Young Rooster is a meanie

[lilbittexas]

HELP please. I have a Lavender Orpington Rooster and 3 hens that have all grown up together, they around 5 to 5 1/2 months old. Cornelius, the rooster, is not very nice to them, he has taken to biting them and they run back into the hen house and he won't let them out into the pen most of the time. I am new to chickens and don't want him biting them, he is not trying to mate with them, he is just being mean.

 

[Quarterhorses1]

Hi, sorry your experiencing troubles with your rooster!! In my experience roosters like this must be kept separate from the hens, or rehomed. There’s really nothing you can do about it. He will eventually hurt them badly. Sorry

 

[Geena]

HELP please. I have a Lavender Orpington Rooster and 3 hens that have all grown up together, they around 5 to 5 1/2 months old. Cornelius, the rooster, is not very nice to them, he has taken to biting them and they run back into the hen house and he won't let them out into the pen most of the time. I am new to chickens and don't want him biting them, he is not trying to mate with them, he is just being mean.

It would help it you could keep him separate but adjacent to them for a couple of months and then add him back in when he's more mature. He still young and trying to figure things out, he may or may not straighten out given some time. He's like the little boy who likes the little girls but isn't really old enough yet to know what to do about it, so he just pulls their hair.

 

[Quarterhorses1]

It would help it you could keep him separate but adjacent to them for a couple of months and then add him back in when he's more mature. He still young and trying to figure things out, he may or may not straighten out given some time. He's like the little boy who likes the little girls but isn't really old enough yet to know what to do about it, so he just pulls their hair.

I tried that with my too and it only worked for a couple weeks. But he was a butthole. Maybe it’ll work with theirs

 

[lilbittexas]

Thank you, I thought maybe it was normal behavior but when he wouldn't let go of Becky and she was screaming I decided it wasn't normal. He is a beautiful rooster but very mean. I do hope he straightens up.

 

[gimmie birdies]

young roosters can be poops, but you need more hens.

 

[Quarterhorses1]

Thank you, I thought maybe it was normal behavior but when he wouldn't let go of Becky and she was screaming I decided it wasn't normal. He is a beautiful rooster but very mean. I do hope he straightens up.

Maybe he will! Let us know! You may wanna get some more hens if you have room

 

[Mrs. K]

Growing up together really has little influence on chicken flocks. If this is your first year, you might try rehoming him. People like the lavender orpington, that would give your some time to get some experience, and for the first year a hen only flock is very nice.

Mrs K

 

[Yard Farmer]

young roosters can be poops, but you need more hens.

I agree. That might help balance out your flock.

 

[Tonyroo]

It's normal behavior at that age. It's good to keep him separated from the pullets for several months. So he grows out of his hormones.

BTW, I disagree with people advising you to get more hens. My rooster, when he was at that age lived with 3 hens. He was a total jerk to the hens. But he grew out of it and became an amazing well behaved gentleman.