Rooster trying to mate/hurt other chickens? What to do??

[SilkieMom0406]

Heyyy! It's been a while but the chickens have grown up! I was just wondering if it is normal for roosters to be pinning other chickens' necks down to the floor or if they stop the other chickens from eating so they can eat first. (they haven't learned the pecking order yet)

 

[Cloverfluff]

From what I've experienced, the roosters usually prefer for the hens to eat before them. They do try to break up fights, so maybe he's trying to control infighting? Though I did have an issue with my rooster acclimating to a new hen in the flock, but it seems odd for that to happen with chickens that grew up with each other.

 

[SilkieMom0406]

Yes but he doesn't just do this to the hens. He does this to the one other rooster too. Would this be the way he was raised/treated?

 

[JedJackson]

Pinning their necks to the floor doesn't seem like normal behavior. Usually the rooster is trying to get on hens' backs to mate, but it takes them a while to get the hang of it. So if you think he is trying to mate then I wouldn't worry about it, but if it is just aggression then it could be a problem.

As far as pecking order goes, the rooster will be at the top of it, usually. Some learn to let the ladies eat first in time, but he's probably not there yet.

 

[Pukkits]

This sounds to me like a flock issue, something else is going on causing stress. Others are correct, a rooster should be encouraging his hens to eat before him. While he may hold a hen down to mate, it shouldn't be neck pecking.

You said there's another rooster. Are there enough hens for two roosters? How big is their space? Are there multiple food and water sources?

My only experience with chickens pinning a birds neck to the floor, the pecking order bullying kicked in and they tried to kill her, twice. Back of the neck pecking on the floor is often an attack on the spine with fatal intent. Our hen was lucky to survive with nursing care (she's now the sweet old auntie to our new birds). Do keep a close eye on this behavior.

 

[SilkieMom0406]

Thank you for all of the responses!

There are 2 roosters and 6 hens. We still have them inside in a small little fold-out that's 6ft x 2ft. We are going to build their coop this month and move them out. There is one food source and one water source. What do you think would be causing them stress?

The first 4 are 21 weeks and I don't know about the second 4 but I would say about 15 weeks. There is 1 rooster for every 4. They are all silkies. We have 1 showgirl silkie if that makes any difference. The rooster in the first 4 is the meanest but the second rooster is taking after him. Would it be because of small space? Or would this be about something else?

 

[SilkieMom0406]

From what I've experienced, the roosters usually prefer for the hens to eat before them. They do try to break up fights, so maybe he's trying to control infighting? Though I did have an issue with my rooster acclimating to a new hen in the flock, but it seems odd for that to happen with chickens that grew up with each other.

Sorry. Just saw this.

He usually fights them so they can't eat. We have to take the roosters out of the coop so the hens can eat. There are 2 sets of 4 chickens (8 chickens) and 1 set is older than the other. Would that cause a problem?

 

[Pukkits]

Your environment is stressing your birds. 12 square feet is very, very small. That's close to what one chicken needs for outdoor space. They need more space, another food and water setup with a visual block in between, and more hens per rooster.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...t-the-roosters-wont-fight-each-other.1335407/

 

[SilkieMom0406]

If the space is too small, why would that cause aggression? Just wondering. Not meaning it in an argumentative manner.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

If the space is too small, why would that cause aggression? Just wondering. Not meaning it in an argumentative manner.

Think of a car crammed full of kids. It doesn’t take long before “he’s looking at me funny” and “she’s taking up my space” and “he pinched me!” and “she started it!” fills the air.