Rooster attacking hen

[peachygirl]

My rooster will not let a hen eat or get near any of the other hens. He is plucking all of her feathers out and is attacking her head. This hen may be his mother. Does a rooster know who his mother is?
Do roosters have to be rotated?

 

[Judy]

No, he does not know she is his mother. He may be trying to prove that he is the dominant chicken of the flock. He may feel she is somehow defective and needs to go. Frankly, more likely, he is simply a "mean roo."

I have never heard of "rotating" roosters, though sometimes one can be put with a different flock and their behavior will improve. When a chicken is added to a group, it usually enters at the bottom of the pecking order.

You need to separate the roo to stop the behavior, as the hen may well be seriously injured or killed. You could try reintroducing him after several days.

Many roos have an aggressive streak that cannot be changed. It is generally felt here that these should not be bred, as it is often an inherited trait. If you try separating and reintroducing, and it does not work, he needs to be culled from the flock. I'm using "culled" in the sense of permanently separated, by whatever means you choose.

 

[nnbreeder]

As with people some chicken just don't like each other. You may never see any reason for it either. I would take ddawn's advice to heart though or you may have other problems if you are trying to build a flock.

 

[peachygirl]

Thank you for your reply. I have had the hen in two different pens with possibly her offspring rooster in each one and they both did the same thing, so I guess they are saying that she has got to go. My one rooster that I still have is a Dark Brahma and is very docile otherwise. Boy, do I have a lot to learn.

 

[paularudder]

I have this rooster that flogged 3 of my hens (think he's oversexed) and I put him in a pen by himself beside the girls. One hen did die because of the damage his claws did. He is beautiful but he will be in the pen by

:cdhimself forever. I love my girls & not taking the chance.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Probably this was true for about 90% of us when we joined. Welcome to the club!