Mean rooster

[CCsRanch]

Help! I'll try to look around at previous notes, but one of our 4 'pullets' turned out to be a rooster. He's six months old and not been too mean to the hens until yesterday, when I found that one of the two year old hens we have has been injured on the head and won't move or eat. I separated her from the others but don't know what to do long term?! May be chicken soup time for the rooster...

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC.
Sounds like this boy's hormones have hit.

Is the hen bleeding?
Can you get a few pictures her injuries?

Have you tried wetting a small amount of feed to see if she will eat that?

 

[ValerieJ]

Help! I'll try to look around at previous notes, but one of our 4 'pullets' turned out to be a rooster. He's six months old and not been too mean to the hens until yesterday, when I found that one of the two year old hens we have has been injured on the head and won't move or eat. I separated her from the others but don't know what to do long term?! May be chicken soup time for the rooster...

Hi! Welcome to BYC.

Your hen will be okay. Can you share a picture of the injury? Keep her in a warm, quiet place. Clean the wound with betadine or saline solution and slather it with triple antibiotic ointment. Watch for fly strike! Make sure she is eating and especially that she is drinking. This happened in my first flock and my pullet came out of it just fine.

Like you are considering, the cockerel became dinner. I cannot abide a mean cockerel. There is an alternative though. The cockerel can be separated until he gets through the raging hormone stage. He might come out a nicer guy in a few months. I don't know. I haven't tried it. Perhaps someone else can advise you on that.

 

[BullChick]

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC. I think chicken soup is the best idea

 

[drumstick diva]

That rooster should be yesterday's news. Given another chance, he may kill the next one.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Are you sure the cockerel did the damage and not the other pullets?
How much space does your flock have?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to BYC!!!! The cockerel needs a new home....for sure!

 

[N F C]

I agree with @Texas Kiki that your guy could well be feeling his way into maturity. The Learning Center has some interesting articles on understanding your roosters behavior, here are links to a couple of them:
understanding-your-rooster.75056
a-viewpoint-on-managing-roosters.74690

Hope your girl is ok and things smooth out soon!

 

[PioneerChicks]

I agree with @Texas Kiki that your guy could well be feeling his way into maturity. The Learning Center has some interesting articles on understanding your roosters behavior, here are links to a couple of them:
understanding-your-rooster.75056
a-viewpoint-on-managing-roosters.74690

Hope your girl is ok and things smooth out soon!

Agreed. I found the understanding your rooster article especially helpful. Thank you, whoever made it!