6 mo. old Cockerel getting beat up by 14 mo. old hens

[araucanasmom]

I have had my 3 EE hens alone until 3 months ago when my DD insisted on keeping 2 RIR "packing peanuts". He has been mating with the hens, but he gets beat up every time he's done. Our lead hen Stretch goes after him and the others follow suit. They won't even let him sleep near them. I had to separate the other RIR male already, he was getting beat up by everyone and is going to a new home tomorrow.
Is this normal or should I separate him? I have been trying to convince DD to let him go to another home, but she's not having it.

 

[EngieKisses]

My roosters do not have that problem. They do strut a little after like they are showing off. The hens do not try to fight with them though.

 

[araucanasmom]

I could not stand the ruckus in the coop poor Mr. Red screaming for help so I took him out and he is in bachelor quarters with Mel. I put a divider so they will not fight. Any chance the girls will accept him?

 

[jjthink]

Poor fellow

I too would have rescued him just like you did!
Hard to say if things will turn around.....I hope so though...
JJ

 

[araucanasmom]

Poor Mr. Red. Mel went to his new home today and he is all alone now. Does anyone know if I should try putting him back with the girls later or should I find him a new home. Head EE hen Stretch is a tough gal.

 

[gway2008]

I have a black SL hen that is a tough girl too... She is mean to both my GLW roo and hen. I keep her seperated and everybody gets along. She is a big meanie so it is her that I seperate not the others that get along. If it were me, I would take your hen out and see if the roo gets along with the other hens, especially if you want to keep him.

 

[araucanasmom]

Quote:
Stretch would see that as "if I am mean to Roo, my mama will baby me more" (Her mama is my DD. Every time she holds her, she wriggles her head under DD's hair and rests her head on her shoulder). She has never been separated from her sisters(they get along great) and I don't know how she would handle that.

I just had a thought...maybe she is jealous of Mr. Red, DD babies him in front of her.

 

[MyraNC]

I'm sure as with anything some are attracted to some more than others. Just because you are left in a room with a fella doesn't mean you have to like him.

I've just done the rooster- hen seperation so I get the right breed. Now that we are all roaming free together some hens of different breeds will follow a different rooster (not their kind). So, whatever turns them on.

 

[Dirt Road]

As he gets older, he will establish his dominance. Having separated them though, he will probably be in for a rough couple of days if you put him back too soon. Give him a couple of weeks, then put your dominant hen with him in HIS pen and I would expect to see a far different outcome. If that works as I suspect, you can put them both back with the other hens in a day or so and should have no more problems. At some point regardless of what you do, he will put the old crab in her place.

Jim

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree. Everyone thinks about roosters being mean, but a dominant hen can give a young roo a miserable time. He'll man up soon enough and the hen will learn her place.