Rooster is hurting hens -- advice?

[Sublight]

My avatar EE roo, Jack was removed from the flock this winter b/c he was no longer able to "hit the target". He was becoming sloppy in his breeding practices. He was a good roo, all round family man, loved his chicks, found good nesting spots for his girls, tidbitted everyone in the flock, even the cockerels! His replacement, Goliath, who is a gorgeous, Buck Eye, is showing promise of being a gentle giant. He has been tidbitting from an early age, dances, and has perfected his breeding skill. This week, I'll be checking eggs for fertility, and it appears that he's getting the job done with a flock of 30 gals! @aart did a thread last fall about her process of bringing a replacement roo to the head of her flock. You might want to check that thread.

Often. the barnyard mutts who have been schooled by the older biddies in the flock, grow up to have excellent manners. IMO, the important transition that you will be facing is immediately after you remove your "man hater". If your cockerel is going to show aggressive tendencies, it will be then, when he is stepping into the "flock master" role, and does not have a roo to dominate him. When I removed Jack, I spent a lot of extra time watching Goliath, and made sure that he knew the boundaries where I am concerned. He has never challenged me.

Its funny that you say that because my wife and I were laughing that the older girls were chasing the new guy around.

They really started doing that because he was picking on the little silkie a LOT. We took her out of the flock for a few days cause she got attacked by that hawk (im sure you remember). She was doing real well, so we started putting her back with the flock.
My wife and I were watching when he mounted the silkie, pretty violently. She asked if we should stop him, I said no, let them get it out of their system, they will figure it out amongst themselves (unless it gets dangerous). Just then the oldest and gentlest old hen ran up and opened up a industrial can of whoop @$$ on him. She then chased him around the yard. Then the others started joining in. They would run him off from time to time.
AND the silkie seems to stand right by the dominant rooster, like she is safer by him. And she does seem to be, however the dominant one seems to let the hens do the butt whopin.

I hope the hens get the young rooster trained properly.

 

[carlsonbwin]

Your cockerel needs to be pulled out of that coop. Tell me a little bit more about him. It sounds like he was the only chicken you had? If this is so, he missed the most important kindergarten lesson of all: "how to play well with others." NO matter the reason for his behavior, it is unacceptable. A cockerel should not be allowed to terrorize young pullets.

 

[carlsonbwin]

Our young rooster started beating up on our hens; he ended up in the freezer!