Rough Rooster

[Prince of Durham]

I'm hoping to have my worries put at ease or confirmed. I had a lovely, gentle flock of POL warrens and Goldlines, which I thought to place a Cock with for unity and egg laying. I bought a handsome white Sussex cockerel of a similar age to run with them. After a few introductions they have been together now for two weeks. The problem i'm having is he seems to be a little rough with them, always pulling feathers and basically being a bit of a bully.
I have a Welsummer flock with a cock who would die on a sword for his girls and am hoping the Sussex will still yet prove his worth. Anyone with a similar experience? Am I just expecting too much too soon, or is he a bad egg that needs cooking?

M

[Suechooks]

Maybe he's colour prejudiced?

[Prince of Durham]

Maybe he's colour prejudiced?

It has been suggested he's a bit racist. He's for the pot if he doesn't come around to modern ways of treating ladies...

M

[RichmondHens]

Is he a youngster, and is this his first flock? They are often a bit rough to start with until they learn how to go about things. It can look a bit brutal but as a rule they don't really hurt the hens, and for a flock that has not been brought up with a cock, he is probably just throwing his weight around to make sure they know he is in charge. He should settle down in time; after only two weeks it is still early days.

[Glutton4...]

I'm with RH on this. I know, I've only had Chooks for five minutes, compared to some but the youngster that I kept, was as rough as anything with the girls, whereas Asbo is as nice as pie.

[Prince of Durham]

Hi,

Its is his first flock and the hens were hand reared so are rather tame and a little soft. I'll not jump to conclusions straight away. He's a handsome bird and I hope he comes right soon. He just seems to be grabbing a hen and holding on until feathers give or they wriggle free.

M

[elizajay]

I went to an auction on Sunday and I and a lot of others were distressed by a pekin pair - the cock constantly pecked at the hen and she was so desperate to get away that she kept practically strangling herself sticking her head through the wire. It didn't look like a happy pair, whereas all the other pairs were very harmonious. As it was my 1st chook auction, I was interested to see 2 "point of lay pullets" had laid an egg, or maybe the egg was just an example of what they might lay.