Cockerel behaviour

[Lol123]

Hi all, a couple of months ago I got my hands on a beautiful ayam Cemani cockerel he wasn't breed standard with him having a little bit of brown feathering. He's a very friendly boy but everytime I let them out in the morning he acts like he's never been fed before in his life, attacking everyone including his favourite girls. I've tried everything I could think of, more feeding stations, different higher protein food, poultry tonic and separating him for the first feeding sesh which isn't always possible due to working hours and them having automatic doors, they are free fed so food is available all the time. Other then this behaviour when letting them out he is so caring towards his girls and will find food for them ect as a cockerel should do. I'm at a loss of what to do with him now, I'm either going to have to cull him or separate him entirely for the morning as im very concerned he will hurt one of the girls badly as his behaviour seems to be getting worse, my question is there anything else I can try or can do to stop this behaviour? Thanksss

 

[Ecarroll]

Hi all, a couple of months ago I got my hands on a beautiful ayam Cemani cockerel he wasn't breed standard with him having a little bit of brown feathering. He's a very friendly boy but everytime I let them out in the morning he acts like he's never been fed before in his life, attacking everyone including his favourite girls. I've tried everything I could think of, more feeding stations, different higher protein food, poultry tonic and separating him for the first feeding sesh which isn't always possible due to working hours and them having automatic doors, they are free fed so food is available all the time. Other then this behaviour when letting them out he is so caring towards his girls and will find food for them ect as a cockerel should do. I'm at a loss of what to do with him now, I'm either going to have to cull him or separate him entirely for the morning as im very concerned he will hurt one of the girls badly as his behaviour seems to be getting worse, my question is there anything else I can try or can do to stop this behaviour? Thanksss

A simple thing to try (this may not work, just what I would try in your situation) is providing feed in the coop, because then they would actually have “food available all the time” so when he leaves the roost he can have food.

 

[aart]

This is nothing to do with food, it's 'morning wood' so to speak.
They are sexually active first thing in the morning,
it could be the drive to reproduce or just maintaining dominance.
If he's not pinning and pecking unmercilessly unto bloodiness,
just let them do their thing.

 

[Ecarroll]

This is nothing to do with food, it's 'morning wood' so to speak.
They are sexually active first thing in the morning,
it could be the drive to reproduce or just maintaining dominance.
If he's not pinning and pecking unmercilessly unto bloodiness,
just let them do their thing.

Oh okay, this makes more sense. I’ve never had mine do this, only heard people talk about it, so I couldn’t get it from their description.

 

[Lol123]

A simple thing to try (this may not work, just what I would try in your situation) is providing feed in the coop, because then they would actually have “food available all the time” so when he leaves the roost he can have food.

Yes thats something i haven't tried, although with the automatic doors they do come out as soon as its light enough. Thank you will give it a go

 

[Lol123]

This is nothing to do with food, it's 'morning wood' so to speak.
They are sexually active first thing in the morning,
it could be the drive to reproduce or just maintaining dominance.
If he's not pinning and pecking unmercilessly unto bloodiness,
just let them do their thing.

Well that what I thought when I first saw him start doing this, like he was just excited to be out with his girls. This looks more like aggressive behaviour to me although he's not drawing blood, yes he is pinning them down and full on attacking everyone, almost like he doesn't want anyone else to eat besides him, he will run from feeder to feeder attacking anyone who is eating

 

[D13]

Hi all, a couple of months ago I got my hands on a beautiful ayam Cemani cockerel he wasn't breed standard with him having a little bit of brown feathering. He's a very friendly boy but everytime I let them out in the morning he acts like he's never been fed before in his life, attacking everyone including his favourite girls. I've tried everything I could think of, more feeding stations, different higher protein food, poultry tonic and separating him for the first feeding sesh which isn't always possible due to working hours and them having automatic doors, they are free fed so food is available all the time. Other then this behaviour when letting them out he is so caring towards his girls and will find food for them ect as a cockerel should do. I'm at a loss of what to do with him now, I'm either going to have to cull him or separate him entirely for the morning as im very concerned he will hurt one of the girls badly as his behaviour seems to be getting worse, my question is there anything else I can try or can do to stop this behaviour? Thanksss

I've had problems with similar things; what I usually do is keep the roo in a cage in the coop or around the girls so he can see them and get to know them but not physically interact with the hens. You can let him out occasionally under your supervision and see how he does. If he starts being mean or getting weird with the hens then back in the cage he goes. You could continue this until he starts to get used to the hens or the hens get used to him. Also are there any other roosters in the flock? If there are then they might intimidate the Ayam Cemani rooster and make him feel rushed and worried, therefore causing him to act strangely toward the hens.

 

[D13]

Well that what I thought when I first saw him start doing this, like he was just excited to be out with his girls. This looks more like aggressive behaviour to me although he's not drawing blood, yes he is pinning them down and full on attacking everyone, almost like he doesn't want anyone else to eat besides him, he will run from feeder to feeder attacking anyone who is eating

Sounds like a bully to me, like when a chicken just starts attacking for no reason accept for the aggression. I've never dealt with bullies, but I've heard they can be impossible to keep with other chickens.

 

[Lol123]

I've had problems with similar things; what I usually do is keep the roo in a cage in the coop or around the girls so he can see them and get to know them but not physically interact with the hens. You can let him out occasionally under your supervision and see how he does. If he starts being mean or getting weird with the hens then back in the cage he goes. You could continue this until he starts to get used to the hens or the hens get used to him. Also are there any other roosters in the flock? If there are then they might intimidate the Ayam Cemani rooster and make him feel rushed and worried, therefore causing him to act strangely toward the hens.

no other roos but I do have muscovy ducks and they definitely are the bosses of the flock. Will give it a go, at least in the morning as after everyone is done eating he is absolutely fine. Thank youuu

 

[WingItRanch]

I agree with @aart on this one.

My cockerel is very frisky first thing in the morning and chases the girls. Once he gets it out of his system, he's back to being a gentlman. It's normal with the hormones raging at this age. I was concerned at first but noticed the unwilling girls will get away from him and the willing will crouch down and let him mate. Once he successfully mates once or twice, he's fine.

As long as he's not injuring your girls, I say just let them work it out. Let them be chickens.