rooster attacks pullets when eating what to do

well the other week a got 2 5 almost 6 month old pullets when I give them feed the rooster runs after the feed and attack the hens that eat . the rooster is about 2 years old I had him when I had older hens the same age as him and did fine .we don't cull or eat rooster meat as we never cull any of our chicken he was mate dancing when we first put them in the coop but hes mean on food nobody wants him too bad PLS HELP ps:we feed them alone sometimes but he keeps attacking them and sometime not on food)

It sounds like you have an extremely DOMINANT Roo,

Did you try and introduce them well? I had a Roo and just put him in with the the other hens and he did just fine, i figured he would be okay because he was mild-Tame. There was a bit of fighting, but nothing too horrible. Just establishing the pecking order. On the other hand, your Roo needs to learn some manners. I would start by trying to isolate him in a cage or somewhere away from the hens, let the pullets eat while the Roo sits there watching, I would do this for maybe 2 or 3 feeds. I surely wouldn't put my Roo anywhere near pullets. Give the pullets time to establish there pecking rank, and them getting comfortable with one another. Even if there 6mnths old they need to be like pals.. All this time keep the rooster as far away as possible. once the hens are maybe 8 months or a year. I would put the Roo's cage right next to the pullets house. Let them observe eachother ad them attempt to bringing the rooster back into the cage. THink about this: Your with your friends ad all of a sudden a big scary guy comes into your house and is being a bully? Would you like that? I def wouldn't. I know its very slow going, but its better than watching your roo destroy the pullets. And your Rooster must learn to Respect the hens.

I agree, he's trying to dominate and control them, a rooster will usually leave the younger ones alone, but it sounds like he has no mature hens to keep him busy, I would too remove him until all your young ones are laying than try reintroducing him.

ok is steal cloth wire good cage should they be seeing each other they have red combs 1 game hen and other fancy mixed breed and a game mix

chickenshiha said:

ok is steal cloth wire good cage should they be seeing each other they have red combs 1 game hen and other fancy mixed breed and a game mix

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Will you please re-write that, I don't really understand what your talking about..

im saying if a wire cloth cage is good for the rooster so that they see each other and get along

Yes, it's best if everyone can still see each other during separation, it cuts down on squabbles during reintroduction.

oldhenlikesdogs said:

Yes, it's best if everyone can still see each other during separation, it cuts down on squabbles during reintroduction.

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Another trick I read on here recently said that when she's integrating birds, she not only has them separated by a pen or a frame covered with wire, she also spreads some scratch on the floor right where the edge of the cage sits. The bird(s) inside are pecking at the scratch at the same time the chickens on the outside of the separation pen are, so they are learning to eat together. I haven't done this yet, but I filed it away in my little head in the "whoa, wish I'd thought of that" folder. I wish I could remember who posted the idea so I could give proper credit, though.

My pen has 2x4 welded wire, I have a feed dish right in front of mine, the other roosters will mock fight through the wire and the pecking order ends up worked out before I release them.


This fellow spent most of his summer in this pen, I released him a month ago and he took his place in the rooster hierarchy, he's now fourth in line for the crown, he was chased a bit, but there was no fighting.

Blooie said:

Another trick I read on here recently said that when she's integrating birds, she not only has them separated by a pen or a frame covered with wire, she also spreads some scratch on the floor right where the edge of the cage sits. The bird(s) inside are pecking at the scratch at the same time the chickens on the outside of the separation pen are, so they are learning to eat together. I haven't done this yet, but I filed it away in my little head in the "whoa, wish I'd thought of that" folder. I wish I could remember who posted the idea so I could give proper credit, though.

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thanks I will try that tomorrow as its getting late if you find the post let me know