Can my rooster kill my hens?

[chilman]

We have a 6 month old New Hampshire rooster that we thought was a hen when she was purchased. We Also have 6 bearded silkie hens and a silkie rooster. All of the chickens get along with one another and our young rooster leaves the other rooster alone. Now that our Katnip is interested in mating, we are worried that Katnip will hurt the girls. Katnip has tried to mate with the girls and when he does he grasp them by the neck or their top knot. He is also twice the size of them. We aren't interested in getting rid of him because he has become a family pet. We are trying to figure out what we can to to keep him away from the girls. We have been separating them but he just goes crazy not being able to hang out with the girls.

 

[iwiw60]

Having such a large rooster with such small hens is a disaster waiting to happen I fear. He is getting to the age now that all he has on his mind is mating. Eventually it may turn bloody. If it were me? I'd most likely cull him...sorry.