Rooster behavior...normal or not?

[nuttyredhead]

My rooster Scooby has been grabbing the ladies by their necks. The poor girls sound like they are being killed! Is this normal? Also, I see that alot of people seperate the roo from the hens, should i be doing this? What purpose does this serve?

Thanks!

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

This is normal mating behavior. They hold on by the neck when mounting a hen. The only reasons to separate roos from hens is either to keep them from breeding, to give the hen a break , or broody hen.

 

[nuttyredhead]

Quote:
So young? They are only 12 weeks old!

 

[crazyegg]

Yeah, it's normal behavior. He's just starting to figure things out. Once he knows what he's doing, he probably won't be so rough and the girls probably won't object so much. Just give him time.

 

[gryeyes]

Somebody on here mentioned considering it months like people years; your roo is now 12. Adolescent. Horny. A boy with hormones making him crazy.

 

[Happy Chooks]

He's ready, they are not. In time it will get better. He needs to grab their necks to keep his balance. When the girls are closer to POL, they will learn how to submit and it will be easier on them.

 

[gritsar]

Agree with the other posters. He's a normal teenager sans the pimples.
Once the hens and the roos are all on the same page it can happen right behind you and you'll be none the wiser. Chicken matings take five seconds (literally).
I am very much against seperating roos simply because they like to mate. How can a roo protect his girls, provide for his girls and be part of the family with his girls if he doesn't live with his girls?
Saddles work for me, but I actually only have one hen that needs one.