Rooster aggression towards a single hen

[Webbykins]

Hello. I have a rooster who i hatched back in February who just recently started showing aggression to only one hen. I had to separate her today because her injuries were pretty bad. I'm obviously going to deal with the rooster because I can't have that behavior, but I was just wondering if anyone else has ever experienced something similar. Basically just trying to understand why. He's great with the other hens and any chicks.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have had chickens for years, and never had this problem until a year ago. Always solve for peace in the flock, but if he is truly wonderful to the other girls, consider culling the victim.

If he picks a second bird to terrorize, then cull him, without a doubt.

Last year, I had this issue come up, and a coyote got the rooster. And immediately, I had peace in the flock. Never had a predator help me out like that. But the thing is, this year, a second rooster, picked that same hen, and essentially try and drive her from the flock.

Last year, while I was dilly dallying, I had decided to cull both the rooster and the hen. But the predator got there first. This year, when it started to happen, I culled the hen.

Thing is, same results - peace in the flock...so if he is a good rooster, they don't come that often, consider selling the victim.

Mrs K

 

[Webbykins]

I have had chickens for years, and never had this problem until a year ago. Always solve for peace in the flock, but if he is truly wonderful to the other girls, consider culling the victim.

If he picks a second bird to terrorize, then cull him, without a doubt.

Last year, I had this issue come up, and a coyote got the rooster. And immediately, I had peace in the flock. Never had a predator help me out like that. But the thing is, this year, a second rooster, picked that same hen, and essentially try and drive her from the flock.

Last year, while I was dilly dallying, I had decided to cull both the rooster and the hen. But the predator got there first. This year, when it started to happen, I culled the hen.

Thing is, same results - peace in the flock...so if he is a good rooster, they don't come that often, consider selling the victim.

Mrs K

The rooster hormones haven't even kicked in yet, so his whole demeanor could change. I'd rather keep her than him. He's not even a year old. I'm imagining it could be she isn't receptive of him mating - I recently just broke her broody and she just started laying again. She's one of my more personable hens, so she will stay.

 

[Pigeony]

Just like among humans, chickens can hate a specific chicken and get along with everyone else. I had a similar situation in my flock. My rooster is an incredible gentleman, kind to chicks, hens, and humans alike, but there was one RIR hen who he just hated. He'd chase her all the time and if she stopped running and submitted to him, he was more likely to wingslap or throw spurs than mate with her.

I realized that she was disruptive to the flock harmony, she started fights, was disrespectful of the pecking order, and bullied babies.
From my human perspective, it wasn't all that noticeable how much of a jerk she was being without careful observation, but to my rooster, her behavior was intolerable and he was attempting to chase her out of his flock.

I moved her out of the free range group and in with my penned birds after he scalped her slightly (much less serious of an injury than your bird), she's had no problems living with that flock, and my rooster is back to his peaceful ways. Some birds just can't live together.
It may be your rooster is just a jerk looking for a victim to bully, but it also may be a personality clash with the hen repeatedly doing something that upsets him.

 

[Mrs. K]

I'd rather keep her than him.

Always a choice, they are your birds, and I would expect the flock to get peaceful with it.

I just wanted to put out there, that sometime the victim is just not fitting in with the flock. I agree with Pigoney - some birds just do not get along.