Over the past 2 weeks Butter, the EE roo, has become more and more aggressive. He'll grab the girls by the neck or wings and drag them screaming a couple of steps, or just fly at them and peck hard. He nailed one of the girls on her comb so hard it bled. (Had to spray it and keep her in the garage for the day). If I'm standing right there he doesn't bother them as much (he stopped being friendly to humans a few weeks ago). As soon as I leave he starts picking on them again.
He came flying at me this morning and I had to stop him in mid flight, held his head down and carried him around for a while. Hardly a minute after putting him down he was dragging a hen around by her neck! They're only 3 1/2 months old, isn't he a bit young to be thinking about breeding them?
Does this sound like a phase of "typical" roo puberty?
Oh, Vivian, the black Silkie, started crowing LOL
Menace or puberty?
I don't keep roosters, but from what I've heard adolescent roosters are pretty intolerable. Can you separate him for a few months?
He does sound pretty typical for an adolescent roo. They can be just awful with "the girls" and it can start at about that age (even earlier with some bantams). Most get calmer and more gentlemanly as they mature.
I would be more worried about his flying at humans. I have never had a roo become agressive toward people, although it does happen pretty often with some breeds. I do have a RIR coop queen who pecked at me when I tried to catch some other pullets in the pen with her...but she is still a love generally.
It can be a very individual thing, buy I don't think EE roos are usually among the worst offenders. I would make sure that he behaves with you...or I think I would think about rehoming you. A really agressive rooster can be a pain and is actually quite dangerous, especially around children.
This is the first time he's really gone after me flying. Quite a few times he's walked up to me really fast, all fluffed up and posturing, but I've always been able to grab him and then held him for a while, holding his head down. I have a different hen in the garage as of half an hour ago, the side of her neck has the feather torn out. He's in the garage too but in a different cage. Away from the coop he isn't any less aggressive. I'm going to give him a few days to calm down and let the girls heal. He may end up in a stew pot.
Thanks for the info. I have little tolerance for unprovoked aggression in animals.
Annie I think your rooster needs to be put in a man cave...LOL. I agree with you, if he's going to be a jerk and not mind his manners a stew post sounds good to me also. It's difficult but some roosters are wonderful and some are like teenage thugs...Have a great day...Haystack.
LOL I think he'd like a man cave, as long as there were lots of girls to take care of his every need! He's still in the garage and hasn't caught on that being a gentleman would be in his best interest. I'm holding him several times a day, holding his head down too. So far he isn't impressed. That method worked so well with a bossy hen, now she is the sweetest thing. I'm going to give him some time, he deserves a chance. He's so beautiful and we love hearing him crow.
It's so H O T !!! I have ice jugs out in the run and in the coop. Yesterday and today they got a watermellon, I got honey dew for them too. Anything to keep them hydrated. I change their water several times a day but they pant a lot. There's a fan in the coop but it's not much help when it's this hot. Would it be OK to spray them down with the hose? I'm sure they won't like it but it's just so darned hot, high 90's and very humid. Would it hurt to try the hose?
It would not hurt a thing. Lots of people use those misters, and seem to like them a lot. It was 92 here also today and they say 96 tomorrow. I may need a mister for myself as well. Keep the coop cool what ever it takes...Haystack
I live in Northern Maine and it was 93 here yesterday and may make it that high today to and the humidity is very high to,poor chickens are panting,was almost tempted to leave their back door open last night that goes out into the run but just did not dare as I have seen a fox around.