Roosters....I'm new to Roosters

[CodyKae]

So I have 4, 3 year jersey Giants, 4 2 years Rir's and this year my kids and I successfully hatched 4 eggs in a bater. They are all different breeds. We got one rooster in the bunch and he is apparently (according to the guy we got the eggs from) an Austrolop, brahma Cochin mix. He is funny looking guy and is about 5 months old. Now I am curious if his behavior is normal or not. He is picking on one hen in particular who is his own age. She's a white something but he chases her insistently around the yard until he finally mounts her. Is this normal? Is he trying to mate already? He doesn't dare bother the older girls yet and none of my babies are even laying yet either. So I'm confused on why he is doing this. Can someone tell what I should expect with this guy? My Jersey Giants could care less about him unless he goes for the food or water when they are there. They chase him off and he isn't allowed to feed or water with them at all. Advice would be great. Thanks

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Some young males are not yet mature enough to know how to act yet. And some just have screws loose. But for now, I would separate this cockerel from this pullet. He could harm her with his aggressions and trying to mate with her. And until he is fully mature, he may not fit into the adult group and get picked on himself.

If you can find another bird he does get along with, I would keep them separate until they are mature and of mating age.

Good luck!

 

[Mrs. K]

I would try this before I separated him or the picked on pullet. I hate separating birds, and I think it causes a lot of problems, plus it is a difficult to do this well, unless you have a very good set up.

Take a look at your run/ coop set up. Do you have multi levels of roosts in the RUN? A pallet leaned agains the wall with two openings so as not to make a trap. A pallet up on blocks, one 3 feet off the ground, and one that is lower that only a small bird could get under. These hideouts might make your run look more crowded, but they actually give more space. If you are letting them out in the day with a great deal of space, you might still make sure that there are some of these set up so that chickens can get away from each other and out of sight of each other.

Mrs K