12 week old cockerel getting aggressive with girls

[chickenfan]

My 12 week old Marans cockerel is with 4 12-week old pullets. Now he is dominating (pecking) the pullets more than I would like and they seem quite nervous of him. He has been crowing and with a red comb since he was 6 weeks old. I would normally separate the sexes at this age, but he is the only cockerel and I don't want to put him on his own. Is he too young to go with a few adult hens? What's the best to do?

 

[chrismahon]

We've had the same problem with a 26 week TNN cockerel. He's calmed down now though 8 weeks on. You could move him with the older girls. They may knock him into shape but then he will lose confidence. I doubt at that age he will assume a dominant role with mature hens who will have their top hen leader.

He could do a lot of damage to young pullets so he must be separated for a while I think. Try him with the older hens but if they attack him too badly he will have to go on his own. In my experiences cockerels together start serious in-fighting by 26 weeks so he would have to be isolated then anyway.