Rooster going after my hen.

[Jae]

My chickens are all 4 months old.
I need help understanding my rooster.
I have a super sweet rooster. He's doing great but he bites my two dominate hens.... I say dominate b.c they are the two most aware and seem to herd the others into safety but also nest with them like they are their pack. So he attacked one, right on her comb and made her comb bleed. It was quick, she turned on him and bucked him down 4 times and he left her alone.
Then a week or so later he started this with my other hen. She's super sweet tempered and is just a lover of all. She's a mother hen and always alone until the others want to nest. She's always been a loner but a lover and protector to the chickens.
Idk why he goes after her... It only happens when she is alone.
Is he always going to do this? I'm not sure what he is doing or why. He doesn't go after any of my roosters unless one is picking on a hen. He's super good at his job so why is he picking on a hen who isn't doing anything but eating?

 

[wamtazlady]

I had a rooster attack a hen also. As in your case she was the dominant hen. He made her head a bloody mess and I had to separate her from the rest of the chickens to heal. He had her trapped in a nest and even when I tried to stop him he was still after her. As soon as she was better she got past me and went outside. He ran across the yard to attack her again.

I have a feeling she put him down when he was a young cockerel. When he grew up to be a big rooster he already disliked her and was finally strong enough to get back at her. It's the only reason I can think of.

Finally had to get rid of rooster even though he was fine with the other hens. The one he picked on happened to be a favorite of mine. She's smart and helps keep the flock safe.

I didn't notice at first that yours are only 4 months old. In your case I'd say it's hormonal. He wants to breed and the pullets are turning him down because they are still too young.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My chickens are all 4 months old.
I need help understanding my rooster.
I have a super sweet rooster. He's doing great but he bites my two dominate hens.... I say dominate b.c they are the two most aware and seem to herd the others into safety but also nest with them like they are their pack. So he attacked one, right on her comb and made her comb bleed. It was quick, she turned on him and bucked him down 4 times and he left her alone.
Then a week or so later he started this with my other hen. She's super sweet tempered and is just a lover of all. She's a mother hen and always alone until the others want to nest. She's always been a loner but a lover and protector to the chickens.
Idk why he goes after her... It only happens when she is alone.
Is he always going to do this? I'm not sure what he is doing or why. He doesn't go after any of my roosters unless one is picking on a hen. He's super good at his job so why is he picking on a hen who isn't doing anything but eating?

Can you post a photo of your rooster, hens and set-up?
How many chickens do you have?
Is this rooster also just 4months old?
You mention other roosters-how old are they?

Is he actually biting her or is he trying to mate her? If he is only 4months old, he is an immature male chicken, which is a cockerel. His hormones are raging and he is trying to establish dominance over your pullets (4mo old girls).

Separating him out until he and your pullets mature may be a solution for you.

Look forward to more information and photos

 

[lazy gardener]

There is a huge difference between a rooster (who is over a year old) and a cockerel (who is less than a year old) in their behavior and agression levels. Also, a huge difference between a pullet (less than a year old) ad a hen (more than a year old.) If your pullets are not yet laying, that may be part of the issue. Cockerels mature much earlier than pullets, and their breeding attempts towards a non receptive female can be broody. if you have a cockerel, I would say that he is trying to assert dominance over your female flock leaders. Good ?'s by @Wyorp Rock that need to be answered before we can help you.

 

[aart]

I'm not sure what he is doing or why.

He's 4 month old cockerel, his hormones are starting to flow and he's starting to assert his dominance and desire to mate as he is sexually maturing. It's perfectly normal.

He doesn't go after any of my roosters unless one is picking on a hen.

How many other males do you have.....and how many females?
Multiple males can make for a competitive environment that can bring out the worst of all the males behaviors.

FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

 

[Jae]

Ok, thank you. All of my chickens are 4 months old. So the cockerel bit the comb on my 1st pullet once, it bled but before I saw the blood she turned and knocked him down 4 times.
The other issue with my other pullet, black beak is probably mating them. I will research what chicken mating looks like and that is probably what is happening here.
My 1st run is 60 feet by 32 feet. I have 20 Pullets plus some young chicks who will be introduced in 2 months.
I have too many cockerels. They are not yet as mature as this particular one but will be soon. Same age. I am working on lessening my male flock.
I just built our 2nd run which is 75 feet by 100 feet. Attatches to the 1st run.
I have a lot of roosts and fun things to do in the run and they are all happy right now. Once the extra males are gone I don't suspect I will have an issue, I hope.
I plan on keeping this one male and 2 bantam cockerels because they are paired up with my D'uccle and sebrights.

 

[Jae]

I don't know how to set up a picture.

 

[aart]

I don't know how to set up a picture.

@KikisGirls can probably point to a tutorial?

 

[Kiki]

This video will show you how.

 

[Kiki]

And:
❅ Posting Pictures Using the "Upload a File" Button ❅