Confused and Weird Roosters

[D13]

I hatched out chicks earlier this year and was thrilled (not) to discover out of 8 chicks, 5 were roosters. They were fine at first, not really bothering anything, but lately they've become a problem. They've been trying to mate with each other and our pullets and cockerels we bought. Yes, you read that right, the big roosters are trying to mate with the baby cockerels. They've been ganging up on other hens too, and they've been really annoying the hens. Does anybody have any advice on stupid roosters? If so please tell me.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I hatched out chicks earlier this year and was thrilled (not) to discover out of 8 chicks, 5 were roosters. They were fine at first, not really bothering anything, but lately they've become a problem. They've been trying to mate with each other and our pullets and cockerels we bought. Yes, you read that right, the big roosters are trying to mate with the baby cockerels. They've been ganging up on other hens too, and they've been really annoying the hens. Does anybody have any advice on stupid roosters? If so please tell me.

They're showing dominance, they aren't being stupid.

 

[D13]

They're showing dominance, they aren't being stupid.

I've thought of that, and it does look like that, but they haven't stopped, and this has been going on for months now. Thank you for your advice though

 

[aart]

How old are they, in months?

Multiple males can create an environment of competition, fighting will ensue and may not stop until death.
I'd suggest getting rid of all males you don't need for reproduction.

 

[Shadrach]

This reads like normal behaviour from a bunch of cockerels. The answer is is to cull those you do not want to keep. Usually, if the chickens are mainly confined, life is a lot easier with just one male.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How old are the five cockerels and three pullets you hatched earlier this year? Are those pullets laying yet? Do you have older chickens? How many cockerels and pullets did you buy and how old are they? How are they housed? How many coops and runs do you have and how big (in feet or meters) are they? I'm trying to get a handle on what you are dealing with.

With the information you have given that sounds normal. What are your goals with chickens and keeping males? What do you want to happen? Maybe we can help you get there if we know what that is.

My general suggestion is to keep as few males as you can and still meet your goals. I have no idea what your goals are but that could easily involve building a bachelor pad. (A place to house all or all but one boy together with no girls around.)

To cull means to select. In this situation it could mean to select the ones you want to house separately, the ones you want to give away or sell, or the ones you want to kill, possibly to eat. As long as no one is actually injured you can try leaving them all together but there is a risk in that.

 

[D13]

How old are they, in months?

Multiple males can create an environment of competition, fighting will ensue and may not stop until death.
I'd suggest getting rid of all males you don't need for reproduction.

They're about 8 months old each. I have dealt with aggressive males before, but this isn't really it. They aren't aggressive to each other all that much (which I find strange), they actually get along really well most of the time. Our head rooster doesn't like them much though; he tends to chase them off any chance he gets. I have noticed that when one of them gets a hen they all start fighting over her and generally make a huge mess and fluster the hens. I have dealt with this before (Roosters fighting over hens) but it just kinda fizzled out and they got along fine. Whereas this has been an ongoing problem. And yes, I have considered putting them down. I don't like it, but I've thought about it.

 

[D13]

How old are the five cockerels and three pullets you hatched earlier this year? Are those pullets laying yet? Do you have older chickens? How many cockerels and pullets did you buy and how old are they? How are they housed? How many coops and runs do you have and how big (in feet or meters) are they? I'm trying to get a handle on what you are dealing with.

With the information you have given that sounds normal. What are your goals with chickens and keeping males? What do you want to happen? Maybe we can help you get there if we know what that is.

My general suggestion is to keep as few males as you can and still meet your goals. I have no idea what your goals are but that could easily involve building a bachelor pad. (A place to house all or all but one boy together with no girls around.)

To cull means to select. In this situation it could mean to select the ones you want to house separately, the ones you want to give away or sell, or the ones you want to kill, possibly to eat. As long as no one is actually injured you can try leaving them all together but there is a risk in that.

