We ventured into rooster territory this year with a mixed delivery from the hatchery. We've ended up with two Silver Laced Wyandotte roosters, that are lovely to look at and listen to ... but they are extremely rough with the girls. This morning both of them ganged up on one of the SLW hens and another chicken (older ISA brown) "saved" her. As I watched, I saw that they continued to follow and harass this one hen, and other older chickens kept helping her get away.
When I let them out to free range, it wasn't any better. One of them jumped on a Columbian hen and was biting hard at the back of her neck. She took it well but it was awful to watch.
I've noticed that they are only interested in the hens they came with, not the ones we already had (Barred Rocks, Black Stars, ISA Browns). And the ones we already had are standing up to the roosters and protecting the others.
So, I was expecting some physical behaviours, but how much is too much? I have friends who've rehomed or found other solutions to roosters that were too nasty. What should I be looking for with regards to personality? What makes a good rooster?
When I let them out to free range, it wasn't any better. One of them jumped on a Columbian hen and was biting hard at the back of her neck. She took it well but it was awful to watch.
I've noticed that they are only interested in the hens they came with, not the ones we already had (Barred Rocks, Black Stars, ISA Browns). And the ones we already had are standing up to the roosters and protecting the others.
So, I was expecting some physical behaviours, but how much is too much? I have friends who've rehomed or found other solutions to roosters that were too nasty. What should I be looking for with regards to personality? What makes a good rooster?