Rooster drama

[robyn8]

We have 3 year old hens, 5 pullets about 5 mos old and a cockerel about 5 mos i

 

[sourland]

and there is a rooster problem ?

 

[robyn8]

Sorry hit post before I was done. Anyway we have 3 year old hens, 5 pullets and a cockerel about 5 mos old and then 4 chicks about 10 weeks old. I went to let them out today and one of the older girls looked really roughed up and frazzled and had a bleeding comb. While preparing the hospital cage for her I saw the cockerel pin her down to mount her and he was aggressively pecking her so I assume that's how she got injured. Do you think we should cull him? Or give him some time to calm down? I'm pretty sure 2 of my chicks are boys so we'll have them as back ups if we get rid of this guy.

 

[robyn8]

The injury was worse than I first thought. Just went and cleaned her up and got a better look and he was clearly pecking her head a lot. Doesn't seem like normal mating behavior to me. I've seen him mount other times and he seemed ok. Could be that his hormones are gettgiib stronger and he's getting more aggressive or was he actually trying to hurt her and not just hold her down to mate?

 

[sawilliams]

At first i was thinking she was more submissive and just getting overmated, but in what hot just said it sounds like she might be less submissive and he's trying to assert his dominance. Hopefully this would only remain an issue untill these 2 figure out thier routine.

Is she possibly your head hen? I ask becuase I would assume the head hen would likely be less submissive as that would mean she has to give up her #1 spot that she's so use to, to a young rooster that she might feel is not ready

 

[centrarchid]

Show a picture of her head.

How is her weight?

What are relative sizes between hen and cockerel?

 

[JedJackson]

It's normal for cockerels and hens to fight-- eventually the cockerel usually wins and asserts his dominance and the hen will accept him as a mate. But if he's hurting her to the point of drawing blood or still attacks and pecks at her when she allows him to mount her then there is a problem and I would go with a different rooster for my flock and get rid of the aggressive one.

 

[centrarchid]

It's normal for cockerels and hens to fight-- eventually the cockerel usually wins and asserts his dominance and the hen will accept him as a mate. But if he's hurting her to the point of drawing blood or still attacks and pecks at her when she allows him to mount her then there is a problem and I would go with a different rooster for my flock and get rid of the aggressive one.

My understanding of problem so far indicates not normal. Understanding may need to be more thorough for all parties before making call.

 

[robyn8]

Thanks so much for all the feedback! I'll get a pic of her head in a few. I think she's my second highest hen. But if this helps any when her sister hen who was the lowest of the 3 bigs had her chicks she would often times stand on the injured hen and peck her head. The injured one didn't try to fight back. I ended up making a larger pasture and that helped till the mama hen weaned her babies. Now the big hens all get along fine.

 

[robyn8]

Here are some pics. I have triple antibiotic on the wounds so that's why they are shiney. She's lost some feathers too.