Rooster doesn’t like one particular hen

[Lisa L]

My 2 1/2 year old bantam Cochin rooster is a wonderful boy…except to one of my hens. He has always been great and protective with all 10 hens until recently. He has chasing her off, not letting her around him, won’t let her near treats at times and just seems to despise her for some unknown reason. I’m beginning to worry that he will harm her. Luckily, she is quick and can get away pretty good. Any suggestions?

 

[TesoroSena]

He may not like her because she has a disease and is trying to protect his gals.

 

[KRack]

My 2 1/2 year old bantam Cochin rooster is a wonderful boy…except to one of my hens. He has always been great and protective with all 10 hens until recently. He has chasing her off, not letting her around him, won’t let her near treats at times and just seems to despise her for some unknown reason. I’m beginning to worry that he will harm her. Luckily, she is quick and can get away pretty good. Any suggestions?

My rooster did this same thing, then did attack the hen. If I wouldn’t have intervened, he would have killed her. She was healthy (still is, that was 6ish months ago), and I couldn’t figure out why he was mean to her. I ended up culling him after isolating him and giving him a few more chances. Hopefully your boy settles down! But I’d definitely keep an eye on things. I’m sorry I don’t have better advice!

 

[fluffycrow]

Are you completely sure it's not just a less mature male?

 

[fluffycrow]

Can you post pictures of the hen? Is she laying?

 

[JedJackson]

It's odd that he would suddenly go after one hen. Sometimes chickens attack each other when there isn't enough space, so make sure you are up to par on that. Have there been changes in their coop/run recently? Or something else that could be causing stress? That is another thing to look at. Have there been any noticeable changes in the hen in question?

I'm not sure what is going on, but make sure that the hen has plenty of roosts and other places to escape. You might also try taking the rooster out of the flock for a week or two, and then re0introducing him to see if this makes any difference.

 

[Lisa L]

This is Charlotte. The hen my rooster doesn't like anymore. I say " anymore" because he was fine with her until maybe a month or so ago. She is healthy so that is not a concern. She is, however, a little odd. She is very nosy, has to butt everyone out of the way when it comes to treats, flies up on me when I enter the coop area and is really just kind of a pain in the neck to the other hens. Could this be the reason? She is also broody at this time so Carl (rooster) and she aren't interacting as much, but when she does comes out he doesn't seem pleased.

 

[JedJackson]

Her being broody could well be the reason he is going after her. If you are letting her sit, keep her away from the rest of the flock, if possible. Or break her of broodiness and see if that helps.

 

[Lisa L]

I don't know....he was acting like that before she went broody. And she is in a smaller coop that is in with the big coop and run. Also...he will not mate with her anymore although he used to.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

How long before she went broody did he start attacking her? Hormones change with broodiness and he very well could have sensed the hormonal changes before she started sitting.