Roo picking on pullets

[MinniesMomma]

Good morning! I really appreciate your informative blog, it has helped me a lot as a new chicken mom. I do have one question, my two roosters, but especially the silkie roo, will grab hold of the hens by any feathers they can get hold of. The hens squawk loudly and it sounds very painful. There's no blood, but lots of pulled feathers. They have a large run and free range from 6:30ish in the morning until they put themselves to roost. There is always fresh water and food available. The oldest were hatched February 14th, so they're not quite mating age yet (?), though the Silkie does a lot of tidbitting. It was mostly the silkie, but now I've noticed the Polish rooster is doing the same thing. Why do they do this and how can I get them to stop?
Thank you!

 

[Athena2344]

How many do you have, and what is the dimensions of the coop and run?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The pullets may not be ready to lay eggs but the cockerels are ready to mate. The best things you can do are to put the cockerels in separate housing for a while or get lots more hens. That's how young cockerels mate, it looks more like rape and it isn't a case of picking on them.

 

[MinniesMomma]

How many do you have, and what is the dimensions of the coop and run?

I currently have the two roosters and 28 hens. I have more chicks coming Wednesday, but it will be quite a while before they are out with the grown-ups. The covered run is 15 feet by 20 feet, and the coop will be about 40 square feet. It will be built in the next week or so. They currently roost on a horizontal ladder type thing that I built up high in the run, kind of got ahead of myself there, but we do have really hot summers so the open air is helpful to keep them cool. So far it has worked spectacularly!

 

[MinniesMomma]

The pullets may not be ready to lay eggs but the cockerels are ready to mate. The best things you can do are to put the cockerels in separate housing for a while or get lots more hens. That's how young cockerels mate, it looks more like rape and it isn't a case of picking on them.

Thank you! They'll be going in time out!

 

[keesmom]

I currently have the two roosters and 28 hens. I have more chicks coming Wednesday, but it will be quite a while before they are out with the grown-ups. The covered run is 15 feet by 20 feet, and the coop will be about 40 square feet. It will be built in the next week or so. They currently roost on a horizontal ladder type thing that I built up high in the run, kind of got ahead of myself there, but we do have really hot summers so the open air is helpful to keep them cool. So far it has worked spectacularly!

Are you in a warm climate so they don't need to be in the coop much? 40 sq ft is a little snug for 30+ grown chickens if they need to spend any length of time inside.

 

[MinniesMomma]

Yes, I am in Central Texas where we might have a day or two below 32 degrees. Most of our winter is spent at about 40 to 60 degrees. They will only sleep in the coop, and the covered run is just one of many places to go for shade and water. They are really out running loose most of the time. This is the current run/coop. All the feathers babies are taking a siesta in the woods behind the run.

 

[keesmom]

Yup, they certainly won't want to be inside very long in your climate! Here I would only have 4 chickens in a coop that size because they wind up coop bound at some point in the winter. But i think I'll take snow over the heat where you are.

 

[Beer can]

I currently have the two roosters and 28 hens. I

That's more than plenty, but a roo will still have it's favorites most likely cause they are easier for them to get a hold of.

 

[MinniesMomma]

Yup, they certainly won't want to be inside very long in your climate! Here I would only have 4 chickens in a coop that size because they wind up coop bound at some point in the winter. But i think I'll take snow over the heat where you are.

I have been getting a lot of advice from a friend who has raised chickens here for years. Hers roam year round. I plan on having the coop open for them in the winter to go into if they would like, but they will always have the option to free range.