Rooster Help - Aggressive or Just Learning

[Jasfarm]

I mean, right now he's like a fourteen years old kid in with a bunch of sexy cougars. Either he will learn or he won't, but give it some time and keep us posted.

I audibly laughed. Thank you for this

 

[wrathsfarm]

When he figures out his way isn't working he'll change tactics. Especially seeing the (buff orp?) coming to save the day...

 

[Jasfarm]

Debbie is a Buff Orp - she is a champ!

 

[jBabychickn]

Hello BYC!

Thank you to the articles on roosters and flock management - they have kept me from posting here 86 times! @Pyxis @Redhead Rae

I have a mixed flock of 13.

4 - Lavender Orps: 14 months
1 - Buff Orp: I think 4 years. We adopted her and her sister…
1 - Ameracuana: Jeannie is sisters with Buff. Also about 4 years.

These 6 all cruise together and the lavs joined these two last year. They are finally friends.

In April, we bought 7 new chicks from NPIP breeder in RI. We have a mix, not sure the breeder knew the breeds. 3 EE, 1 Cuckoo Maran, 1 Brahma, 1 Barnyard Mix, and 1 Grey chicken. Sapphire Gem maybe?

This flock has been with the “big” girls since week 6. Still working on being friends - they are very scared of the big girls, but the big girls tend to ignore them.

Brahma is a roo. 1 EE is a roo.
EE’s name is Derek. He has recently started getting his hormones and has been trying to mount the others (not the bigs). I know from the articles, some said it’s hard to watch, but it’s part of the process. He’ll learn to be more gentle.

I gave Derek some passes. We also had a close call with a hawk (they free range) and guess who runs out on high alert to protect? Derek. Another pass.

Today, Derek went after two girls, the other EEs. One, he chased so much she was in an outright panic. He corned her in the fenced in garden and after he “mated” she was in shock. She let me pick her up and her little legs and wings were limp. She was terrified. She sat with me for over a half hour (she never lets us near her). Finally had her eating and drinking. Strike 1. Big strike.

Then he went after the second EE, and she fought so much and tried to escape. She got up right after but then ran and hid the rest of the afternoon. Even coaxing her with treats wouldn’t get her to come out. We kept Derek away from her after that. Strike 2.

Is this normal? Do I just need to accept that this is how the rooster works and he’ll get better?

He hasn’t shown any aggression to me, my husband, my dog…just when trying to mate his girls. They aren’t even mature yet!

TLDR:

How do you know when a roo just won’t work. If the girls are terrified of him, (one was slightly in shock today after a mating attempt), does that not bode well for him?

Thank you!

First Pic: Leslie after Derek scared her half to death
Second: OG crew
Third: Derek, Two EE behind him to the right
Fourth: Roo Brahma, Leslie, Doggo, Baryard Mix

He’s still young and the poor thing has so much testosterone surging in him right now so ya gotta consider that; however, if he becomes human aggressive and/or hen aggressive to the point of drawing blood and causing injury… That’s an immediate dismissal in my book — With that said, the first thing you should do is remove one boy. I started out with two Roos as well and learned real quick that wasn’t a good idea once hormones hit without a senior rooster already in the flock to take charge. They will easily get each other all “riled-up” and get each others hormones flowing real good, which of course, only make things worse and it isnt fair to us, to the cockerels and especially to the hens/the flock as a whole…
— I’d definitely work on deciding which Roo you want. Like, who has the best protective qualities, along with the best “potential” to develop into a decently good Roo upon maturity. (which won’t happen until 1yr. - 1yr. 6mos.) It really is harder on Cockerels that do not have a senior Roo to teach them appropriate behaviors & manners. My Hubs had to really step-in and become a senior Roo in a way, in order to show our Salmon Faverolle cockerel how to have manners. Read up on how to teach him that your the dominate figure in the flock until he can take over completely. You would need to “pin him” down on the ground, onto his side, putting firm pressure on his body, but never as to hurt him of course, but to definitely “dominate” him and to show him that he’s not the biggest boy in the yard. —This works wonders, but as with anything, it took lots of patience, like with our “Mr.Blue”, he would push his boundaries all the time. However, it did finally slow down as he matured.
— He became the best Roo for our flock and he ended up loving all our Hens. He became a Joy to watch
— He would tidbit for his Girls. The best thing was the Blueberries !! We’d purposely give him the berries, one by one, so that he could go off and feed his girls the treats. This really empowered him as their provider and made him so very proud. This helped tremendously his attitude. But, I believe he was around 10mos old when this stage occurred, meaning his initial big surge in testosterone was mostly over, if not over completely, it was definitely plateaued…
— He also started escorting his girls to and from the nesting boxes around this time as well. Although it wasn’t always consistent until he was around 1yr of age.
— Our hens definitely fell in love with their matured version of their Roo, just not so much the cockerel version of him… They would squat for him; they would listen & obey his every warning call by taking cover whenever he thought it’s wasn’t safe. — Just today, I was reveling in the sight of him watching over the girls as the were dust-bathing/sun-bathing; he wasn’t participating in the activities at all for himself, he was there patrolling around our two dust-bathing areas in order to keep a good watch… He’s our good boy, now as a senior Rooster! We’ve definitely learned a lot during his growth, not just him!

 

[jBabychickn]

You could try that for a few weeks but I'd say your Brahma is prolly your keeper. Good luck and keep us posted.

Agreed!

 

[jBabychickn]

When he figures out his way isn't working he'll change tactics. Especially seeing the (buff orp?) coming to save the day...

He will definitely learn!

 

[McChooky]

Chase mated with a sapphire gem late in the day but I only saw them once. She's doesn't mind him being near her and didn't protest .She turns a year old in 3 months.

 

[jBabychickn]

Chase mated with a sapphire gem late in the day but I only saw them once. She's doesn't mind him being near her and didn't protest .She turns a year old in 3 months.

Yay for Chase!!