cockrells attacking hens

[tourmaline]

Hi please can anyone help me. I have 2 young large cockrells who are very aggressive, they have injured one hen and broken her leg. We have put her in a serparate enclosure and have splinted the leg but can we give her any pain killers? She is NOT for eating she is a pet. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also these cockrells attack humans at every given chance, sounds funny but it isn't really.

[Hilary B]

If a cockerel is aggressive towards the hens, there is really only one answer.... curry!
You might try separating the 2 cockerels, and seeing how they behave when not together, but it sounds like the best answer is to get rid of them.
Aggression towards adult humans is a nuisance (and sometimes painful) but not beyond managing. Aggression towards children has to be dealt with in a final manner.
I don't know how a chook would react to painkillers, but the dosage would have to be carefully measured, because she isn't very big!
I would ask a vet whether Metacam, or something similar, is usable for birds, and about dosage.

[chicken slave]

One of my cockerals went through the attacking stage I found a broom to block his attacks works well. As they get older the spurs get bigger and can really cut deep if they connect right, but as luck has it he has calmed down. I have 2 cockerals 1 older than the other and they have never attacked the hens as such, it does look a bit vicious when they grab the back of the neck to hold on for there piggy back ride but this has caused nothing more than a few feathers lost.
I have found that riding the storm has worked and not letting him corner me or charge from behind worked for me but as in humans all cockerals are different.

[frias]

Hi and welcome to the vine. I am not experienced and never had a cockerel but it sounds as if they have to go. I think one cockerel needs severel hens and these sound frustrated! I'm sure someone with lots of knowledge will be along soon to help.

[frias]

See, not only experienced helpers but faster typers too!

[Nicos]

Hello- and welcome to the Vine!!

I am most certainly not one of the chook experts but I can share my thoughts as I have 2 cockerels , 2 young cockerels 5 gals and 8 one month old babies- and have only had chooks since November.

My first thought is that are the boys brothers? They may be being competitive without actually attacking each other- bit of rough flirting with the gals??
Maybe you should just keep the calmer one if you need to keep one.
If they are both as aggressive as you say then I'd be tempted to dispose of the boys ( gift or eat) unless you are using them for specific breeding.
Perhaps you could build a separate coop and run esp for them if you don't want to get rid of them- whatever you do, the gals need protecting form them
Then you could get a replacement lad with a calmer temperament - his offspring may be calmer too if it's a genetic thing.
What breed are they- some breeds are calmer than others.
No idea what to do with the poor gal- quiet and calm but in site of the other gals so she doesn't fret ( and they don't reject her)seems a good idea.

[matthew2riches]

If you take any troublesome cockerels to one side and tell them how with 1 quick pull, you can make their neck 3 inches longer... I am sure they'll soon stop!!! :-)

I tend to do the above to all the cockerels I hatch regardless. They end up in the freezer and then eventually end up on a plate.

[Snadger]

I don't think I would be using an aggresive cockeral for breeding stock. I have five young cockerels which were all born on the same day and have been brought up together and they aren't aggresive to me or each other.

The two hens that are in the pen with them seem to keep them in check! Lol (I was thinking of naming one of the ladies Zazen!)

I'm afraid that unless the cockerels had some special qualities or place in your heart, in this case I would have to agree with Matthew!

[Nicos]

Lol (I was thinking of naming one of the ladies Zazen!)

Yey!!!!!!

[RichmondHens]

For an aggressive cock there is only one answer - eat him! It would be irresponsible to try and re-home him.

[tourmaline]

Thank you for your kind advice. I will ask the vet, she seems to be holding her own. I will seperate the boys into a enclosed area.

[tourmaline]

Hi, thanks for your reply ( I had to laugh about the broom) we have tried this, one attacks from the front and the other runs up behind you. They don't attack the big sheep but they do attack most of the cats.

[tourmaline]

Hi, thank you for the welcome, this is a great forum. I don't want to dispose of them, I will have to keep them separated.

[tourmaline]

They are brothers, around 18months old, I was told that they are Light Sussex, they are large lads mainly white with black colouring. Very naughty boys and attack everything, cats, horses, and small sheep, and us of course. I have tried being very calm and nice but they watch every move and then attack. They have hundreds of acres to scat about in, however, they tend to stay in the yard near the house. Very difficult putting wahing out whilst holding a broom (lol).

[tourmaline]

I won't re-home them as although they are aggresive I think they are beautiful. No, it's a enclosed run for them, such a shame. We used to have a beautiful, friendly gentle boy called Silkie who was taken by a fox, he was a silkiexbantam.