When is enough enough?

[CCUK]

I have a cockeral that has been pretty good overall. He does all the good things cockerals do like tit bitting for the girls, he's helped keep the peace when I've integrated new hens etc. But now he is starting to be over amorous with the girls. If they don't want him he will chase them relentlessly, my araucana has no feathers left on her head he's drawn blood on a few of the hens combs. If l pick a hen up or go in and stand next to a hen he will try to mate with her. And last week he chased my 8 Yr old daughter out the pen. My Brahma hen actually stopped him! I never actually wanted a cockerel but thought I'd give him a chance as I hatched him last year. I know instinct plays alot in it but is when is enough enough? Should I call an end to it?

 

[Kessel23]

I hate cockerels that do all that nonsense with the hens but that can change.
Attacking your daughter on the other hand, that would be enough for me to have him gone.

 

[CCUK]

I hate cockerels that do all that nonsense with the hens but that can change.
Attacking your daughter on the other hand, that would be enough for me to have him gone.

I wasn't here when that happened so I can't be sure as to actually what happened. Could have been her clothes, who knows? He hasn't done that since but my daughter is scared to go in on her own. That on its own defeats the object of why we got hens. I hate the thought of having to get rid of him. I know that the chances of rehoming are next to nothing. Hen squabbles are hen squabbles but I hate seeing him stressing them out.

 

[Kessel23]

If you don't want to get rid of him then you can keep him penned when she is out there. I had some decent results changing mating habits by caging the cockerel where he can view the hens and interact with them but not actually mate with them. It makes them go crazy and the cockerels I have done it to calmed down with their over mating for a few days before starting up again, and when they did I caged them for another day.
I have only done this to a few birds so I can't say if it will work for yours for sure but it is worth a shot.

 

[CCUK]

If you don't want to get rid of him then you can keep him penned when she is out there. I had some decent results changing mating habits by caging the cockerel where he can view the hens and interact with them but not actually mate with them. It makes them go crazy and the cockerels I have done it to calmed down with their over mating for a few days before starting up again, and when they did I caged them for another day.
I have only done this to a few birds so I can't say if it will work for yours for sure but it is worth a shot.

That may work. I will need to build another run to accommodate him. Getting rid of him is the last option on a short list of options. I do want to give him every chance.

 

[Kessel23]

That may work. I will need to build another run to accommodate him. Getting rid of him is the last option on a short list of options. I do want to give him every chance.

Just remember they do go crazy if they can see hens and not get to them. I had to pen a rooster because he kept fighting and he was penned for a little over a day before he started ramming himself into the roofing trying to get out.

 

[CCUK]

Just remember they do go crazy if they can see hens and not get to them. I had to pen a rooster because he kept fighting and he was penned for a little over a day before he started ramming himself into the roofing trying to get out.

I'll have to see if I can get some sturdy construction fence panels from work. They bolt together easily and I don't think he could get through it! I just hope my neighbours don't think I'm treating him bad if he goes crazy.

 

[Kessel23]

I'll have to see if I can get some sturdy construction fence panels from work. They bolt together easily and I don't think he could get through it! I just hope my neighbours don't think I'm treating him bad if he goes crazy.

He might hurt himself. If you just want to keep him separate all the time you could find a way to block his view of the hens. Then he will act normally, alone.

 

[The Moonshiner]

my daughter is scared

Read this again about a dozen times and then ask yourself why is this cockerel worth another thought about keeping?
Seriously

 

[CCUK]

He might hurt himself. If you just want to keep him separate all the time you could find a way to block his view of the hens. Then he will act normally, alone.

I don't want him to be permanently on his own. I think that it is best if he goes. They have all just gone in and he was causing all manner of hassle.

Read this again about a dozen times and then ask yourself why is this cockerel worth another thought about keeping?
Seriously

Your right. He's causing too much disruption and thd fact my daughter is scared doesn't warrant him staying. I got hens for the family to enjoy at the moment I'm about the only one that dares go in and I'm looking over my shoulder.