Sheesh that's a lot of questions to answer I'll answer them in order from first to last:
About 8 months each.
They just started.
Yes, 15 older hens, the oldest of them being 4 years give or take.
We bought a dozen chicks (5 Blue Cochins, 5 Golden Comets, and 2 White Crested Black Polish), then raised them to where they are now, and it looks like: 3 Cochin roosters and 2 hens, all the Comets appear to be hens (yay) and 1 of each Polish: A rooster named Beethoven and a hen named Phyllis. The chicks we bought are about 5 months old and doing very well.
All the chickens live in a repurposed barn stall that's built like Fort Knox. Just one coop, and they free-range. We have about 3 1/2 acres for them to use, but they tend to stick around the barn. However, lately the chicks have been spending time in one of our gardens that's not in use because we spotted a fox on our property a few days ago.
I honestly have no idea how big the coop is, but it's big enough for what we have and more.
We really only keep males for protection (We've had major problems with foxes before - the more protection the better ) and fertilizing eggs. (Also I looooove the sound of a rooster crowing)
I want the roosters to learn that the chicks are off-limits (at least for now) and learn to not gang up on the hens.
About the bachelor pad: to take care of the problem for the moment we've been just putting the roosters in another out-of-use garden all day when I get the chickens out every morning. They can see the hens and talk to them but can't actually do anything. I leave one of them out, however, to interact with the hens and be another guard. His name's Cornelius, by the way. He seems to be more trust-worthy than his siblings (more, not completely) though he still can't tell the difference between adult hen and young Cochin cockerel yet. His siblings being locked up only keeps him from being able to gang up on a hen; he still chases them a little too much. I'm hoping eventually he'll learn that if the hen runs, it's not a good time to mate. Smokey, the rooster in charge, is an absolutely amazing rooster, and a great example. Smokey always knows when to stop, he's really brave, and he's friendly with us as well. (Fun fact: Cornelius is Smokey's son)
As I said earlier, I've thought about culling. I don't like it, but I've thought about it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

About 8 months each.

That's a bit older than I expected. By now they should be past the worst of their juvenile hormone rush and acting more like mature roosters. I would have expected one or more to have challenged your dominant rooster for overall flock dominance. It is expected that they will try to mate with your mature hens. With my flock when that happens the hens usually run to the mature rooster and he scares the cockerels away.

Sometimes cockerels and roosters will fight to the death to be flock master. Sometimes they reach an accommodation and work together. It sounds like your 8-month-olds are working together but the competition between them is fueling excesses. That competition is probably what is causing them to act more like immature cockerels.

They just started.

Yes, 15 older hens, the oldest of them being 4 years give or take.

When pullets start laying they stop acting like immature chicks and start acting more like mature hens. It sounds like your mature rooster has plenty of mature hens already so he is not interested in them. The three starting laying could spark some other behavioral changes though.

We bought a dozen chicks (5 Blue Cochins, 5 Golden Comets, and 2 White Crested Black Polish), then raised them to where they are now, and it looks like: 3 Cochin roosters and 2 hens, all the Comets appear to be hens (yay) and 1 of each Polish: A rooster named Beethoven and a hen named Phyllis. The chicks we bought are about 5 months old and doing very well.

The Comets are sex linked so they should all be girls if that is what you ordered. They others are typically unsexed, especially if bantams. If the Cochin or Polish are full-sized and were vent sexed they should have done better than that.

Many people see the mating act as sexual, about fertilizing eggs. That's a minor function and often not appropriate. The mating act is often much more about dominance. The one on top is dominating the one on the bottom. With mature hens and roosters that is often willingly on the girls' part. A good mature rooster should dominate based on personality and magnificence, not force. A weak rooster and immature cockerels usually cannot do that, they often have to dominate by physical force. The hens do not respect them enough to squat for them.

It is not just the girls that are dominated this way. A male mounting a male is also an act of dominance. I have not seen it much but occasionally a male will mount another male, all the way to include touching vents, as an act of dominance. Sometimes by force but surprisingly, sometimes willingly. I'll admit I did not expect it to be willingly when I first saw it. I think that is what is going on with your 8-month-olds and your younger cockerels. They are not weird or bent, they are just dominating. I suspect a lot of that is fueled by the competition between them.

