you have taught him this is OK.

I have read that chickens can learn over 300 words, and recognize 500 faces. Their level of intelligence is usually dismissed, because it takes a lot of time to train them. Time that many keepers don't have. Running a farm, homestead or family can be demanding and time consuming.

To answer your question: will isolation help. No. It most likely will make him either depressed, and/or, more aggressive.

I don't know if he can un-learn what he has already been doing. In the future, there are going to be hens that he doesn't like, or that don't like him. During breeding season, roosters don't take well to refusal. There are many posts, about roosters even killing hens.

In my opinion, this is a challenge for a keeper that has the time, patience, and experience to correct, if it is possible.

These are my thoughts on your rooster. I hope they are helpful in some way.

God Bless

 

[Chickassan]

He's pretty but so was Ted Bundy. It stinks when the handsome ones are rotten.

I guess what's holding me back is selfish reasoning.....he's really pretty. That's about it. But, there are other pretty roosters out there that will be more gentle I'm sure. Also, I just don't like killing things. I'll have it done, just wanted to explore my options.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Are sure it’s not him being very aggressive while mating them?Is she fighting him back?
From what I have read some chicken personality’s just don’t clash,just like some humans getting along while others don’t.
I have a rooster who currently has a personal vendetta with one of my hens but nothing this serious.I don’t think it’s a disease issue because you separated her and he moved on to a new hen.

Maybe try isolating him until spring is officially over.And if he can’t act right,throw the whole rooster away.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I didn't go into the root of the problem... to be honest, I would cull him. You don't want that kind of aggression breeding into the next generation.

 

[austintexasredhead]

Thank you ALL for your thoughtful advice, wisdom, and kindness! We have permanently eliminated the abusive rooster. My hen only has one eye, but she is recovering quickly. What I have learned from this is that I need to educate myself on roosters and their behavior. Thank you!!!

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings austintexasredhead,

I love roosters, but some are a challenge. I believe in training and allowing a rooster to mature, but, that's another discussion. What ever the motivation for his aggression towards the hens, it does not matter. Never tolerate aggression, especially viciousness that draws blood, let alone maims!

At the first sign of aggression, you should have responded, in defense of the hen. Your first responsibility is to the hens, put him out of the run. If you don't have another pen, he can sleep in the garage or shed. But, he must not come into contact with the flock, ever again.

I never put a rooster in with hens till I am sure he is mature enough, and is not vicious.

God Bless