Rooster grabbing hens neck feathers?

[aart]

I know this is probably normal, but I just want to make sure. I have 2 roosters and 20 hens. One rooster in particular will just out of the blue grab a hen and hold on. She squawks and tries to get away, while he just holds on. I feel so bad for her every time. Is he just trying to figure out how to mate? They are 16 weeks old.

Having 2 males can create an environment of competition and often exacerbates the mating/dominance aggression of young cockerels.
Many folks separate cockerels until the pullets are laying and thus ready to mate.


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).

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

The alpha crowed all of the time. He had 7 to 10 girlfriends. The beta could not help himself and crowed pretty often, bringing down the wrath of the alpha.

Interesting. My 3 roos crow together all of the time. One starts and the others follow in succession.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

Ok. Thank you.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

Both my cockerels crow all day staring at 5:30 I personally love the sound

 

[El-kevo]

You probably like having your neck bitten...
Let 'em have at it.