All the chickens live in a repurposed barn stall that's built like Fort Knox. Just one coop, and they free-range. We have about 3 1/2 acres for them to use, but they tend to stick around the barn. However, lately the chicks have been spending time in one of our gardens that's not in use because we spotted a fox on our property a few days ago.
I honestly have no idea how big the coop is, but it's big enough for what we have and more.

Maybe it is big enough, maybe not. Integration, especially with juveniles, generally takes a lot more room than after they are mature and integrated. I suspect them free-ranging instead of being cooped in a run together has helped immensely. Where do these behaviors take place, in the coop or outside? That might help determine if your coop is big enough.

I suspect they are not all sleeping on the main roosts together. Mine do not until they reach a certain maturity level. Usually with mine the pullets move to the main roosts about when they start to lay. With cockerels many different things could happen.

We really only keep males for protection (We've had major problems with foxes before - the more protection the better ) and fertilizing eggs. (Also I looooove the sound of a rooster crowing)

You definitely need a rooster or two with those goals. There is a debate on this forum about the role roosters play in protection. Some people believe a rooster will willingly sacrifice his life to protect his hens. Some do but I'm more in the camp that a rooster is a good early warning system, especially for flying predators, and is more likely to try to lead his flock to safety than fight off a predator while they escape.

This is the dominant flock master. Some subordinate roosters will help with flock protection but some are no better than the hens. If they are in a gang competing with each other they are more likely to pay attention to each other and less likely to pay attention to potential predators. More is not always better.

I want the roosters to learn that the chicks are off-limits (at least for now) and learn to not gang up on the hens.

That is instinctive behavior. Sorry but they are not human.

About the bachelor pad: to take care of the problem for the moment we've been just putting the roosters in another out-of-use garden all day when I get the chickens out every morning. They can see the hens and talk to them but can't actually do anything. I leave one of them out, however, to interact with the hens and be another guard. His name's Cornelius, by the way. He seems to be more trust-worthy than his siblings (more, not completely) though he still can't tell the difference between adult hen and young Cochin cockerel yet. His siblings being locked up only keeps him from being able to gang up on a hen; he still chases them a little too much. I'm hoping eventually he'll learn that if the hen runs, it's not a good time to mate.

Having only one out is probably a good idea. Chasing the hens too much is a sign of a cockerel, not a mature rooster. "Too much" is a human perception.

As I said earlier, I've thought about culling. I don't like it, but I've thought about it.

As I said earlier, to cull means to select. You may select them to pen them up, sell or give them away, or eat them.

If you pen them up they can't protect the rest of the flock. Do you really meet your goals by that?

Dad had a free-ranging flock of 25 to 30 hens and one rooster. He hatched out a bunch of chicks every year, most of the eggs were fertile. That flock did not stay in one tight bunch around the dominant rooster. Broody hens were separated with their chicks. A few hens would stick pretty close to the rooster but many would form their own cliques and wander away from the rooster. They stayed in the general vicinity of the coop but were spread out so much he gave limited protection. I don't know what you are seeing, each flock has its own dynamics. With that gang of boys around the hen may be sticking closer to the rooster for his protection from them.

Do not consider any of this as facts. Each of us have different experiences. These are my opinions, mainly based on my observations with a limited number of flocks over the years in specific situations. With Dad's flock and mine we ate the boys before they got this old.

Good luck!

 

[D13]

That's a bit older than I expected. By now they should be past the worst of their juvenile hormone rush and acting more like mature roosters. I would have expected one or more to have challenged your dominant rooster for overall flock dominance. It is expected that they will try to mate with your mature hens. With my flock when that happens the hens usually run to the mature rooster and he scares the cockerels away.

