Rooster Dilemma

[EggFarm65]

Yesterday was the saddest day since my chicken journey began about a year ago. My first adopted rooster was brutally terrorizing my hens so he had to go.
Shortly after that, my neighbor had a young beautiful Brahma rooster so I took him in to my flock of 16 hens. He was the sweetest boy ever, we cuddled every morning, he made my laugh with his goofy walk and behavior. However, he started to chase my hens around the yard, he would pull them by the feathers when they tried to escape, he caused damages to their backs, neck, and head. My hens look just awful. Some would scream during mating, and one of my RIR was slow to get up the other day; I thought he broke her wings. So I felt that I had no choice to get rid of him for the good of my hens.
However, I was absolutely crashed yesterday, I cried my eyes out, and miss him terribly. It is so quiet out there.
I love roosters but it seems they are always too aggressive with my hens. I don't mind mating but when they scream and try to escape I can't bare that. I do want a rooster but I can't go through the painful loss again.
I thought maybe it is better raising one from a chick or adopting an older one. I don't want any chicks nor do I need a lot of protection for the chickens. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

You don’t need a rooster so just not having one is a good option. Alternatively, I have had great success getting roosters (not cockerels) that are raised in multi-generational flocks by hens. So find someone with a free-range flock that has raised its own roosters with other males and older hens and adopt that one. And then, after that, don’t cuddle him. Let him do his job (which, as you’ve said, you don’t actually need him to do) and if he avoids you and treats the hens well consider them his hens and try to avoid cuddling them, too. My roosters get annoyed with me if I have to pick up a hen. They don’t approach me but they do vocalize their feelings because their job is to keep the hens safe and they find anyone plucking them up a little threatening.

 

[EggFarm65]

You don’t need a rooster so just not having one is a good option. Alternatively, I have had great success getting roosters (not cockerels) that are raised in multi-generational flocks by hens. So find someone with a free-range flock that has raised its own roosters with other males and older hens and adopt that one. And then, after that, don’t cuddle him. Let him do his job (which, as you’ve said, you don’t actually need him to do) and if he avoids you and treats the hens well consider them his hens and try to avoid cuddling them, too. My roosters get annoyed with me if I have to pick up a hen. They don’t approach me but they do vocalize their feelings because their job is to keep the hens safe and they find anyone plucking them up a little threatening.

Thank you for your helpful input. Perhaps, I need to reevaluate my flock dynamics and what would work best for all.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I need roosters but lots of people don’t and there is no reason to stress yourself and your flock out. I didn’t have roosters for years and my hens were perfectly happy to manage the pecking order themselves. One of the girls will take the spot as head hen and herd everyone in at night, settle disputes, etc. If you decide you want to let a broody hen hatch eggs you can always buy fertilized ones later and let your girls raise their own rooster.

 

[kattabelly]

How old were these birds? From the behaviour you're describing they sound like young cockerels, not mature roosters.

 

[EggFarm65]

How old were these birds? From the behaviour you're describing they sound like young cockerels, not mature roosters.

I have 7x one year old hens and 6x six months old pullets. The rooster was about 7 months old give or take.
Perhaps the problem is that the roosters are too young and just go crazy plus his huge size didn't help either.

 

[EggFarm65]

I need roosters but lots of people don’t and there is no reason to stress yourself and your flock out. I didn’t have roosters for years and my hens were perfectly happy to manage the pecking order themselves. One of the girls will take the spot as head hen and herd everyone in at night, settle disputes, etc. If you decide you want to let a broody hen hatch eggs you can always buy fertilized ones later and let your girls raise their own rooster.

That is a great option to consider. It was becoming extremely stressful especially in the late afternoon.

 

[Tahai]

I have 7x one year old hens and 6x six months old pullets. The rooster was about 7 months old give or take.
Perhaps the problem is that the roosters are too young and just go crazy plus his huge size didn't help either.

that sounds likely. I'm just getting into the rooster scene, but from what I'm reading, they go through a "phase" before maturity, and it's advised to keep them separate from the hens till they settle down (as long as they are otherwise nice guys). and yes, the size disparity between the brahma and the laying hens is significant.

 

[kattabelly]

I have 7x one year old hens and 6x six months old pullets. The rooster was about 7 months old give or take.
Perhaps the problem is that the roosters are too young and just go crazy plus his huge size didn't help either.

At 7 months old he was still a cockerel, not a rooster. At that stage they're often basically idiot teenagers whose hormones do most of their thinking for them.

If you do want a rooster in your flock - and some folks will disagree but personally I think there are far more, and better, reasons to have one than "only" if you want to hatch chicks - then there's a couple of options I'd suggest.
One: get an older (18-24 months +) rooster from someone you trust to tell the truth about his previous behaviour and why they're rehoming him. Here, I'd look for either someone with an established multi-generation flock who was looking to have a few less boys around the place, or a breeder looking to retire an older cock in order to bring in new blood. The best options available where you are might be different.
Two: buy some hatching eggs or chicks from someone who breeds for temperament as well as other traits. Ideally have a broody raise them, or at least try to have them in with your older birds as soon as possible. The older girls *should* clobber some sense into them once they hit the terrible teens but if not, you could always separate them into a bachelor group for a couple of months if you end up with more than one boy. See who's the nicest - and who your hens like best - when they've grown up and calmed down a bit and you reintroduce them to the main flock, and cull the others unless you end up with a pair that are both really nice and seem to get on fine together.

 

[EggFarm65]

that sounds likely. I'm just getting into the rooster scene, but from what I'm reading, they go through a "phase" before maturity, and it's advised to keep them separate from the hens till they settle down (as long as they are otherwise nice guys). and yes, the size disparity between the brahma and the laying hens is significant.

I thought about a separation but they do get a bit crazy when they can't protect their hens. I thought that was cruel if I do that. All my options weren't optimal. I do miss him very much, though.
Perhaps raising one, like a Buff Orpington, with my current flock, would make a difference and take what I learned thru this heartbreaking experience to make it work.