Young rooster chasing hens

[Rharp]

My chickens are almost 14 weeks and the rooster is trying to mount one of the hens and shes fighting and making an awful sound and the rooster is chasing her around. Is this because they’re young or do I need to get rid of him? I don’t want a rooster that’s gonna chase around and bully the hens.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It's because cockerels (he won't be a rooster till his first birthday) reach sexual maturity a few weeks before the pullets (the girls won't be "hens" till THEIR first birthday). He has one thing on his young mind. You can separate him for a few weeks till the girls start to lay eggs. Or, if you don't need a rooster, try finding him a new home. Easier said than done. Lots of people send their not-needed cockerels to "freezer camp" until they need him for a nice soup. Do you need a male? Not really, unless you plan to hatch eggs.