Sometimes cockerels and roosters will fight to the death to be flock master. Sometimes they reach an accommodation and work together. It sounds like your 8-month-olds are working together but the competition between them is fueling excesses. That competition is probably what is causing them to act more like immature cockerels.




When pullets start laying they stop acting like immature chicks and start acting more like mature hens. It sounds like your mature rooster has plenty of mature hens already so he is not interested in them. The three starting laying could spark some other behavioral changes though.


The Comets are sex linked so they should all be girls if that is what you ordered. They others are typically unsexed, especially if bantams. If the Cochin or Polish are full-sized and were vent sexed they should have done better than that.

Many people see the mating act as sexual, about fertilizing eggs. That's a minor function and often not appropriate. The mating act is often much more about dominance. The one on top is dominating the one on the bottom. With mature hens and roosters that is often willingly on the girls' part. A good mature rooster should dominate based on personality and magnificence, not force. A weak rooster and immature cockerels usually cannot do that, they often have to dominate by physical force. The hens do not respect them enough to squat for them.

It is not just the girls that are dominated this way. A male mounting a male is also an act of dominance. I have not seen it much but occasionally a male will mount another male, all the way to include touching vents, as an act of dominance. Sometimes by force but surprisingly, sometimes willingly. I'll admit I did not expect it to be willingly when I first saw it. I think that is what is going on with your 8-month-olds and your younger cockerels. They are not weird or bent, they are just dominating. I suspect a lot of that is fueled by the competition between them.


Maybe it is big enough, maybe not. Integration, especially with juveniles, generally takes a lot more room than after they are mature and integrated. I suspect them free-ranging instead of being cooped in a run together has helped immensely. Where do these behaviors take place, in the coop or outside? That might help determine if your coop is big enough.

I suspect they are not all sleeping on the main roosts together. Mine do not until they reach a certain maturity level. Usually with mine the pullets move to the main roosts about when they start to lay. With cockerels many different things could happen.


You definitely need a rooster or two with those goals. There is a debate on this forum about the role roosters play in protection. Some people believe a rooster will willingly sacrifice his life to protect his hens. Some do but I'm more in the camp that a rooster is a good early warning system, especially for flying predators, and is more likely to try to lead his flock to safety than fight off a predator while they escape.

This is the dominant flock master. Some subordinate roosters will help with flock protection but some are no better than the hens. If they are in a gang competing with each other they are more likely to pay attention to each other and less likely to pay attention to potential predators. More is not always better.


That is instinctive behavior. Sorry but they are not human.


Having only one out is probably a good idea. Chasing the hens too much is a sign of a cockerel, not a mature rooster. "Too much" is a human perception.


As I said earlier, to cull means to select. You may select them to pen them up, sell or give them away, or eat them.

If you pen them up they can't protect the rest of the flock. Do you really meet your goals by that?

Dad had a free-ranging flock of 25 to 30 hens and one rooster. He hatched out a bunch of chicks every year, most of the eggs were fertile. That flock did not stay in one tight bunch around the dominant rooster. Broody hens were separated with their chicks. A few hens would stick pretty close to the rooster but many would form their own cliques and wander away from the rooster. They stayed in the general vicinity of the coop but were spread out so much he gave limited protection. I don't know what you are seeing, each flock has its own dynamics. With that gang of boys around the hen may be sticking closer to the rooster for his protection from them.

Do not consider any of this as facts. Each of us have different experiences. These are my opinions, mainly based on my observations with a limited number of flocks over the years in specific situations. With Dad's flock and mine we ate the boys before they got this old.

Good luck!

Thank you for your insights; I'll definitely look into these things. Also about culling: I accidentally misunderstood what you said about it; I forgot it doesn't always mean killing per se. I also do think it's odd that the roosters are still acting a little immature even with their age. I'm hoping they just grow out of it and eventually start just getting along with the hens like past roosters. Oh and about the three pullets: When I said three, I messed up. We used to have three, but one of them disappeared without a trace while foraging in the woods. The other two are still alive and healthy thank goodness, but the other one is gone. Their names are Shadow and Deidre.