Rooster running at chicks

[GeneticsNerd]

Flock consists of:
1 rooster, 9 months old
3 hens of unknown background, not laying
9 chicks, 2 weeks old, from hatchery

The chicks are in a semi-enclosed run: It has multiple chick-sized entrances which they easily go in and out of, but which are too small for adult chickens. When they go out, the rooster will often run straight at them and they run away and go back in. Why does he do this? He is currently high on testosterone due to age and I suspect the unreceptiveness of the hens. Should I expect this behavior to disappear as he matures?

 

[Debbie292d]

Nine months old is about right for the hormone stage, but in a month or two, he should mature out of it.

I don't think that's the only reason why he's going after them though as it could be he's seeing them as predators to his "territory." That said, we have a lot of mature roosters here, and most wouldn't attack young chicks, but I have a couple that would.

 

[2DogNight]

I'm having this issue with our 10 month old cockerel. I've had the chicks in the coop with everyone for a couple of weeks inside the nursery part. When I let the 11 week old chicks into the run area, he attacks them. I'm afraid he's going to kill them. He needs these girls to grow up and be part of his flock. I don't know if I should just wait longer in the integration process or get rid of my pretty boy. The chicks are now terrified of him.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Wait longer. He should be getting close to getting control of his hormones but it may not yet be time.

11 weeks is a bit old to be integrating chicks to me though a lot of people wait that long or longer. We all do it differently. Do you have any cockerels in your 11-week-olds? Are those the ones being attacked? He may be going after future rivals.

Until my pullets start laying they form a separate flock. They avoid the adults as much as they can as they may get pecked if they get too close to the adults. My mature roosters do not bother the chicks but my mature hens sometimes do. You do not have a mature rooster, you have a cockerel probably high on hormones.

 

[2DogNight]

We moved the chicks (all female) out of the house and into the coop 2 weeks ago. We had to build a new larger coop. I currently have 3 hens that are 3 years old. The cockerel was hatched by one my broody hens in July because I couldn't break her. I gave her an egg and he is the result. We obtained the 6 new chicks from TS and brooded them in the basement until the coop was built. My older girls don't really care about the young ones yet. Just the occasional peck through the screen and if they are in the run. I really hope that our boy calms down because I don't want to have to send him to freezer camp. I'm trying to be patient because I know it's his first spring.