Current flock: I have a very gentle black Orpington Rooster (Monty). He has a hatch mate, Stewie. We have 5 young hens and 1 old hen (no one messes with her so I don't think she counts). We have an elderly guinea hen and rooster (pets) but they are pretty irrelevant as far as flock dynamics go.
A couple months ago, the two boys were challenging each other but it never amounted to fighting. Monty was the dominant roo. Then Monty got frostbit pretty bad and was hurting for quite a while. I think this was the turning point because then Stewie became head roo. This would be fine, except that poor Monty gets bullied so bad. Never beat up, but chased and chased and he hides until I go out there and lock Stewie up. Our coop (12x12) is inside our barn so we open up the coop into the big barn for the day. We let them outside once in a while but we have a major predator problem so that's not going to be frequent until we get some leaves on the trees. the few times they have been outside this season, Monty has been chased across the yard and he sits by himself under a tree.
I never separated them until I realized that Monty had lost so much weight. So now I have a dog crate in the coop and the roos take turns during the day in the crate so that Monty can eat and get a break. Also, so that the hens can get a break. Stewie's attentions are relentless to my poor girls.
If left to their own, Monty hides in a corner or sits on the roost all day and won't eat. (yes, I have three different food bowls and water throughout the coop and barn).
I was hoping that this is just Stewie's hormones? He's not even a year old yet. I need to get this figured out before he gets sizable spurs and really can hurt Monty. Stewie does not show signs of aggression, just bullying if that makes sense, to both chickens and to us. He has never bit or pecked me, has never beat on Monty except to just chase him away.
I'd love to keep both roosters, especially since we need a replacement protector for when they free range, since my elderly roo is in his golden years. Stewie seems to be the one for the job, but Monty is such a teddy bear that I don't want to give him up.
What can I do? Do you think this will pass with time? We are aware that we have too few hens for our 2 roos and will be adding to our flock this year. But Monty does not try to take any girls from Stewie, doesn't pay attention to the girls until Stewie goes in the crate.
It's a good thing I'm home all the time so I can tend to the roos, but if we go away they have to stay in the coop and I just hate crating them.
Please help!
A couple months ago, the two boys were challenging each other but it never amounted to fighting. Monty was the dominant roo. Then Monty got frostbit pretty bad and was hurting for quite a while. I think this was the turning point because then Stewie became head roo. This would be fine, except that poor Monty gets bullied so bad. Never beat up, but chased and chased and he hides until I go out there and lock Stewie up. Our coop (12x12) is inside our barn so we open up the coop into the big barn for the day. We let them outside once in a while but we have a major predator problem so that's not going to be frequent until we get some leaves on the trees. the few times they have been outside this season, Monty has been chased across the yard and he sits by himself under a tree.
I never separated them until I realized that Monty had lost so much weight. So now I have a dog crate in the coop and the roos take turns during the day in the crate so that Monty can eat and get a break. Also, so that the hens can get a break. Stewie's attentions are relentless to my poor girls.
If left to their own, Monty hides in a corner or sits on the roost all day and won't eat. (yes, I have three different food bowls and water throughout the coop and barn).
I was hoping that this is just Stewie's hormones? He's not even a year old yet. I need to get this figured out before he gets sizable spurs and really can hurt Monty. Stewie does not show signs of aggression, just bullying if that makes sense, to both chickens and to us. He has never bit or pecked me, has never beat on Monty except to just chase him away.
I'd love to keep both roosters, especially since we need a replacement protector for when they free range, since my elderly roo is in his golden years. Stewie seems to be the one for the job, but Monty is such a teddy bear that I don't want to give him up.
What can I do? Do you think this will pass with time? We are aware that we have too few hens for our 2 roos and will be adding to our flock this year. But Monty does not try to take any girls from Stewie, doesn't pay attention to the girls until Stewie goes in the crate.
It's a good thing I'm home all the time so I can tend to the roos, but if we go away they have to stay in the coop and I just hate crating them.
Please help!
