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chicknik · 11-04-2009 06:22:04

Ok..... I have a problem with my Favorelle Rooster. I was watching out my office window and saw him go after one of the bantam hens. She was on the ground and my Houdan Roo went after the Favorelle. She ran off, and the Houdan left him alone, but the whole day he has been a "butt"
He grabbed one of the Polish Hens by the crest and wouldn't let go until I yelled at him, then he went after another hen and grabbed her by the comb until she squawked.....very loudly. He seemed to be throwing a fit when I passed out some greens to the birds and he didn't want to share.
MY DH was not happy and grabbed the net and caught him. In the struggle to get out, he lost the front part of his comb, and we put him in isolation in our garage. He is NOT happy, as one would expect. It almost sounds like he is crying. sad3
Talk about a terrible situation. I feel sorry for him and mad as heck at the same time.

My question is this......is this a phase for him, or will isolation help straighten his act? AND how long should I leave him in the garage pen before letting him back with the flock? Or should I even try?
He has always seemed so shy and quiet until the last few days, and is now wrecking havoc in the flock~
ADVICE PLEASE!

Niki

BantyChickMom · 11-04-2009 08:03:48

Niki, maybe I CAN help with this problem! haha

I'm assuming your chickens are about 4 months old. Roos reach sexual maturity earlier than the pullets do. When this happens they will mate with anything that doesn't move fast enough. The girls WILL NOT allow him to mate until they are close to laying, at which time they will squat for him. Until that happens, they will squawk like hell when he grabs them by the back of the head, which in turn attracts the others to come see what's going on. And they will try to peck him or the girl that is screaming bloody murder. Your roo is a typical teenaged boy with hormones raging and running wild.

He will grow out of it. Once the girls mature and allow him to mate, he will appear to be a changed roo.
In the meantime, you either have to deal with it or keep him separate.

chicknik · 11-05-2009 04:37:42

Thanks Tammy! I have him in a cage in the garage by himself. He is not a happy camper being alone, but was so darn mean I couldn't leave him in the run to terrorize the hens. He was picking on the bantams, and a favorelle is not a small bird.
I feel badly that part of his comb tore off while he was in the net we have to catch some chicks if they are ill or in trouble....I know it won't grow back, but did or does it hurt him? I certainly don't want him to be in pain. Roosters are such a Problem! The Houdan keeps chasing my white crested Polish into the coop when he enters the run. He hasn't been outside for a week. Maybe he will be in isolation next! I suppose I can't put them together, can I?
World war will probably break out!!!
Thanks for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did I say Thanks?????
Niki

BantyChickMom · 11-05-2009 08:39:51

The comb shouldn't be hurting him, game bird combs are dubbed for showing purposes and it's not painful when they dubb them.

As for your Houdan, you can probably put him with the Favorelle, they will be unsure of each other at first, but maybe will get along and not have any problems.
Typically you can keep just roos together without incident because they don't have anything to really fight over if the girls aren't around.

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#1 11-04-2009 06:22:04

Rooster Problems

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#4 11-05-2009 08:39:51

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