young rooster

[FAANMW]

My 16-week-old rooster is chasing, pulling neck feather out of the girls trying to mount. The girls are also only 16 weeks old. Is this a problem? The girls are not wanting to respond to him.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Can you separate him until the pullets are old enough to mate?

 

[chrissynemetz]

Oh and welcome to BYC!

 

[Debbie292d]

My 16-week-old rooster is chasing, pulling neck feather out of the girls trying to mount. The girls are also only 16 weeks old. Is this a problem? The girls are not wanting to respond to him.

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!!

Roosters get their hormones way before the hens do. I won't say it's necessarily normal what he's doing, but some are more aggressive than others. It may take weeks, or more like months for him to settle down. Do you have a way to separate him for a few days, or maybe even weeks, then try it again?

 

[Kenneth Zweerink]

Welcome to BackYard Chickens. The Best of Luck with your Flock! And a Big Hello from Eastern Nebraska.

 

[Tookie]

Welcome to BYC!

Good luck with your flock.

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC. As @chrissynemetz & @Debbie292d have said, you need to seperate him from the pullets until he is more mature.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

Cockerels sexually mature before pullets. I'd lock him up within sight and sound of the pullets until one or two of the pullets start laying or at least start squatting for him outside his enclosure. I know it's a pain to have to isolate them but the pullets will benefit greatly from that. I've had a randy cockerel in the clink for 5 weeks now waiting for someone to take him off my hands. The flock is much more peaceful with him locked up.

 

[Nomadicus]

Hello and Welcome to BYC. Glad to have you with us in this poultry lovers community. Separation is the only fix.

 

[Jenbirdee]

welcome to BYC!!