Trying to add more pullets to flock, but roosters keep trying to mate with young pullets

[EvanAlexJames]

I inherited a hen, a rooster, and their two babies (both of which are now full-grown roosters). I have been raising up some pullets to join them. I had successfully added an adult hen from my grandfather’s flock over (buff orp), but unfortunatel, she passed from the ungodly heat we had this summer.

So it’s been just Bertha, a grey marans, and her hubby Hendrix, an American game rooster, and their two sons for the past few months. I have had 4 pullets in the baby grow-out inside the run of the big chickens for about 6 weeks. They are now 12 weeks old and will be out-growing the grow-out within the next few weeks, so I decided to add them to the ”flock”.

One of my Roos is in a rooster coop, separated from the others (I have an order for three adult hens to add with him next week). He‘s very aggressive toward his brother, but fine with his dad and mom, but I have him separate so he can start his own flock.

My hen and other 2 roosters do well together, but there’s a lot of testosterone in the coop, so I bought some day old pullets 12 weeks ago. Today, I tried letting the girls out to get acquainted with the area. Surprisingly, Bertha, my adult hen, seemed almost relieved to have more girls in the coop, and her son seemed indifferent. Hendrix, however, my older game roo, keeps trying to breed my barely 12-week-old pullets. It seems to put them in distress and they’re trying to hide by squeezing into areas they’re not supposed to go (such as behind the grow out, around the door frame, etc).

Will my rooster trying to breed them while they’re still so small hurt them? There’s enough space in the grow-out for the 4 girls to stay until they start laying, since my next round of chicks in the brooder are only 2 and 3 weeks old. Should I just wait? I’d really like some advice.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm sorry, but I lost track.

How many pens do you have?

How many males and how many females in each pen?

*Generally* a mature flockmaster rooster or senior cockerel -- if he's anything like a good candidate for flock leadership and breeding -- won't attempt to mate with a young pullet who isn't approaching Point-of-lay.

However, a hormonal young cockerel may try to mate with anything he can grab hold of -- especially in a situation where multiple males are competing for few females.

Also, breed matters. Game roosters are notoriously intolerant of other males but also notoriously gentle with their hens since they've historically often been kept in breeding pairs and trios. Dual purpose breed males *may* be more tolerant of other males but often need more females per male since they've historically been kept in a larger flock environment -- different selection pressures creating different behaviors.

 

[EvanAlexJames]

I'm sorry, but I lost track.

How many pens do you have?

How many males and how many females in each pen?

*Generally* a mature flockmaster rooster or senior cockerel -- if he's anything like a good candidate for flock leadership and breeding -- won't attempt to mate with a young pullet who isn't approaching Point-of-lay.

However, a hormonal young cockerel may try to mate with anything he can grab hold of -- especially in a situation where multiple males are competing for few females.

Also, breed matters. Game roosters are notoriously intolerant of other males but also notoriously gentle with their hens since they've historically often been kept in breeding pairs and trios. Dual purpose breed males *may* be more tolerant of other males but often need more females per male since they've historically been kept in a larger flock environment -- different selection pressures creating different behaviors.

I have 2 coops. One currently has my more aggressive roo who is awaiting different hens to join him.

The other coop has 2 adult Roos and one adult hen who all get along very well. Inside their run, is the baby grow-out. My girls have been in it for 6 weeks. I’ve never had issues with Hendrix (my oldest roo who is trying to breed the young ones) in the past. He’s usually very sweet and gentlemanly.

I know they need a bunch more girls, since I ended up with too many Roos, but now that my girls are 12 weeks old, Hendrix is trying to aggressively breed them. They other roo in the coop is completely indifferent.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have 2 coops. One currently has my more aggressive roo who is awaiting different hens to join him.

The other coop has 2 adult Roos and one adult hen who all get along very well. Inside their run, is the baby grow-out. My girls have been in it for 6 weeks. I’ve never had issues with Hendrix (my oldest roo who is trying to breed the young ones) in the past. He’s usually very sweet and gentlemanly.

I know they need a bunch more girls, since I ended up with too many Roos, but now that my girls are 12 weeks old, Hendrix is trying to aggressively breed them. They other roo in the coop is completely indifferent.

Competition could be the explanation. With 2 males and one female the boys are probably DESPERATE to claim mates.

You could isolate all the females from all the males until they're all laying and use that time to choose whether you *really* want to keep all the males and, if not, which one you want as your permanent flockmaster.

 

[EvanAlexJames]

Competition could be the explanation. With 2 males and one female the boys are probably DESPERATE to claim mates.

You could isolate all the females from all the males until they're all laying and use that time to choose whether you *really* want to keep all the males and, if not, which one you want as your permanent flockmaster.

I think I may try to keep my girls separate until they start laying. I may build a thirst coop for my other boy. Pretty sure some of the babies I hatched out are little boys as well, so I’m gonna try to rehome them, if they are.

We have 23 acres, so there’s plenty of space for a few more small flocks if I need to separate them out.

 

[McChooky]

Throw all those roosters in another coop and get rid of the ones you don't need.Keeping one rooster all by himself and all the others in your flock is a big mistake.You need a bachelor pad if you have plans for that many roosters because you only have one hen.

 

[EvanAlexJames]

Throw all those roosters in another coop and get rid of the ones you don't need.Keeping one rooster all by himself and all the others in your flock is a big mistake.You need a bachelor pad if you have plans for that many roosters because you only have one hen.

I WANT a bachelor pad. I’m working on building one now. I have actually since found a new home for my secluded roo where he is very happy with 12 ladies of his own! No aggression at all.

Thank you all for your suggestions