Aggressive roo and hen

[drgnfly447]

I have a mixed breed rooster, who is very large, that tries to attack me anytime I get within eyesight. I had 2 buff Orpington hens until I lost one. She was an internal egg layer. Well for a little while it was just the roo and Lucy. I bought 5 black sex links and just put them in the coop not thinking about them having any issues. Well my roo and Lucy both are trying their best to kill those 5 new hens. Lucy doesn't bother me only the hens but I can't have this roo wanting to kill me and then he and Lucy ganging up on those 5 new hens either. What can I do? Please help I'm desperate.

 

[llombardo]

Integrations are not always easy. I've rearranged mine a couple times. I gave two hits that can be bullies. I know what you are going through. Sometimes it works sometimes it don't. Lasts good to have a plan b and even a plan c

 

[getaclue]

Make a separate section in your coop/run for the original hen & rooster, OR make a cage for them, OR get a very large dog crate. Separate them, but allow them to see each other. Let the newcomers have the bigger part of the coop/run, so they get used to it being their home. In about 3 days, let the hen out with them. There should be a squabble, but in a minute, step in, and break it up. Things should settle down some then. No blood should be drawn during the squabble. IF blood is drawn, or you can't get the hen to settle down, return her to her confinement for a couple more days, then try again. Yes, there will be more squabbles, but the should be short, and not bloody. That's part of how pecking order is established. Make sure you have at least two areas where there is food, and water. One of the other things the older hen my try, is guarding the feed, and water, so the others can't get to it. Putting in a second source, prevents that, since she can't be in both places at once.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If the roo is aggressive to you that's one issue, and whether or not you really want to try to rehabilitate him is up to you. I'd get rid of him, either by turning him into dinner or giving him away as dinner, but again that's your decision. If you want to try to give him away as a pet you need to be open with the fact that he's human aggressive.

The new birds need to be integrated and not just tossed in. That means keeping them somewhere where your existing birds can see them but not be able to get to them. Do you actually have space to do an integration? A detailed description of your setup or some photos will help. Also how old are the new birds?

 

[aart]

Here's some tips an links about....
Integration Basics:

It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock