Hi. I have a small flock of 3 sussex hens (or perhaps sussex cross breeds), a golden comet hen and a Maltese black rooster (pretty rare breed and endemic to Malta (where I come from)). They have lived in harmony since the end of May when I got them as pullets. The golden comet quickly placed herself at the top of the pecking order and for the first few days the rooster was submissive to her too. Within 2 weeks they were pretty inseperable. two days ago, I cannot understand what happened. The rooster mounted her aggressively (more aggressive than he usually does) and pecked at her comb. when I let them out to free range I saw some dried blood on her comb. Throughout the rest of the day, whenever he saw her, he chased her and attacked her. when she could get away, she did, when she couldn't, she'd crouch down and keep her head down.
That evening, she wouldn't get into the coop so I put her in myself and he attacked her immediately so I isolated him by keeping him in the run at night and locked the girls up in the coop. Yesterday morning at 6 a.m. the coop door opened automatically (it has a hentronix door opener installed) and he got inside and attacked her again. I let them freerange for the whole day and he took a few swoops at her but only when she dared get close. In the evening I put her inside the run and she kept her distance (perhaps 2 feet) from the rest of them while they were having their bran mash and scratched around and pecked at the ground normally. He suddenly charged at her and pinned her down again. i separated them and knocked up a quick coop out of a wooden box to keep one of them in it for the night. At first I thought i was wise to keep the hen apart but as darkness fell she got agitated, knocked over the feeder and kept trying to get out. i got mad so I gabbed hold of him, put him in the makeshift coop even though it's a little bit low for him and put her in with the hens. He complained for a couple of minutes and settled down. I checked on them early this morning and all seems to be quiet (they're still separated of course but can see each other through the wire).
Do you think that this is a temporary phase, or once he has turned aggressive towards her, he will remain so? it seems as though he is thinking that she is a threat to the rest of the flock and doesn't want her there. At the moment I am mad enough at him to slaughter him even though I've never killed anything before. I'm going to exercise some patience till the end of the week and if he remains agressive, he'll get the chop.
One final thing. The hen was never the friendliest, in fact she was my least favourite but since Saturday, she has been climbing onto my dad's lap or onto my arm as though seeking solace. Is this behaviour normal?
That evening, she wouldn't get into the coop so I put her in myself and he attacked her immediately so I isolated him by keeping him in the run at night and locked the girls up in the coop. Yesterday morning at 6 a.m. the coop door opened automatically (it has a hentronix door opener installed) and he got inside and attacked her again. I let them freerange for the whole day and he took a few swoops at her but only when she dared get close. In the evening I put her inside the run and she kept her distance (perhaps 2 feet) from the rest of them while they were having their bran mash and scratched around and pecked at the ground normally. He suddenly charged at her and pinned her down again. i separated them and knocked up a quick coop out of a wooden box to keep one of them in it for the night. At first I thought i was wise to keep the hen apart but as darkness fell she got agitated, knocked over the feeder and kept trying to get out. i got mad so I gabbed hold of him, put him in the makeshift coop even though it's a little bit low for him and put her in with the hens. He complained for a couple of minutes and settled down. I checked on them early this morning and all seems to be quiet (they're still separated of course but can see each other through the wire).
Do you think that this is a temporary phase, or once he has turned aggressive towards her, he will remain so? it seems as though he is thinking that she is a threat to the rest of the flock and doesn't want her there. At the moment I am mad enough at him to slaughter him even though I've never killed anything before. I'm going to exercise some patience till the end of the week and if he remains agressive, he'll get the chop.
One final thing. The hen was never the friendliest, in fact she was my least favourite but since Saturday, she has been climbing onto my dad's lap or onto my arm as though seeking solace. Is this behaviour normal?
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