Rooster is starting to go after my hens.. why?

[carolinn731]

Hi guys.. need some help. just recently my 16 week old Roo has started to go after my flock and bit at there backs and rip out feathers..any help in why? and what should i do?
i feel bad for hens.. he is the only roo.. and not sure why he is doing this!!

thanks guys.,

 

[greenckick]

Well....see when a boy likes a girl and they want to make chicks, um...OK there are these birds and bees, and.....

Just kidding I got my chicks in Feb this year and George became a real rooster 2 weeks ago when he started crowing. Since then he has continued into maturity by literally "jumping their bones" of his girls. It is a bit shocking at first. I had no idea he would literally jump on their back to get the job done. Your roo is just practicing and it will be ugly at first. He should get the hang of it and hopefully not do too much damage. If you are keeping the roo make sure you have enough girls to go around, if you only have a few chickens they will show wear more and sooner.

Good Luck!

 

[carolinn731]

LOL. ohhh ok.. makes sense..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and yes he has 8 girlfriend.. this should be interesting.. LOL

 

[duckinnut]

First of all

. Sounds like to me that he might be getting a dose of teenage hormones. He doesn't have his technique down pat yet of acquiring the ladies interest. Even after he does attain them, he will often grab them behind the head to hold them.

 

[greenckick]

We had an interesting time explaining it to our 4 and 2 year old boys. Our oldest was in tears that George was being mean to Beauty and biting her. It didn't help that George had just taken a bite of the kids ice cream sandwich- so I don't know what upset him more losing a bite of ice cream or seeing his favorite Beauty under "attack".

George tends to be frisky in the morning and again in the evening. It is a fun show at our house as his favorite girl is a Dominique, since she is smaller she is also faster. He was literally running in circles yesterday trying to get a-hold of her. We also got a good laugh as George made his move on a girl under the porch, which we were standing on at the time and proceeded to strut out and crow right at me. Such a guy thing- shouting "Look what I did!"

 

[off-grid hen]

My 6 yr old: Look mommy! Rocky is dancing on Bossy's back!
Me: yeah... Well... He's a good dancer isn't he?

We introduced that rooster to a flock of 12 hens by himself. He was chased around quite a bit by the girls, and pecked (not too bad) at for about 10 days. By the end of two weeks, he was top of the peck order, crowing and mating. He had to do this by showing them he was boss. The hard way for some of the more stubborn hens.