Rooster being picked on

[centrarchid]

The spurs usually acquire a point somewhere between 8 and 10 months. If just little buttons then bird could be as young as 5 months. The lower age would be consistent with hackle feathering I could see and behavior as you describe it. Males in very poor health develop spurs slowly. Hens can also develop spurs.

 

[Flock Master64]

My cockerel just has " buttons "

 

[riversedgefarms]

My cockerel just has " buttons "

How old is yours?

 

[riversedgefarms]

Ever since putting the no peck ointment on he's been totally fine. The ladies haven't been picking that we've noticed and he isn't hiding during the day! I'd say that's a good sign

 

[Flock Master64]

How old is yours?

A few months

 

[riversedgefarms]

My coop is 8 by 10. They have a 400 sq ft run, in addition to an acre to free range on. 18 adults and  2 cockerels that are 8 weeks. The little boys are only here till they are big enough for processing. They always have the choice to go outside if they want to. Somedays the weather is too wet and windy and they stay in. Most days, even when it's less than ideal, they go out. 
Your birds need more space or you need to get rid of most of them. The longer you wait, the worse the aggression problems will be. And behavioral issues that are caused by overcrowding stress are incredibly difficult to put a stop to, even after ample space is provided. 

From what I am understanding your coop is the same size as ours but you have more birds than we do. So if you are saying we are overcrowded my guess is that you are as well. May I ask the coldest temperature you've had? It was -42 last weekend here. There was no chance I was even considering letting them outside. They would have froze. Plus we have the issue of frostbite which can happen so quickly.
Our birds are not aggressive to each other except to the rooster. However we have had no issues since putting the ointment on that we have got from our vet. I highly doubt spacing is an issue as we have not had aggression issues. Just pecking order.

 

[AllynTal]

From what I am understanding your coop is the same size as ours but you have more birds than we do. So if you are saying we are overcrowded my guess is that you are as well. May I ask the coldest temperature you've had? It was -42 last weekend here. There was no chance I was even considering letting them outside. They would have froze. Plus we have the issue of frostbite which can happen so quickly.
Our birds are not aggressive to each other except to the rooster. However we have had no issues since putting the ointment on that we have got from our vet. I highly doubt spacing is an issue as we have not had aggression issues. Just pecking order.

I think you're talking at odds here. Rule of thumb on coop space is 4 square feet per bird. Rule of thumb on run space is 10 square feet per bird, so for each bird, there would be a total of 14 square feet. She's saying you don't have that when you confine them indoors 24/7 and so that could cause behavior problems.

I get it that it's cold where you are, but June is saying that she offers the birds the opportunity to go outside. If the weather is disagreeable, the birds stay in on their own; but if they want to go outside and they feel like the weather is okay enough, they do go out. You are making the decisions for your birds and not offering them the chance to go outside at all. If that is typical for your winters there, you might consider giving them more space so when they're confined for months at a time, these aggression problems don't arise. Was that -42 degrees a daytime high? or the overnight low? If it was an overnight low, the birds would not be outside at that time anyway.

I agree with the others that say he doesn't look a year old. Are you sure whoever told you that is accurate?